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Relevant Facts and Figures on the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Historical Arizona overdraft: 2.5 million acre feet per year (afy) groundwater in 1980 due to agriculture over-pumping [Ag=80% of AZ water use; subsidized cotton = 60% of ag.) 1980 Groundwater Management Act grandfathered the above deficit to continue—but enabled Federal assistance for the CAP project, which would supply municipal users and some agriculture users. The Central Arizona Project is the largest and most expensive water transfer system ever constructed in the United States. Total Colorado River allocation for Arizona: 2.8 million afy Total “on the river” use: 1.3 million afy for municipal and industrial (M & I) and agriculture Total CAP (Central Arizona Project) amount: 1.5 million afy for municipal and agriculture Total Indian CAP allotment: 750,000 afy Total municipal/ag allotment: 750,000 afy Tucson Water’s allocation: 144,000 afy (Metro Water District=9,500 afy) 1) Finances. The total cost of the CAP project: 3.5 billion dollars by 1968 Congressional Act. How is the CAP project paid for? Through property taxes on the three counties that receive CAP—Maricopa, Pinal, Pima—plus the cost of water to water provider or user. With the Indian water settlement in 2004, the Feds forgave some of the CAP debt. Why wasn’t there any reduction on my tax bill? The Federal contract was to pay back 1.7 million, then re-negotiate. So due to the settlement, AZ paid 1.7 million for the project. 2) Allocations: What is the percentage of M & I of the total CAP amount (1.5 million afy) in a normal year? M & I = 45%; Agriculture = 5%; Indian = 50% 3) Priorities in a Shortage: In case of shortage, Arizona has junior rights to its allocated water. California and Nevada will be affected only after Arizona loses 1.7 million acre-feet of 'junior' status water (slightly more than half of the state's total allocation). What is the exact line of priority in a shortage? 1) M & I and Indian water, including their agriculture (no priorities set among these users) have first priority. 2) Non-Indian agriculture. 3) Recharge, water banking (2,8 million af banked up to 2008) What about the1944 U.S. Mexican treaty that gives Mexico rights to 1.5 million afy of the river's flow? That would be negotiated on the Federal level. Hopefully, if there was a 10% cut on the river, Mexico would have to take a cut too. More relevant info: CAP website: www.cap-az.com (Lots of relevant information) Information provided by Groundwater Awareness League, an educational non-profit
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