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<br />THE CAP: liQUID ASSETS FOR ARIZONA
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<br />InMarrh 1985, the first gaUons ofwhat willeventually be a3JO.-miIe
<br />long ribbon of life..sustaining water began flowing into central
<br />Arirona.lttraveledthroughmountairu,underdryriverbeds,and
<br />across Arirona~ parched western deserts toward the state~ interior.
<br />The water, from the Colorado River, is destined for use by the
<br />people of central and southern Arizona-in homes, on crops and
<br />for industries.
<br />It is being dehvered by the Central Ari7.0na Project, or CAP,
<br />designed and constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation.
<br />This project has been well over 4D years in the making-with
<br />itsfirstproposalspresentedinthemidl940~.AutOOriZ3rionforthe
<br />project did not occur until 1968. And construction firuilly rom-
<br />mencedinlWl
<br />Now, nearly halfacentury later, we're seeing the results of the
<br />CAP coming ro lik. And flowing our way.
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<br />WHY DO WE NEED THE CAP!
<br />For over one thousand years, people living in central Arizona
<br />have developed its warm to sustain and nourish their lives. The
<br />earliest inhabitants, a vanished Indian tribe known as the Hobo-
<br />kam,divertedrivertlowsto meettheirneeds and nourish theirClOpS
<br />throUgfl the searing Arizona summer.
<br />Following World WIT Il, Arizona experil'TlCed a population
<br />boom that continues today.
<br />More people lIlf'3nt more water was needed. So to meet those
<br />demands, fanners, cities and orhers began ro use more and rnoreof
<br />a resouID'that had been accumulating for cenruries.
<br />Groundwater.
<br />Groundwater now provIdes about 60% of the state's lotaI waler
<br />supply.
<br />But the problem is that groundwater is being pumped out
<br />fusterthan nature can replace it.
<br />The Arizona Department of Water Resources (DWR) esti-
<br />mates that each year, Ariwnans use 2.5 million acre-feet lTIIJre
<br />groundwater than can be replaced. (One acre-foot equals 325,851
<br />gill!"",,)
<br />OepIeringourgrouMwatersuppliescausesprcl:llems,Areasof
<br />[and in central Arizona, once supported by groundwater, are slowly
<br />sinking and cracking as the water is withdrnwn-damaging build-
<br />ings, mads and agricu[rural fields.
<br />In addition, deeper wells must be drilled to reach the water,
<br />raising the costs of pumping, and reducing the qualiry of the water.
<br />It became dear thaI a source was needed as a substiture far
<br />groundwater.
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<br />HOW DOES THE CAP HELP!
<br />One of the mam purposes of the CAP is ro help Arizona
<br />conserve its groundwater supplies by importing surface water from
<br />the Colorado River whose water supply i.I renewed yearly by rainfall
<br />and snowmelt.
<br />According to DWR, the project will offset t\\Q-thirds of the
<br />oVl'r-consumptionofgroundwatersupplies.
<br />However, CAP water is not intended to increase overall water
<br />usoge. Rather, it is designed lD be a subJdture for groundwater.
<br />Farmers who receive CAP water must reduce lheir ground-
<br />water usage. For each acre-foot of CAP water they receive they must
<br />stop pumping one acre-foot of groundwater. Cities are also expected
<br />to do less groundwater pumping, using CAP water wherever
<br />IXJssible to meet: their needs.
<br />The CAP will bring an average of 1.5 million acre-feet of
<br />Colorado River water inro Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties each
<br />year. This warer has been allocated ro 85 users, classified as
<br />numicif6! or industrial entities, 12 Indian communities, and 23
<br />non-Indian agricultural districts.
<br />People outside lhe three-counry area will also benefit from the
<br />CAP through water exchanges. For example, Verde RiVl'r water
<br />now used in POOenix may instead be used in Prescott, with CAP
<br />water delivered to Phoenix users in exchange. And wesrern New
<br />Mexico will benefitfrnm the development of an 18,00:) acre-foot
<br />water supply authorized by CAP legislation.
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<br />HOW DOES THE SYSfEM WORK?
