WSP04303

• File Number: 8221.112.I
• Description: Central Arizona Project
• State: AZ
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 9/26/1972
• Title: Final Environmental Statement: Proposed Central Arizona Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

SUMMARY

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Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region

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1. Type of action:

( X) Administrative

(

) Legislative

2. Brief description of action: Public Law 90-537 authorizes the
Secretary of the Interior to construct the Central Arizona Project.
Major project features involve the construction of one concrete and
three earthfill dams; four aqueducts, including tunnels, a major
pumping plant, and several smaller plants; and transmission facili-
ties to provide power for the plants. Water will be transported from
Lake Havasu via the aqueduct system for multipurpose uses in the proj-
ect area. The project will provide municipal and industrial water for
the Tucson and Phoenix metropolitan areas and water for lands in
Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima Counties in Arizona and Grant County in
New Mexico. Work is tentatively scheduled to begin in 1972 and con-
tinue through 1982.

3. Summary of environmental impacts and adverse environmental effects:
A long-term average of 1.2 million acre-feet of water will be pumped
annually from Lake Havasu for multipurpose uses. This new supply of
water will be managed with local supplies to provide flexibility in
meeting the demand for water imposed by municipal, industrial, and
agricultural uses. Project water will be used as a replacement for
ground water. The aqueduct system will be about 371 miles long and
require about 16,000 acres of right-of-way supporting mostly desert
shrub vegetation. The four reservoirs will require about 38,000 acres
typically supporting deciduous trees near the channel and mesquite,
grasses, forbs, cacti, and associated desert shrubs on the adjacent
terraces.

The existing biota and esthetic values will be influenced by the con-
struction of reservoirs and the physical modification of topography
and vegetation resulting from construction of project features. Some
Indian lands and primitive and wilderness areas will be affected.

4. Alternatives considered:
a. Alternative diversion routes to central Arizona
b. Alternative water sources
c. The alternative of no action
d. Alternative power sources
e. Alternatives to major features of the project

5. List of entities from whom comments have been requested or received
with responders indicated by "*"

See attached list.

6. Date made available to CEQ and the public:

Draft statement: September 27, 1971

Final statement: SEP 2 6 1972