Appraisal Report Central Arizona Project

Document: "Appraisal Report Central Arizona Project- Synopsis", January 1962, page 4Present Conditions Since 1951, when Congressional hearings were last held regarding the project, the population of the project area has approximately doubled and now totals over 1,000,000. New lands have been brought under cultivation in the project area, and lands formerly irrigated have been subdivided for urban developments. Official census reports show that the population of Phoenix grew from 106,818 in 1950 to 439,170 in 1960, and that in the same years the population of Tucson grew from 45,454 to 212,892. The municipal and industrial water supply needs of these and other cities in the project area have increased proportionately with the population growth, and the expanding needs are expected to accelerate rapidly in future years. Present projections indicate that the population of the area may be expected to double in the next 10 to 15 years. In addition, urban developments have encroached upon lands over which potential project canals were located and the cost for right-of-way across these lands has increased manyfold. The pumpage of ground water, which exceeded the natural recharge of the basin shown in the original report, has more than doubled to supply the expanding demands of the area, and ground-water levels have been declining at an accelerated rate. The needs for flood control, sediment control, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement have increased in magnitude and urgency in proportion to the general population growth of the area. Likewise, land values and crop returns have increased, with a resultant increase in potential benefits and payment capacity of the lands. Purpose and Scope of Appraisal Report The plan of development set forth in the original report on the Central Arizona Project was designed primarily to provide supplemental water for the stabilization of the existing agricultural economy of the project area. Except 4Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,047,218 byte