Request Council approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the city of Glendale, Arizona and approval authority to execute an Exchange Implementation Agreement with the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) to enhance water resource management for both municipalities through a series of annual water exchanges.
 

Approve the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the cities of Glendale and Goodyear, providing for water exchanges, and authorizing the City Manager to execute the CAWCD Exchange Implementation Agreement. (Barbara Chappell, Water Services Director)

The costs associated with this item have been included in the fiscal year 2025 budget within the Water fund.  The city of Glendale will reimburse the city of Goodyear for costs associated with the Colorado Salt River Project Interconnect Facility (CSIF) lease.   Reimbursement costs will be based on the volume of exchanged water provided by Goodyear to Glendale.

The primary purpose of this proposed agreement is to enhance water management capabilities within both cities while preparing for potential shortages in the Colorado River system.

The city conveys its Central Arizona Project (CAP) water through the Salt River Project (SRP) canal system across the valley to our Surface Water Treatment Plant for treatment. The CSIF is the location where the CAP and SRP canal systems intersect, allowing the city of Goodyear to receive its Colorado River allocation. The city has a lease agreement with SRP to reserve and pay for 25,000 acre-feet of water capacity annually.  The city paid $16.10 per acre-foot in 2024 for a total of $402,500. The CSIF lease is important for the continued operation of our Surface Water Treatment Plant.

Glendale aims to receive Goodyear’s CAP water at its Pyramid Peak Water Treatment facility in north Glendale.  In exchange, Goodyear would receive water from Glendale’s SRP system supplies, which could include New Conservation Space (NCS) water, Flood Control Space (FCS) water, and/or recovered CAP long-term storage credits.  The exchanged water would be delivered through the SRP canal system to the intake of Goodyear’s Surface Water Treatment Plant at 4980 S. 157th Ave.  All exchanges between both parties would be for wet water or physical water and not Long-Term Storage Credits that are recovered at a later date.

A large cost for the city of Goodyear in utilizing the SRP canal system to convey its CAP water is the CSIF lease.  This cost is paid by the city at the beginning of each calendar year to reserve 25,000 acre-feet of capacity within the SRP canal system.  The cost associated with the lease is separate from the cost of the physical CAP water and must be paid regardless of whether water is delivered through the CSIF. The city of Glendale, as part of the exchange, would reimburse the city of Goodyear a portion of the costs associated with the CSIF lease based on the volume of water exchanged between both parties.

The proposed IGA affords the city of Goodyear an opportunity to participate in a regional solution to better manage water within the Valley.  This proactive strategy not only serves to address immediate water supply concerns but also builds a foundation for long-term water security and effective drought response measures in both communities.

The water quality for water received by the city of Goodyear should not be impacted.  As the water travels through the SRP canals to the pump station it should remain of the same consistency as the water currently being delivered to the Surface Water Treatment Facility in Goodyear.

The IGA will bolster water management capabilities, optimize water allocation, promote more efficient water usage, and ensure a more sustainable approach to water resource management.