Page 7

Arizona are used in the production of fiber for paper pulp. With the prevailing moderate winter temperatures, and with water for irrigation, the desert soils are highly productive, but adequate water supplies are not available even to permanently sustain the presently irrigated acreage. Problems and Needs The basic problem of this dynamic growth area is that of obtaining adequate supplemental water supplies to sustain the present economy and provide for future growth of population and industry. In the past, water was usually obtainable by simple gravity diversion or shallow pump lift in sufficient quantities to provide water needs. This condition was relatively short lived, and long-term holdover storage reservoirs and high pump lift projects later became necessary to regulate and distribute waters to the farms and growing communities. The end of this era is now fast approaching, as the physical limits of local water supplies have been reached in many areas. No longer can a development request and receive water by merely demonstrating the need and the ability to pay. Historically, most water development projects of the area were basically for agricultural consumption, with municipal, industrial, power, recreation, and other aspects being secondary or incidental participants. Today, this cycle is reversing as urban developments throughout the West are demanding water supplies which, in many cases, can only be obtained by condemning agricultural water rights, but in many areas the water quantities are limited. Coincident with the growing water demands are demands 7Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 14,159,872 byte