Plan of Operation

By January 1st of each year, the AWBA must approve a Plan of Operation for that calendar year.  The report specifies how the AWBA will operate for the year including a water delivery schedule and associated storage facilities, and the projected cost for implementation of the Plan.  Prior to approval, the Plan goes through a public review process.

2023 Plan of Operation: 

The 2023 Plan of Operation was adopted on December 7th, 2022.

In 2023, the Colorado River will operate under a Lower Basin Tier 2a shortage condition, which effectively reduces Arizona's Colorado River entitlement by 592,000 acre-feet. Accordingly, there will be no excess CAP water available to the AWBA for storage. While significant, the reductions in Colorado River supplies in 2023 will not impact supplies available for CAP M&I subcontractors and on-River M&I contractors. However, the reductions will impact supplies made available to Tribes under the Arizona Water Settlements Act of 2004, resulting in an AWBA firming requirement. In the absence of excess CAP water, the AWBA plans to make progress on its firming goals through credit acquisitions