The Central Arizona Project (CAP), owned and constructed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, is a 336-mile long system of aqueducts, tunnels, pumping plants, and pipelines that carry water across Arizona from Lake Havasu to southwest of Tucson.  Designed to bring 1.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year to Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa Counties, CAP is the largest single renewable water resource in the state. 

In 1971, the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) was created to not only provide a means for Arizona to repay the federal government for the reimbursable costs of construction, but to also assume the responsibility for the care, operation, maintenance, and management of the system.

USE OF CAP LANDS

CAWCD's Land Department (Department) is responsible for managing all land associated with the CAP for the benefit of CAWCD and its water customers.  Water delivery is CAWCD's primary mission, therefore all proposed uses of CAP land (utility crossings, roadways, communication sites, etc.) are evaluated to determine the overall effect on the CAP.  Requests for land use, either from the public or private sector, requires that a Land and Water Use Application be submitted for review before the Department can grant a license permitting access and/or use.  In its land use decisions, CAWCD must abide by the agreements it has with the United States, referred to as the Application Process.  CAWCD will not enter into land use agreements or approve land use activities which diminish, compromise, ignore, or subordinate any of its rights to manage CAP land uses. 

Temporary water withdrawal is permitted by CAWCD for the following uses:  Construction projects, dust control, city/county road maintenance, military training, and company-owned livestock operations.  For Temporary Water Use inquiries and information on associated fees, please call 623-869-2274 or 623-869-2555.

Applicants may request a preliminary meeting with Department staff prior to submitting the Application to determine if an Application is required and/or to ensure that all required documentation is clearly defined.  The entity identified as the applicant on the Application will be ultimately responsible for the completed improvement.  Please note: a Permit Bond and CAP Dig Permit must be obtained prior to the issuance of a Construction License (License). The Department will provide the Dig Permit form to the applicant; Permit Bond requirements are outlined below. The documents must be submitted to and approved by the Department before any construction can commence on CAP controlled property. 

PERMIT BOND

Prior to the issuance of a Construction License, all applicants or their contractors must procure and maintain a Permit Bond naming the Central Arizona Water Conservation District as the obligee.  The Permit Bond requirement is to ensure the timely submission of "As Built" drawings.  The Permit Bond amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis, with a minimum value of $10,000.

CAP TRAIL

As construction of the CAP began in 1973, United States Bureau of Reclamation anticipated the development of a multi-use recreational trail along the entire length of the canal.  Wherever possible, Reclamation acquired sufficient land and inset the fence 10 ft. to 20 ft from the property boundary to allow for a trail to be developed.  Emphasis is focused on urban areas, particularly in those areas where the trail could be developed in conjunction with adjacent development.  CAP requests that each municipality and/or developer provide an additional twenty feet of trail width or setback along those adjacent developments to allow for proper grading, drainage and landscaping enhancements to occur on the developers property.  For more information on the CAP trail policy click on the link provided: Trail Policy.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For any questions contact the CAP Lands Department at 623-869-2555 or by e-mail at 2555@cap-az.com