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Water Supply

Acquisition strategy

The role of the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) Water Supply Program includes:

  • Acquiring sufficient supplies to meet its annual replenishment obligations through acquisition of a diverse portfolio of water supplies through voluntary, market-based transactions.
  • Manage overall cost of replenishment services by negotiating cost-effective acquisitions.
  • Develop partnerships through direct negotiation with consideration of local needs and conditions; and
  • Minimize third-party impacts through avoidance/mitigation.
CAP Canal
Agua Fria Turnout

Target volumes

An acquisition strategy for the program is updated every 5 years, at minimum. The most recent acquisition strategy was completed in late 2020. The CAGRD Water Supply Program must continually adapt to changing conditions – economic, hydrologic, and regulatory – that impact the demand for, and supply of, renewable water supplies for replenishment purposes. The most significant challenge facing the program for the next 10 years will be shortage within the Colorado River system. The current strategy update is primarily focused on firming the existing water supply portfolio, which is sufficient to meet obligations for many years, but is also highly susceptible to Colorado River shortage.

Portfolio Diversity

CAGRD can legally use any water supply type that can be recharged and converted into a long-term storage credit. The program’s pursuit of a diverse portfolio of water supplies will minimize potential impacts to any particular area and increase overall supply reliability under a variety of operational and hydrologic conditions. The current CAGRD water supply portfolio consists of three water supply classes: CAP entitlements, Effluent and Long-term storage credits.

Flexible Structure

CAGRD is not a water provider, and therefore has significant flexibility in the timing and location of its replenishment activities. As a result, the program can accommodate a number of possible transaction structures. The primary objective of the acquisition program is to build a portfolio of long-term and reliable water supplies through a series of acquisitions that are generally timed to coincide with increases in demand. Mutually acceptable agreement terms and conditions can be structured in a flexible manner to meet the unique needs of an individual seller, including:

  • One-Time Purchases
  • Multi-Year Purchases
  • Fallowing or Forbearance Agreements
  • Long-Term Leases (10+ years)
  • Annual and Short-Term Lease Agreements
  • Capital Contributions to Infrastructure Projects in Exchange for Water Supplies
Pima Mine Road Recharge

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This link is taking you away from the CAP website and provides information on an external site that is consistent with the intended purpose of the CAP website. CAP cannot attest to the accuracy of the information provided by this link or any other linked site. CAP is not responsible for the information or links provided by sponsors of the site or any products presented on the site. These links do not represent an endorsement by CAP or its directors or employees of site sponsors or products.

This link is taking you away from the CAP website and provides information on an external site that is consistent with the intended purpose of the CAP website. CAP cannot attest to the accuracy of the information provided by this link or any other linked site. CAP is not responsible for the information or links provided by sponsors of the site or any products presented on the site. These links do not represent an endorsement by CAP or its directors or employees of site sponsors or products.