WSP08666

• File Number: 8221.112.I
• Description: Central Arizona Project
• State: AZ
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 3/19/1982
• Title: Final Environmental Impact Statement: Water Allocations & Water Service Contracting - Central Arizona Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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2.

Dem09raphy and Land Use

Between 1970 and 1980, Arizona's population increased from
1,775,399 to 2,717,866, accordin9 to the advance reports of the U. S. Bureau
of the Census. This represented a 53 percent increase in the decade.

The population of the three counties that make up the CAP
service area increased from about 288,000 in 1940 to about 2.1 million people
in 1980.

The largest cities, Phoenix and Tucson, have experienced most
of the growth. In the Phoenix area, a cC1nversion from agricultural use of
water to municipal use has accommodated most of the new water needs. In the
Tucson area, as well as recent trends in north Phoenix and Scottsdale, urban
expansion has occurred almost entirely on previously unirrigated desert land.
~Iew water requirements are being met by additional withdrawals from ground
water.

Arizona's rapid growth has also increased the industrial use of
water. It has been estimated that M&I water users in the State account for
approximately 670,000 acre-feet of withdrawals annually (1970).

There are an estimated 33 mill ion acres of arilh1e 1 and in the
State of Arizona with approximately 1. 3 mi 11 i on currently being irrigated.
The CAP service areas of Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima Counties contain about
60 percent of the irrigated land in Arizona, iln estimated 733,000 acres.

3. Sociil1/Economic

Arizona economy has grown markedly in the recent post. From
1970 to 1980, non-agricultural employment increased by 981,100 jobs--an
80 percent increase. Agricultural jobs have decreased from 25,000 presons in
1970 to 21,800 persons in 1978--a 15 percent decrease. Arizona has had one of
the highest rates of increase for the last 10 years in population, employment,
and persC1na1 income. From 1969 to 1979, personal income increased by 263
percent. Per capita personal income increased 151 percent.

Central Arizona has experienced dramatic social changes. The
population of the cities has grown and the number of farm and rural residents
has dec 1 i ned. The a rea has become a ret i rement center. The number of fa rms
has decreilsed but their size increased. Central Arizona is changing to a
cosmopolitan community.

The principal economic impact associated with the allocation of
CAP water is the amount of repayment obligation assumed by the Central Arizona
Water Conservation District (CAI~CO), the amount of interest returned to the
United States Treasury, and the deferred and nonreimbursib1e costs assumed by
the United States for delivery of Indian irrigation water.

. Total CAP construction costs for all the alternatives is
$2,052,970,000 based on 1981 dollars. Costs assigned to non-Indian uses will

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