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<br />0008J~ <br /> <br />heavily on ground w~ter 1/ as a supply. One effect of this <br />has been that significantly nore qrounn water is taken out <br />than is replenished (overdrafting) and thereby reducing <br />existing water supplies. <br /> <br />The Central Arizona Project was designed to reduce <br />Arizona's dependence on ground water by delivering Colorado <br />River water to central Arizona. Unfortunately, the CAP water <br />supply will not be sufficient to eli~inate the overdrafts. <br />Unless the water supply available to CAP is increased, <br />far~land will have to be reduced significantly to balance <br />water supply and use by the year 2020, assuning a nedian <br />growth rate in nonagricultural activities. 2/ Conservation <br />measures and strong ground water laws could-also help renuce <br />the overdrafts. Arizona has taken the first steps toward <br />a strong grounn water law. <br /> <br />In nany areas of the Upper Basin, the u.s. Geological <br />Survey has reported that opportunities exist to use ground <br />water more effectively and reduce the effects of future <br />shortages by managing surface and ground water as one total <br />supply. Ground water stored in aquifers during wet periods <br />could be used to supplement surface water, particularly <br />during low-flow periods. <br /> <br />A more detailed discussion of ground water is containen <br />in appendix III. <br /> <br />INDIAN AND FEDERAL RESERVED WATER <br />RIGHTS NEED TO BE QUANTIFIED AND SETTLED <br /> <br />[ <br /> <br />Claimen Indian and Federal reserved water rights in the <br />Colorado River Basin nay affect future water nemands. How- <br />ever, these rights have generally not been quantified or <br />settled to the satisfaction of those concerned. Indian and <br />Federal reserved water rights and the doctrine of prior appro- <br />priations, which is generally followed to allocate water <br />rights in Western States, represent two inconsistent water <br />rights doctrines. For example, the doctrine of prior appro- <br />priations is basen on water rights accruing to those who first <br />put the water to beneficial use. However, unlike appropriative <br />water rights, Indian and Federal reserved rights are based on <br /> <br />l/Subsurface water in completely saturated spaces between <br />- soil particles or rocks is considered ground water. <br /> <br />l/Arizona State Water Plan, Phase II, prepared by <br />Arizona Water Commission, Feb. 1977. <br /> <br />13 <br />