Response to Data Request Item 73
This data request response has been created from the response to item 74.
Assuming Colorado River water is obtained for the ADD Water program, how such water would be treated during shortage depends on if the Colorado River water is considered project or non-project water.
CAP's water delivery contract is not for a set volume of Colorado River water. Instead, CAP is allowed to take whatever portion of Arizona's 2.8 million acre-foot apportionment is not used by Arizona mainstream water users of equal or higher priority. As a result, in the first instance, if CAP was to acquire water from a senior user along the river in Arizona-and did nothing else-the water would automatically come under CAP's water delivery contract and could be delivered as Project Water. In the event of shortage, Project Water would be made available first to those with existing long-term CAP contracts-i.e., Indian contractors and M&I subcontractors.
It is more likely that Colorado River water obtained to meet the demands of ADD Water customers would be treated as non-project water when transported through the CAP. As non-project water, it would retain its original priority and would be available exclusively for ADD Water customers in the event of shortage.