Augmentation
Augmentation
As we face the realities of ongoing drought and climate change and its effect on Colorado River supplies, CAP is working on partnerships to better understand how we can ensure water security for the future. This includes investments in desalination, reuse and weather modification.
Desalination
As a part of Minute 242 and its intention to define a “permanent and definitive solution” to the international salinity problem of water deliveries to Mexico, the USBR was authorized to construct and operate the Yuma Desalting Plant (YDP) to treat Wellton Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District’s (WMIDD) drainage water, and deliver the treated water as a part of the U.S. treaty obligations for water deliveries to Mexico.
Due to different factors, YDP has remained largely inactive since construction was completed in 1992. Current drought conditions and increased water uses exacerbate the vulnerability of Lower Basin users to Colorado River’s water shortages. This has motivated water users to evaluate the operation of YDP (2010 Pilot Operation Run and Evaluation of Technological Advancements and Alternative Feed Water Supplies for Operation of Yuma Desalting Plant- CRADA Report) as well as consider alternatives to operating the plant (Yuma Desalting Plant (YDP) Long Term Operational Alternatives).
Water Reuse
The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and Central Arizona Water Conservation District have signed a letter of intent to pursue collaboration with the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California’s Regional Recycled Water Project (RRWP). This project would purify and reuse wastewater and potentially offset the use of imported supplies such as Colorado River water.
The collaboration is an extension of cooperative efforts, including with the Southern Nevada Water Authority to explore and develop new projects and infrastructure to potentially augment the Colorado River. The RRWP is a unique opportunity to potentially improve the reliability of Colorado River water supplies to benefit Arizona, California and Nevada water users and create new flexibility and resiliency in the Colorado River system.
Weather Modification
Weather Modification activities support cloud seeding projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin that aim at generating greater runoff volumes in the Colorado River. Weather Modification is a jointly funded endeavor between CAP, SNWA, and California’s six agency committee and targets cloud seeding operations in the states of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. These and many other weather modification activities are coordinated with the North American Weather Modification Council (NAWMC).
