Using Artificial Recharge to meet Water Management Goals in Arizona

Middle Rio Grande Water Assembly UNM Law School April 9, 2011

Dee Fuerst Planning & Replenishment Division Central Arizona Project OverviewOverview ofof thisthis PresentationPresentation

InIn ArizonaArizona ...... „ BackgroundBackground leadingleading toto aa robustrobust rechargerecharge programprogram

„ RegulatoryRegulatory frameworkframework usedused

„ TypesTypes ofof permitspermits andand facilitiesfacilities

„ AccountingAccounting forfor rechargerecharge andand recoveryrecovery

„ UsingUsing rechargerecharge toto meetmeet managementmanagement goalsgoals

„ CentralCentral ArizonaArizona ProjectProject’’ss RechargeRecharge ProgramProgram ProtectProtect ArizonaArizona’’ss ColoradoColorado RiverRiver EntitlementEntitlement

„ Full utilization of CAP entitlements would not be realized for decades

„ California and Nevada were eyeing Arizona’s unused entitlement

„ Development of a recharge program would provide ability to beneficially use our water

„ Legislature gave CAWCD authority in 1990 to build State Demonstration projects „ Including ad valorem taxing authority

StoreStore WaterWater forfor FutureFuture TimesTimes ofof NeedNeed

„ Recharge program provides water users ability to store for the future

„ Legislature created the Arizona Water Banking Authority (“Water Bank”)

„ Water Bank uses ad valorem taxes, pump fees and State general fund appropriations

„ Water Bank has stored more than 2.7 MAF to meet its goals StoreStore WaterWater forfor FutureFuture TimesTimes ofof NeedNeed cont’d

WaterWater BankBank’’ss primaryprimary goals:goals:

„ Store unused CAP water to firm CAP M&I subcontracts „ Support management goals of the AMAs „ Support settlement of Native American water claims „ Provide for interstate banking of Colorado River water to assist Nevada and California while protecting Arizona’s entitlement ArizonaArizona’’ss PolicyPolicy DeclarationDeclaration ARS § 45-801.01

The public policy of Arizona:

1. Protect the general economy and welfare of this state by encouraging the use of renewable water supplies, particularly this state's entitlement to Colorado river water, instead of groundwater through a flexible and effective regulatory program for the underground storage, savings and replenishment of water.

2. Allow for the efficient and cost-effective management of water supplies by allowing the use of storage facilities for filtration and distribution of surface water instead of constructing surface water treatment plants and pipeline distribution systems. AllowAllow CostCost--EffectiveEffective MethodsMethods ofof UsingUsing RenewableRenewable WaterWater SuppliesSupplies

„ RechargeRecharge ProgramProgram providesprovides lowlow--costcost mechanismmechanism forfor ““transportingtransporting”” renewablerenewable waterwater suppliessupplies „ Recharge near source and recover near destination „ If it’s done in the same year, no “cut-to-the-aquifer”

„ RechargeRecharge ProgramProgram providesprovides lowlow--costcost mechanismmechanism forfor ““treatingtreating”” renewablerenewable waterwater suppliessupplies „ Recharge provides soil-aquifer treatment „ Allows storage and reuse of effluent 19861986 UndergroundUnderground StorageStorage andand RecoveryRecovery ActAct

„ AuthorizedAuthorized rechargerecharge andand recoveryrecovery inin ArizonaArizona

„ EntitiesEntities cancan storestore surplussurplus waterwater suppliessupplies undergroundunderground forfor futurefuture recoveryrecovery

„ WaterWater retainsretains SurfaceSurface WaterWater classificationclassification

„ 5%5% CutCut toto Aquifer:Aquifer: 11 AFAF stored,stored, .95.95 AFAF recoveredrecovered

„ RecoveryRecovery allowedallowed anywhereanywhere withinwithin thethe ActiveActive ManagementManagement AreaArea RegulatingRegulating thethe ProgramProgram

„ ArizonaArizona DepartmentDepartment ofof WaterWater ResourcesResources (ADWR)(ADWR) regulatesregulates thethe undergroundunderground storage,storage, savingssavings andand replenishmentreplenishment programsprograms

„ SystemSystem ofof permitspermits andand creditcredit accountsaccounts

„ AllowsAllows undergroundunderground storagestorage (recharge)(recharge) andand recoveryrecovery whilewhile protectingprotecting otherother landland andand waterwater usersusers

„ RequiresRequires continuouscontinuous monitoringmonitoring ofof facilitiesfacilities andand annualannual reportingreporting ArizonaArizona’’ss RechargeRecharge ProgramProgram PermitsPermits

FacilityFacility PermitPermit „ Allows permit holder to operate a recharge facility

