WSP02397

• File Number: 8221.112.A
• Description: Central Arizona Project
• State: AZ
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 12/18/1983
• Title: Special Report: Central Arizona Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: News Article/Press Release

Water district

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Board's powers have grown
to include project operation

Little by little, as the Central Arizona Project has grown, so too
has the Central Arizona Water Conservation District.
The district began with two purposes;
. To arrange for repaying the federal government the cosle
of building the CAP.
. To contract with the Department of the Interior for the delivery
of Colorado River water and to BelJ it to users in Maricopa, Pinal and
Pima counties to help raise funds for the repayment.
But taking its cue partly from the Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California, the conservation district's board of directors has
expanded the district's role with the agreement of the Arizona
Legislature, which created it in 1971. Between the year of its creation
and 1981, the I5-member hoard operated with II staff of one, advised
by hired consultants and the Department of Water Resources.
In 1981, the district hired a general manager, Tom Clark, because
the board decided the Granite Reef Aqueduct to Phoenhc: would be
completed by 1985. Clark formerly worked for the Ari~ona
Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
As the construction progressed, the board decided it wanted to
operate the CAP, and in 1982 took on responsibility for paying for
operation and maintenence of the project.
In addition, it began to hire personnel to operate the CAP when
water deliveries begin in 1985. Currently, the district has a staff of 50,
many of them from the Bureau of Reclamation'a Arizontl projects
office.
The district expects to increase its staff to 150 as water-delivery day
nears. When fully operational, the district expects to employ 250 to
300 people.

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Tom Clark
The water distncl hired Clark as
general manager in 1981 when it
became likely that the Granite Reef
Aqueduct to Phoenix would be
completed by 1985 Currently.
there is a staft of 50 on the board
payroN, but that IS expected 10
reach 250-300 when the project
becomes fully operatlonel.

Dale Shumway
As district president, Shumway
says "We are prepared to do
whatever we are needed for,"
which could include the role of a
'super water board' modeled afler
the Metropolitan Water District ot
Soutnem CsNfomia

. . .
The conservation diatrict -
again taking ita cue from the
Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California - is ready to
become a "super water board."
"We are prepared to do what-
ever we are needed for," said
Dale Shumway, district board
president.
The southern California dis-
trict W811 created by the Califor-
nia Legislature in the eQl'ly 1930s
to bring Colorado River water to
Los Angelea County find neigh-
boring areas.
Unlike the conservation dis-
trict here, which h811 depended
upon the fooeral government to
pay for CAP construction, the
California district sold $220 mil-
lion in bonds to pay for the
Colorado River Aqueduct and
Parker Dam.
Today, the district serves, de-
livers, treats, allocates and
charges for all water in southern
Clllifornin. It helps recha.rge
ground-water tables and is in.
volved in bringing" water from
northern California.
The conservation district here
eventually wants to be aimilarly
involved, but the Arizona Legis-
lature first will have to approve.
. . .
Today, the conservation dis-
trict has power to levy a property
ta.lI: of up to 10 cents per $100 of
asseaaed valuation. However, the
current levy is 5 cents per $100 of
as.aessed valuation in the three-
county district.
The property' taxes will help
repay CAP construction costa, liS
will the sales of water and
revenue from sales ofeiectricity.
Once the CAP begins deliveries
in Maricopa County, the conser-
vation district will enter into
interim contracts w;th the Inte-
rior Department and water users.
The details of these contracts
have not been worked out,
When the interior secretary
gives the word, about the time
the CAP is fully completed to
below the San Xavier Indian
Reservation south of TUC80n, a
50-year repayment contract will
gointoiorce.
. . .
The district board has dis-
cussed expanding ita authority to
collect taxes, illSue honds, finance
and construct municipal water.
treatment plants and pipelines in
addition to running the CAP,
Ii the con8ervation district
8eeks and is granted additional
powers from the Legialature, it
could become the state's largest
water company.