Colorado River Proposed Lease & Transfer

On August 2, 2017, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (Department) received a request for consultation on Proposed Lease and Transfer of the Town of Quartzsite’s (Quartzsite) Colorado River Entitlement to the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD).

The Town of Quartzsite proposes to lease and transfer 1,070 acre-feet (af) of its Arizona fourth priority Colorado River water entitlement to the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (Proposed Lease and Transfer). The water is currently unused by Quartzsite. Under the proposal, the 1,070 af of Colorado River water will be leased and transferred to CAWCD for use in fulfilling the CAWCD’s statutory groundwater replenishment authority and responsibilities. Under the Lease Agreement between Quartzsite and CAWCD, the 1,070 af of Colorado River water is proposed to be leased for an initial term of 25 years with the ability to extend for an additional 25 years.

This Proposed Lease and Transfer would change the "place of use" associated with the existing Colorado River water entitlement. The Department will evaluate the proposed transfer in accordance with the Department’s January 17, 2014, Policy and Procedures for Transferring an Entitlement of Colorado River Water (Colorado River Transfer Policy).

The public is invited to comment on this proposed transfer of a Colorado River entitlement. The Department’s Colorado River Transfer Policy and the transfer documents are available in the links below.

Quartzsite-CAWCD Proposed Lease and Transfer Application

Substantive Policy Statement CR8 - Department’s Policy and Procedures for Transferring an Entitlement of Colorado R

Director’s letter to Secretary Zinke on Proposed Lease and Transfer of the Town

Public Meetings

The Department held three public meetings to receive comments regarding the proposed transfer. Transcripts of these proceedings are available below.