Appraisal Report Central Arizona Project

Document: "Appraisal Report Central Arizona Project- Synopsis", January 1962, page 9Project Operations and Administration Studies show that the present economy of the area is supported by essentially full utilization of the surface-and ground-water resources of the area. Present ground-water pumping is about 4,300,000 acre-feet annually, of which about 2,200,000 acre-feet represents an overdraft, or mining, of the ground-water basin. Further, these studies show that water levels are dropping progressively year by year and, unless positive measures are taken without delay, the present economy will suffer and the irrigated land will decrease before an additional water supply can be brought into the area. The water supply assumed to be diverted from the Colorado River is 1,200,000 acre-feet per year, which is obviously not sufficient to offset the present ground-water overdraft. Whatever quantity of water that may be diverted from the Colorado River, the demand for such water will far exceed the supply. Present estimates of local service area water requirements and water availability are of reconnaissance nature, considering broad hydrologic basins as a basis for study. Within these broad basins are many variable conditions which affect the water requirements of individual water-using entities to varying degrees. The limited scope of this study does not permit a definition of each of the potential water user's problems and considerable study of these variables will be required. No effort has been made to formulate plans for distribution or administration of the imported water supply. Existing and potential water-using agencies in the area have expressed a willingness and desire to contract for water service. The appraisal report is based on the assumption of water sales to be made at a canalside rate measured from turnout points along the main canal route. Contracting agencies would be responsible for distributing water supplies from 9Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,054,492 byte