Central Arizona Project

Brochure: "Central Arizona Project", 1967-1969, Unfolded-backWATER IS THE KEY TO ARIZONA'S FUTURE The Central Arizona Project is the plan to provide the water from the Colorado River. Project facilities begin with a pumping plant near the existing Parker Dam on the Colorado River which would lift water into GRANITE REEF AQUEDUCT, a concrete-lined canal with sufficient capacity to convey Arizona's allocation of Colorado River water. The water would flow by gravity almost the entire length of the canal, through a few short tunnels and siphon crossings at major drainage areas. to ORME DAM AND RESERVOIR which would be the principal storage facility for the project. The site would be near the junction of the Salt and Verde Rivers, northeast of Phoenix. The reservoir would be integrated with the present Salt River Project storage system that serves Phoenix and the surrounding area. The reservoir would perform a number of other functions which would make it a significant multipurpose facility. It would serve as an after-bay re-regulating releases from the existing upstream dams. It would eliminate the threat of damaging flash floods through the Phoenix area. It would create a recreation area in the population center of the state. It would result in most desirable economic benefits to two Indian Tribes who own land adjacent to the reservoir. SALT-GILA AQUEDUCT would carry releases from Orme Reservoir further south. Part of the water would be delivered to communities and farms in the San Carlos Project and adjacent districts, including Indian farms. The balance would be diverted into TUCSON AQUEDUCT, a pipeline capable of delivering 100,000 acre-feet of water annually to the Tucson metropolitan area for municipal and industrial uses. The water would be lifted by a series of pumping plants. BUTTES DAM AND CHARLESTON DAM both would have the purpose of water conservation, sediment detention, flood control, and provide recreation and fish and wildlife benefits. Buttes Dam would be located on the Gila River. Charleston Dam would be located on the erratic flowing San Pedro River between Tombstone and Fort Huachuca, just north of the Mexican border. A pipeline from this facility would also make additional water available to Tucson. HOOKER DAM AND RESERVOIR in New Mexico would be built on the Upper Gila River. Its function would be to provide river regulation, water conservation, sediment detention, and substantial recreation and fish and wildlife benefits. WATER EXCHANGE Important to the other areas of the state is the concept of exchange whereby water that is now being released to central Arizona could be retained by critically water short communities in northern Arizona as new supplies become available down-stream. Provisions for wise and efficient use of water has been made an integral part of the project planning. Rehabilitation and lining of conveyance and distribution works are in progress. CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 2,993,995 byte