WaterWater StorageStorage PermitPermit „ Allows permit holder to store water at a facility

RecoveryRecovery WellWell PermitPermit „ Allows permit holder to recover stored water at a particular well TypesTypes ofof RechargeRecharge FacilitiesFacilities Two Basic Types of Recharge Facilities

Underground Storage Facilities (USF) “Direct Recharge” Constructed or Managed

Groundwater Savings Facilities (GSF) “Indirect Recharge”, or

“In-Lieu Recharge”” UndergroundUnderground StorageStorage FacilitiesFacilities (USFs)(USFs)

„ RenewableRenewable waterwater supplysupply (CAP,(CAP, effluent,effluent, etc.)etc.) isis transportedtransported toto thethe facilityfacility andand depositeddeposited intointo thethe aquiferaquifer throughthrough infiltrationinfiltration oror injectioninjection

„ TwoTwo typestypes ofof USFs:USFs: „ Constructed - spreading basins or injection wells are constructed „ Managed - natural waterways are managed for recharge purposes

GroundwaterGroundwater SavingsSavings FacilitiesFacilities (GSFs)(GSFs)

„ Partnership between: „ Entity A – has a right and need to pump groundwater (e.g., irrigation district), and „ Entity B – has access to a renewable water supply (e.g., CAP or effluent)

„ Entity A is the GSF „ Entity B provides water; Entity A uses B’s water instead of pumping groundwater

„ Entity B receives a storage credit „ The credit retains the identity of the exchanged water (e.g., CAP or effluent)

AccountingAccounting forfor RechargedRecharged WaterWater

„ ADWRADWR maintainsmaintains accountsaccounts notingnoting AFAF activityactivity „ By Active Management Area „ By User „ By Facility

„ PermitPermit holdersholders submitsubmit annualannual reportsreports toto ADWRADWR

„ ADWRADWR determinesdetermines volumevolume ofof waterwater reachingreaching thethe aquiferaquifer andand issuesissues longlong--termterm storagestorage creditscredits

„ CreditsCredits maymay bebe heldheld indefinitelyindefinitely andand maymay bebe assignedassigned oror soldsold RecoveringRecovering StoredStored WaterWater

„ MustMust holdhold aa recoveryrecovery wellwell permitpermit toto recoverrecover storedstored waterwater creditscredits

„ MustMust recoverrecover withinwithin thethe samesame ActiveActive ManagementManagement AreaArea wherewhere thethe waterwater waswas storedstored

„ MayMay recoverrecover outsideoutside areaarea ofof hydrologichydrologic impactimpact „ Conditions must be met, including max drawdown

„ RecoveredRecovered waterwater retainsretains itsits legallegal characteristiccharacteristic fromfrom thethe storedstored waterwater (i.e.,(i.e., itit’’ss notnot groundwater)groundwater) LargeLarge ScaleScale RechargeRecharge andand thethe CentralCentral ArizonaArizona ProjectProject TheThe CentralCentral ArizonaArizona ProjectProject CENTRALCENTRAL ARIZONAARIZONA PROJECTPROJECT (CAP)(CAP) CAP aqueduct is 336 miles long Delivers approximately 1.5 MAF Annually CAPCAP RechargeRecharge ProgramProgram

„ AuthorizedAuthorized inin 19901990 toto buildbuild andand operateoperate largelarge scalescale spreadingspreading basinbasin projectsprojects

„ LegislationLegislation createdcreated thethe StateState WaterWater StorageStorage FundFund andand aa propertyproperty taxtax waswas collectedcollected fromfrom 19911991 toto 19961996 toto fundfund statestate demonstrationdemonstration rechargerecharge projectsprojects

„ FirstFirst projectproject becamebecame operationaloperational inin 19961996

„ CurrentlyCurrently operatesoperates 55 rechargerecharge projectsprojects

„ AA sixthsixth sitesite underunder constructionconstruction andand operationaloperational inin 20112011

CAPCAP RechargeRecharge ProjectsProjects

Annual Year Acres of Capacity Project Operational Basins (AF/YR)

Avra Valley Recharge Project (AVRP) 1996 11 11,000

Pima Mine Road RechargeRecharge Project (PMRRP) 1998 37 30,000

Lower Santa Cruz Recharge Project (LSCRP) 2000 30 50,000

Agua Fria Recharge Project (AFRP) 2002 93 35,000

Hieroglyphic Mountains Recharge Project (HMRP) 2003 38 35,000

Tonopah Desert Recharge Project (TDRP) 2006 220 150,000

Superstition Mountains Recharge Project (SMRP) 2011? 40 25,000 AvraAvra ValleyValley RechargeRecharge ProjectProject Completed in 1996. Operational Capacity 11,000 AFY 4 basins, 11 acres, 2-3 ft/day infiltration rates PimaPima MineMine RoadRoad RechargeRecharge ProjectProject

