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<br />Uistrict holds the franchise fDr power distribution in the local <br />area. The bDundary Df the power franchise area does not CDincide <br />with the District's lrrigatiDn boundary. The two functiDns are <br />distinct, and subtly different in their pol itical basis. <br /> <br />Existence as a municipal corporate entity has the dual <br />advant~ge of having a single operator with Jurisdiction Dver the <br />entlre DrOJect. and having that single authority possess tax <br />levying pDwer fDr the purpDses of revenue generation both for <br />operation and maintenance, and for repavment Df project <br />construction costs. <br /> <br />PRESENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM <br /> <br />SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF WATER <br /> <br />Water CDmes from the Colorado River, diverted at the <br />Arizona abutment Df Imperial Dam into the Gila Gravity Main <br />Canal, a joint-use facil ity shared by five irrigation districts. <br />WMIDD's share Df the flow is diverted from the Gila Gravity Main <br />Canal at Mile 15.0, into the District's WelltDn-Mohawk Canal. <br /> <br />The District was originally establ ished tD serve a <br />maximum of 75,000 irrigable acres Dr the conSLlmptive use of <br />300,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water. Consumptive use in <br />the case of the Dlstrict has been defined ~s the difference <br />between the amount dlverted and the amount returned tD the <br />ColDradD River main-stem as agricultural return flows. <br /> <br />All on-farm water use above a 4 acre-ft per acre <br />minimum is ch2rqed at an increasing rate per acre-foot, <br />discouraging careless irrlgation practlces. The District's <br />"water rlght" is one of the most secure on the lower ColoradD <br />River. <br /> <br />FACILITIES <br /> <br />The District has approximately 378 miles of main <br />canals, laterals, and return flow channels. Additional <br />facil ities include 3 major pumping plants (througn which passes <br />the entire flow of the main canal at the 3 locations), 4 minor <br />(but in-l ine or full-flow) pump statlons on three of the larger <br />laterals, 10 re-l ift (side del ivery) pumps at various 10catiDns <br />on main and lateral canals, 90 drainage wells, and 480 <br />observation wells. (See also DRAINAGE, below) The project was <br />orlginally constructed with a turnout for each 160 acres, or each <br />individually owned smaller parcel. All turnDuts were constructed <br />with flDw measurement capability. There are no storage or <br />regulating reservoirs within the District. <br /> <br />The pumping pI ants 1 ift water from the Colorado River <br />generally eastwardly, "uphill" against the westward slope of the <br />Gila River valley, lrrigating the fertile lands along the Gila. <br />The challenge of locating canals and laterals to make the mDst <br />