WSP09764

• File Number: 8221.105
• Description: Chino Valley Project
• State: AZ
• Date: 12/17/1947
• Title: Chino Valley Project Arizona: Regional Director's Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMErv-T OF THE INI'ERIOR
BUREAU OF REC!J\.MATIUN
WASHHGTON 25, D.C.
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December 17, 1947

The Secretary

of the Interior.

Sir:

I submit herewith my proposed report on the Chino Valley Project
in Yavapai County, Arizona. Ulf report is based on the attached report
of the Regional Director, dated October 1947.

The Chino Valley Project area is located in the high and arid
valley of Granite Creek, a tributary of Verde River in Yavapai County,
Arizona, about 15 miles north of Prescott, ~ere irrigation is
essential for successful crop production.. Irrigation Was started
here in '1913 under a plan of deVelopment that comprehended the
irrigation of 20,000 acres of land. However, the available water
supply proved to be inadequate for that acreage and consequently the
irrigated area declined. The present total water supply, is still not
sufficient to furnish a full supply for the 2,538 acres of land which
the water users now attempt to irrigate., Usually only about half of
the 2,538 acres of land under irrigation actually produce crops
although attempts often are made to irrigate and crop all or most of
it. The enterprise was operated as a private corporation until 1926
when the Chino Valley Irrigation District was organized under the
laws of the State of Arizona. Since then the Chino Valley Irrigation
District has constructed additional works, and now operates two
storage reservoirs, a pumped well, two small diversion dams, over
11 rrQles of canal and pipeline, and laterals and distribution systems
that serve 2,538 acres of land, The necessary structures for partial
solution of the irrigation problems in this area, as outlined in
this report, are now being constructed by the water users independ-
ently of the Bureau of Reclamation and should be continued.

The Bureau of Reclamation has investigated three alternative
plans for improving the present water supply, and found that the
plan for installing a 36-inch concrete pipe line throughout the length
of the main canal to reduce .excessive transmission losses was most
att~active of the three,' The estimated cost of construction under
this plan is $133,610. However, repayment analysis indicates that
the Chino Valley Irrigation District could not repay both the costs
of new construction contemplated in the report and the current costs
of the project. It is concluded, therefore, that the District would
not be able to pay for the project if it were constructed by the
Bureau of Reclamation, and accordingly, I recommend that the investi-
ga tions by the Bureau be discontinued, and that authorization of .
the Chino VaHey Project not be requested,