Completed in 1998. Operational Capacity 22,000 AFY 5 basins, 37 acres, 4-6 ft/day infiltration rates LowerLower SantaSanta CruzCruz RechargeRecharge ProjectProject

Completed in 2000. Operational Capacity 42,000 AFY 3 basins, 30 acres, 5-7 ft/day infiltration rates AguaAgua FriaFria RechargeRecharge ProjectProject

Completed in 2001. Operational Capacity 25,000 AFY 7 basins, 100 acres, 4 mile managed section, 5-7 ft/day infiltration rates HieroglyphicHieroglyphic MountainsMountains RechargeRecharge ProjectProject

Completed in 2002. Operational Capacity 30,000 AFY 3 basins, 38 acres, 2-5 ft/day infiltration rates TonopahTonopah DesertDesert RechargeRecharge ProjectProject

Completed in 2006. Operational Capacity 150,000 AFY 19 basins, 207 acres, 4-5 ft/day infiltration rates SuperstitionSuperstition MountainsMountains RechargeRecharge ProjectProject Phase 1 - to be completed in 2011 Permitted Capacity 25,000 AFY, 2 basins, 40 acres 150 CFS capacity turnout with 6 pumps CAPCAP RechargeRecharge ProgramProgram WaterWater ManagementManagement BenefitsBenefits

„ AllowsAllows ArizonaArizona toto divertdivert thethe fullfull entitlemententitlement ofof ColoradoColorado RiverRiver waterwater

„ StoresStores excessexcess CAPCAP waterwater undergroundunderground forfor recoveryrecovery duringduring aa shortageshortage eventevent

„ FirmsFirms futurefuture suppliessupplies forfor ArizonaArizona andand InterstateInterstate waterwater bankingbanking programsprograms

„ MitigatesMitigates againstagainst groundwatergroundwater overdraftoverdraft andand subsidencesubsidence MagnitudeMagnitude ofof thethe RechargeRecharge ProgramProgram inin thethe CAPCAP ServiceService AreaArea

Total delivered for recharge: 6,300,000 AF Total CAP or 26% water deliveries from 1985-2008: 4,300,000 AF GSF 24,046,000 AF 2,000,000 AF USF OverallOverall RechargeRecharge AchievementsAchievements

7.4+7.4+ MAFMAF ofof CAPCAP waterwater rechargedrecharged thruthru 20102010

„ GSFGSF InIn--lieulieu Recharge:Recharge: 4.74.7 MAFMAF

„ USFUSF DirectDirect Recharge:Recharge: 2.72.7 MAFMAF

„ AboutAbout halfhalf rechargedrecharged byby thethe ArizonaArizona WaterWater BankingBanking AuthorityAuthority

„ 3.0 MAF for Arizona firming „ 0.6 MAF for Interstate (Nevada) LessonsLessons LearnedLearned

Recharge is an excellent regional and local water management tool.

Groundwater consumption is reduced when renewable supplies (surface water and effluent) are put to use first.

Recharge provides a means to store (bank) water as a back up supply for times of shortage.

Large scale recharge projects are efficient and cost-effective. LessonsLessons LearnedLearned

Recharge builds partnerships and supports a wide range of economies.

The permit process is VERY complex, but well-worth the effort.

Tracking water deliveries and recovery is also VERY complex and is a “must” !

When siting a recharge project, RECOVERY of the water should be considered. ContactContact InformationInformation

CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT www.cap-az.com 623-869-2333

Dee Fuerst Sr. Policy Analyst Planning & Replenishment

Cliff Neal Manager Planning & Replenishment

Brian Henning Supervisor Water Systems Operations

Tim Gorey Sr. Hydrologist Water Systems Operations

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES www.azwater.gov

ARIZONA WATER BANKING AUTHORITY www.azwaterbank.gov

WhereWhere isis WaterWater StoredStored inin thethe PhoenixPhoenix AMAAMA Groundwater Savings Facilities (GSF) WhereWhere isis WaterWater StoredStored inin thethe PhoenixPhoenix AMAAMA Underground Storage Facilities (USF) WhereWhere isis WaterWater StoredStored inin thethe PinalPinal AMAAMA Groundwater Savings Facilities (GSF) WhereWhere isis WaterWater StoredStored inin thethe PINALPINAL AMAAMA Underground Storage Facilities (USF) WhereWhere isis WaterWater StoredStored inin thethe TucsonTucson AMAAMA Groundwater Savings Facilities (GSF) WhereWhere isis WaterWater StoredStored inin thethe TUCSONTUCSON AMAAMA Underground Storage Facilities (USF)