Although it’s summer break, the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board (CAWCD) convened a special meeting on Thursday, July 16 at Central Arizona Project (CAP) headquarters in north Phoenix.

The Board approved an agreement between CAWCD and Yuma County Water Users Association (YCWUA) to fund and maintain drainage wells, optimizing water deliveries at the southerly international boundary. This water is accounted for as return flows toward YCWUA’s diversions. With the addition of these new wells, YCWUA’s return flows are expected to increase by approximately 28,000 acre-feet. It is anticipated that YCWUA consumptive

use will decrease with the increasing return flows, and these volumes will then be available to CAP to divert as part of the project supplies. These additional drainage wells will also have positive impacts for agricultural practice within Yuma Valley.

The Board also approved two System Conservation Agreements:

• Extension of existing Bucket 1A System Conservation Agreements to include water delivery years 2027 and 2028 with: ASARCO LLC, City of Glendale, City of Tucson, Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District, Spanish Trail Water Company and City of Mesa
• Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation Program Bucket 2 Long-Term System Efficiency Project Agreement among the United States, CAWCD and the City of Phoenix – expected to generate a total of 150,000 acre-feet of water to be conserved in Lake Mead over a period of 25 years

Additionally, the Board heard a presentation on the June 30 Arizona Department of Water Resources Lower Basin Plan Implementation informational session.

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 July 16, 2026 board meeting, take a look at the agenda. Board minutes and video will be posted here, as well.