Non-Indian Agricultural Priority Central Arizona Project Water Reallocation

The Arizona Water Settlements Act and the Arizona Water Settlement Agreement provided for the reallocation of 96,295 acre-feet of relinquished Non-Indian Agricultural (NIA) Priority Central Arizona Project (CAP) water. This water was reallocated to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (Department) and is held in trust for further allocation by the Secretary of the Interior. The Director of the Department shall submit a recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior for the allocation of this water to specified municipal and industrial water users.

The Department drafted a proposed process to reallocate this 96,295 acre-feet of NIA Priority CAP water in periodic intervals and evaluation criteria to recommend reallocation of a portion of this water by 2014. The Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) developed proposed pricing components for this reallocation. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) drafted a review process for receiving the Department’s recommendation for the allocation. A public meeting was held on October 2, 2012 at the Department offices to present the background of this reallocation and these proposed components.

The Department accepted questions and comments regarding the proposed reallocation during the meeting as well as through the comment period which ended on November 9, 2012.  The Department and CAWCD have provided responses to those comments which are available at the links below.

*Note: All applications received will be posted to the Department's website no later than July 8, 2013.

Final NIA Reallocation Information

Final NIA Reallocation Application Requirements **Deadline to submit applications to the Department is Friday, June 14, 2013.   The Department encourages all applicants to schedule a preapplication meting with Department staff prior to application submittal.  Please contact Deanna Ikeya at dkikeya@azwater.gov or 602-771-8531.

Final NIA Reallocation Process and Evaluation Criteria

CAP Action Brief approval of the pricing components for the NIA Priority water     (Approved during February 7, 2013 CAP Board of Director's Meeting)

Responses to Comments Received
ADWR's Responses
CAWCD's Responses
Comments Received
Click Here to review a complete list of comments received.
Clarifying Questions and Responses
ADWR's response to AMWUA's request to Extend the Comment Period (dated October 11, 2012)
AMWUA's Request to Extend the Comment Period (dated October 10, 2012)
ADWR's response to AMWUA's Questions (updated October 17, 2012)
Examples of Groundwater Allowance Relinquishment  (dated October 17, 2012)
CAP's response to AMWUA's Questions (dated September 27, 2012)
Questions received from Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (dated September 27, 2012)
Discussion Materials from October 2, 2012 Public Meeting
Presentation
Proposed Process and Evaluation Criteria
CAP Acquisition Pricing Methodology
Environmental Law Suggested Web sites
NEPA Overview

Questions may be directed to Michelle Moreno at 602-771-8530 or mamoreno@azwater.gov.