Supplemental Colorado River water for a developed groundwater agriculture: A problem of quantities, qualities and conjunctive use

Abstract

Upon completion of the Central Arizona Project (CAP), Colorado River water will be delivered some 200 miles inland for agricultural, domestic, and industrial use. Any new importation of water to an area implies adjustments in the organization of the economy of the area. For irrigated agriculture, adjustments will occur in input mix, output mix, acreage farmed, and in gross and net incomes. A complicating factor associated with importation of Colorado River water is that the imported water will contain different dissolved salt concentrations than the groundwater and surface water currently being used. Mathematical programming models of representative irrigated farms in Pinal County, Arizona, are used to project adjustments implied under several assumptions as to the availability, cost and salinity of the various sources of irrigation water. Conclusions are drawn as to the potential winners and losers from project development. Conclusions include the following: Increased salinity should not be of concern to the farmers in the county and Indian farms will reap the greatest share of benefits from the Project.