Central Arizona Project Faces Severe Cuts as Colorado River Water Dries Up
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Central Arizona Project into law on Sept. 20, 1968. Nearly six decades later, the 336-mile system of canals, pipelines, and pumps that pulls water from the Colorado River near Lake Havasu and delivers it to Phoenix and Tucson is facing major cutbacks. The Colorado River basin is experiencing a 21st-century drought supercharged by climate change, leaving the river unable to meet the demands of the states that rely on it. As the nation’s two largest reservoirs shrink to record lows, a controversial set of plans would cut a significant chunk of Arizona’s annual take from the Colorado River. The proposed reductions could mean a 47% cut to the amount of water allocated to the Central Arizona Project.
Engineers and Lawmakers Ignored Warnings Issued in the 1960s
Today’s water crisis is not entirely unexpected. When the architects of the CAP designed the massive infrastructure project in the 1960s, they explicitly warned that the river’s flows would drop in the 21st century and were clear about the fact that it would not work forever without extra help.
To combat future shortages, project architects proposed augmentation plans, which involved bringing outside water supplies into the Colorado River basin. Proposals included connecting the Colorado River system to the Columbia River system in the Pacific Northwest and constructing massive desalination facilities on the Pacific Coast. However, those recommendations were ultimately shelved. Tom McCann, a former deputy general manager for the CAP, explained that there was simply no willingness to spend money to address a future problem that was not here yet.
Optimism and Infrastructure Ambitions Color Past Decisions
The architects of the Central Arizona Project believed strongly in American engineering prowess, a mindset born from an era of booming national optimism following World War II and the creation of the interstate highway system. Congressman Mo Udall testified before Congress in 1968 that he was certain augmentation projects would eventually supply more water to the canal. His brother Stewart Udall, who served as secretary of the Interior from 1961 to 1969, shared similar views.
Brad Udall, son of Mo Udall and nephew of Stewart Udall, said that his relatives and their contemporaries operated under the assumption that technology could conquer any obstacle. The 1968 idea was we could build our way out of anything,
Brad Udall said. We could engineer our way out of every crisis. We’re smart. We’re rich. The world’s our oyster.
Legal Battles Over Federal Cutbacks Escalate Across Western States
The failure to build backup water supplies or reach a comprehensive regional compromise has culminated in high-stakes issues. Rich Weissinger, who spent nearly 30 years working for the organization that operates the canal, including a stint as director of field maintenance, noted that millions of residents and heavy industries depend on the system for a stable supply. With reservoirs dropping, that stability is now severely compromised.
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