Wanted: Quartzsite’s Colo. River water
A closer look at the town’s entitlements
Apparently, there are offers on the table by other entities to buy or lease the town of Quartzsite’s Colorado River water entitlement.
Such an item has been posted on the agenda of the Town Council meetings in recent weeks, both for executive session and open session. But there’s been little discussion, at least in a public format.
Asked about it, Mayor Norm Simpson acknowledged that such an action has been considered.
“We’re studying it,” said Simpson.
However, he emphasized, it’s “very preliminary.” Furthermore, “water is not on the front burner right now,” noted Simpson. “We’re trying to get our feet on the ground,” he said of the relatively new council that includes three new councilmembers and himself, a new mayor.
For now, said Simpson, the council is focusing on starting work on the budget process for the upcoming fiscal year and looking at developing a strategic plan for the town.
The town of Quartzsite holds a fourth priority entitlement to 1,070 acre-feet a year of Colorado River water, according to a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation dated Jan. 28, 1999.
Most communities along the river in Arizona, as well as Central Arizona Project, are fourth priority because they are among the newest contracts to be granted entitlements. Older and more senior water rights in Arizona are held by agriculture interests, Native American tribes and the cities of Yuma and Parker.
Although the town of Quartzsite is entitled to use 1,070 acre-feet of water from the river a year, it does not use any because it lacks the appropriate infrastructure to carry the water from the river approximately 18 miles to the town. Instead, the town relies on wells to provide water for its residents.
There are a variety of issues to be considered, according to the Colorado River Utilization Plan prepared for the town in 2014 that was obtained by the Quartzsite Times through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The town currently uses groundwater from two deep supply wells as their source of water (in addition to some private wells). There is concern, though, that the town needs to expand its system to meet existing and future water demands.
This would consist of a third supply well and/or use of the Colorado River water entitlement.
However, construction of the infrastructure to deliver Colorado River water to the town would be extremely costly — in the tens of millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, the town’s contract for its Colorado River water entitlement expired last year because it hasn’t used the water. It was granted a 15-year extension to Jan. 28, 2029, to develop and implement a plan to make use of the water, with five-year milestones beginning in 2019.
One option being explored is to sell or lease the town’s Colorado River entitlement to another entity.
And one entity that is very interested is the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD), a division of Central Arizona Project that is tasked with replenishing groundwater used by its members and to meet water assurance requirements.
“We are interested and we are talking to the town,” confirmed Perri Benemelis, manager of the water supply program for CAGRD.
She characterized it as a win-win for both CAP and the town of Quartzsite. Such a deal would provide a funding source for Quarzsite to upgrade its well system.
As things now stand, Quartzsite’s water entitlement is going to Central Arizona Project through its delivery system from the river with no compensation to the town, Benemelis said. She explained that that’s because, under current river law, any of Arizona’s river allocation that isn’t being used goes to CAP.
“CAP now gets the water not being used by Quartzsite,” she said. “We have been using it for replenishment purposes.”
If a deal can be worked out between CAGRD and Quartzsite — and approved by regulators, the town would begin receiving compensation.
As for CAP, the water would be considered part of the water provider’s entitlement rather than excess water, helping protect its supply if — or more likely when — a shortage is declared on the river, Benemelis said.
“It could be a good partnership,” she said.
But there are a number of hoops to jump through. First, CAGRD and Quartzsite would have to reach an agreement, then it would be subject to review and approval by USBR and Arizona Department of Water Resources.
“Nothing physically changes,” Benemelis said. “The water is now being diverted. It’s just a legal process.”