The Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board met Thursday, May 4 at CAP Headquarters. General Manager Brenda Burman kicked off the meeting with a recap of CAP activities the past month, including the Arizona Forward Governor’s Award for Arizona’s Future, which was presented to Central Arizona Project and Arizona State University at the end of April.

The Board approved ICS Preservation Program Agreements involving CAWCD, the Arizona Department of Water Resources and each of the following entities: Apache Junction Domestic Water Improvement District, the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District, the Cities of Mesa, Scottsdale and Surprise, Copper World Inc., EPCOR, Freeport Minerals Corporation, Salt River Project, and the Town of Queen Creek. Currently, the projected total volume of participation in the ICS Preservation Program is 41,776 acre-feet. At $330 per acre-foot, the total cost is $13,786,080, which will be split one-third from CAWCD ($4,595,360) and two-thirds from ADWR ($9,190,720). CAWCD’s contribution is within the amount previously budgeted for the 500+ Plan.

Additionally, the Board approved United States System Conservation Agreements including the United States, CAWCD and each of the following entities: ASARCO LLC, the Cities of Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson, Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District and the Town of Gilbert. Water conserved under this program is for the benefit of the Colorado River system and not any individual Colorado River contractor or entitlement holder.

Related to rates and taxes, the Board also:

• Fixed the CAWCD General Ad Valorem Tax Rate at 10 cents per $100 or assessed valuation for the 2023/2024 tax year and the CAWCD Water Storage Tax Rate at four cents per $100 of assessed valuation for the 2023/2024 tax year
• Adopted a resolution determining that all of the Water Storage Tax levied in tax year 2023/2024 is required for CAP repayment or annual operations, maintenance and replacement costs, including CAWCD costs for Arizona Water Bank Authority M&I firming
• Adopted water delivery and capital charge rates based on the 2024-2028 preliminary rate schedule
• Authorized the collection of CAGRD annual membership dues during tax year 2023/2024 and approved the 2023/2024 through 2027/2028 preliminary CAGRD rate schedule
• Approved a preliminary Underground Water Storage 2024-2028 Rate Schedule

On the consent agenda, the Board approved:

• Construction contract for the restroom remodels at Hassayampa Pumping Plant and Headquarters Building 2 communications wing
• Purchase contract for motor grader replacement

The Board also heard a number of presentations including:

• SRP-CAP Interconnection Facility proposed Phase 1 Cost-Share Agreement
• Colorado River Conditions
• Colorado River Discussions: Report on Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

The CAWCD Board of Directors is a popularly elected, 15-member board. Ten members are from Maricopa County, four from Pima County and one from Pinal County. Members serve six-year, unpaid terms. The board typically meets publicly the first Thursday of each month to establish policy and set rates and taxes for CAP. Meetings are open to the public – in person and via livestream.

For additional details on the May 4, 2023 board meeting, take a look at the agenda. Board minutes and video will be posted here, as well