WSP07975

• File Number: 8278.100
• Description: Title I - Yuma Desalting Plant
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 10/1/1987
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Yuma Desalting Plant Operations Study - Draft Special Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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Plan B-1? Develoo
Cost $24.2 million,

Other Well Fields.
TVS 966 points, Category

III,

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Substitute water would come from existing ground-water supplies,
or from long-term mining. This plan could requi~e using the
Colorado River for conveying pumped water depending upon location
of the well field. A few basins may have the potential for
developing the needed quantity of water but serious institutional
problems would probably preclude development since any water
developed would belong to either the state of Arizona or
California. This plan was assumed to provide 116,000 acre-feet
per year. Estimated cost includes a typical well field.

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Advantages:
'possible use for lower quality water.

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Disadvantages:
.partial solution only.
'Severe institutional problems.

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Plan 8-18. Lease Indian Land.
Cost $11.6 million, TVS 1016 points, Category II.

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Idle Indian land would be leased and the water allotted to the
land would be ordered for delivery to Mexico in3tead of to the
leased land. An equal quantity of Mellton-Mohawk drainage would
be bypassed. As an example of how the plan would work, about
20,000 acres of agricultural land on the Colorado River Indian
Reservation is presently idle because of poor economic
conditions. This land and its water rights could be leased for
an estimated annual cost of about $150 per acre plus an O&M fee
of about $20 per acre. The Colorado Indian land is allotted 6.66
acre-feet per acre with a farm delivery of 5.0 acre-feet per
acre. The remaining 1.66 acre-feet is identified as
miscellaneous system losses. By leasing 20,000 acres, 100,000
acre-feet would be available for use as substitute water. A
portion of the remaining 33,200 acre-feet [(6.66-5.0) x 20,000]
would be available for use on other reservation lands. This plan
would probably require legislation to implement. This plan could
be opposed by either Arizona or California because water not used
on Indian lands could be used by these states. If approximately
23,500 acres could be leased, operation of the YDP could be
eliminated.

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Advantages:
'No water rights issues are anticipated.
'The plan is low cost.
'Could improve economic condition for tribal members leasing the
land.

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