CAGRD Announces New Plan of Operations
After receiving approval from the Arizona Department of Water Resources last month, the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) has announced the release of its 2025 Plan of Operations. Developed every 10 years, the plan of operations explains projected needs of CAGRD members and demonstrates CAGRD’s ability to meet those needs. In a 2022 preliminary report on the preparation of the 2025 Plan of Operations, given at a Central Arizona Project (CAP) CAGRD and Underground Storage Committee meeting, CAGRD Manager Laura Grignano explained that “the Plan’s purpose is to prove enrollment in the CAGRD, [to] satisfy the requirement in the Assured Water Supply rules, and to demonstrate consistency with the management goal for each AMA.” Approval came despite challenges faced by CAGRD staff due to the uncertain availability of Colorado River water in coming years. Excess CAP water has been unavailable since 2020; however, the 2025 plan highlights CAGRD’s preparedness to meet future demand through a diverse water portfolio. This is the fourth Plan of Operation approved since CAGRD’s inception in 1993.