Agency approves water deal with Gila River Indian Community

The agency that runs the Central Arizona Project, Arizona’s largest resource for renewable water supplies, approved a deal to acquire water from the Gila River Indian Community.

KJZZ-FM reports the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, in the deal approved Thursday, will get access to water from the Gila River Indian Community over 25 years.

The agreement has an initial cost of $97.5 million.

Central Arizona Water Conservation District board member Jim Holway says they still need to look for more sources of water to meet groundwater replenishment obligations.

The Central Arizona Water Conservation District is also in charge of finding water to put back into the ground on behalf of some housing developments.

The Gila River Indian Community Council will take up the agreement next week. If it approves, the federal government will need to sign off as well.