<br />A J30-mile long series of open canals, inverted siphons,
<br />pumping plants and tunne[s will form the CAP water conveyance
<br />system. Colorado River water will be pumped from Lake Havasu at
<br />a point abour 15 miles nonh of Parker, Arizona.
<br />The water will flow east and south through Ariwna to the
<br />southemboundaryoftheSanXavierlndianReservationsouthof
<br />TllCSOn. Along the W31,thewaterwill be lifted alroost 2,1XXl feet in
<br />elevation. Power to run the pumps will come from the Navajo
<br />Generating Station near Page, Ariwna and from hydro-electric
<br />energy generated at Hoover Dam.
<br />In addition ro thesefeatuIl'S,construcrion of five dams and
<br />IOOdification ofrwo others has been authorired,for additional
<br />water conservation, flood control, regulation, sediment control,
<br />and other purposes.
<br />New dams are planned for the Agua Ftia R1ver northwest of
<br />Phoenix,rheVerdeRivernortheastofPhoenix,ontheGilaRiver
<br />east ofRorence, and in westrnl New Mexico. The fifth aurhorhed
<br />dam,origina1ly planned for the San Pedro River, is llOtan active
<br />project. Two existing dams on the SaIrRiver east of Phoenix will be
<br />modified for flood conrrol,dam safety and additional water oonser-
<br />vation. The reservoir:s behind these dams, new or existing, have the
<br />potential ro greatly expand warer-bared outdoot recreation, in a
<br />state where water provides a welcome relief from the sun-baked
<br />summers.
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<br />HOW IS THE CAP FUNDED!
<br />As a Reclamation project, construction of the CAP 1S
<br />financed by the Federal government. Each year, the United States
<br />Congress appropriates lOOney to continue construction of the pro-
<br />jeer. The CAP's estimated rotal cost is $3.6 billion, providing that all
<br />aurhorized facilities are constructed.
<br />l3ylaw,wnstructioncostsaredi~iJeJiiltothosewru(hmust
<br />be repaid to the Federal Treasury, and thosewruch are not. On
<br />CAP, about 70% of the cost will be repaid by the Central Ariwna
<br />Water Conservation District (CAWCD).
<br />Money to repay construction costs will come from three main
<br />sources: 1) sales of CAP water lD cities, industries and non-Indian
<br />farmers receiving the water; 2) from the sa!e ofelectric:ity that is not
<br />needed forpumping; and 3) from property taxes in Maricopa, Pinal
<br />and Pima counties.
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<br />WHEN WILL THE CAP BE COMPLETE?
<br />The CAP aqueduct wiD be completed within seven years.
<br />However, construction of the dams authorized as part of the project
<br />is norexpecred to be complete until after the year 2COO.
<br />In May 1985, the de1ivery of Colorado River water by the
<br />CAP was made lD an irrigation district 65 miles west of Phoenix.
<br />Other deliveries from the Granite Reef Aqueduct, between the
<br />Colorado and SaIt Rivers, also began in 1985.
<br />By mid 1986,deIiverieswill begin from theSalt-Gila AQueduct,
<br />which ruru; from the Salt River roa pointaOOut 15milessoutbeast
<br />of Coolidge, Arizona.
<br />Deliveries from rhe ininalsectionofTocson Aqueduct,thelast
<br />porrionofthe main conveyance sysrem,will begin in 1987. Water
<br />deliveries to me Tucson area are planned by 1991.
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<br />WHAT ARE WE DOING m CONSERVE WATER
<br />IN ARIZONA?
<br />The CAP will go a long way toward solving our groundwater
<br />depletion problems, but conservation is stil1 necessary.
<br />The Ariwna Depamnent of Water Resources is workmg to
<br />reduce groundwarer usage. Under the Arizona Groundwater Man-
<br />agement Code, passed by the state legislature in 1980, the DWR 15
<br />developmg a series of comprehensive water management plans.
<br />These plans are designed to eliminate overdraft in central and
<br />southern Arizona, except Pinal County, by the year 2025. The goal
<br />is to ensure rhat no rnore water is pumped from the ground each
<br />yearrhan is replaced.
<br />Overall, with sound planning and an ongoing commitment to
<br />water conservation, Arizona's lifeline of water will help ensure a
<br />bright future for our stare.
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