Central Arizona Project

Part of: USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office (PXAO)

The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Arizona Project (CAP) collection presents results of the extensive cultural resource investigations conducted during the planning, construction, and maintenance of the project’s water delivery systems and associated infrastructure. The wide scope and expansive scale of CAP archaeology represent an impressive and now integral contribution to Southwestern archaeology, and much of the work changed and challenged many conceptions of Arizona’s prehistory. The collection’s materials are organized according to the CAP’s water delivery systems and other structures. Within each of these delivery system collections, materials are further divided into archaeological projects and tasks that were conducted to investigate cultural resources

The CAP is a multipurpose water resource development and management project that provides irrigation, municipal and industrial water, power, flood control, outdoor recreation, environmental enhancement and sediment control. The project also provides delivery of Tribal homeland water, partial settlement of Indian water rights claims, and economic benefits accruing from the leasing of Indian agricultural water rights to municipal entities. Water is provided to lands in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties, and to several communities, including the metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson. Authorization also was included for development of facilities to deliver water to Catron, Hidalgo, and Grant Counties in New Mexico. In addition to water delivery systems, the CAP includes power generation infrastructure, principally participation in the Navajo Generation Station and a transmission system to supply power to pumping plants and check structures of the Hayden-Rhodes, Fannin-McFarland and Tucson aqueducts

For administration and construction purposes, the CAP was divided into the Granite Reef, Orme, Salt-Gila, Gila River, Tucson, and the Indian and Non-Indian Distribution divisions. During project construction, the Orme Division was re-formulated and renamed the Regulatory Storage Division; it includes New Waddell Dam and Camp Dyer Diversion Dam. Upon completion, the Granite Reef Division was re-named the Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct, and the Salt-Gila Division was renamed the Fannin-McFarland Aqueduct.

The CAP was authorized by the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968. Construction of the project began in 1973 with the award of a contract for the Havasu Intake Channel Dike and excavation for the Havasu Pumping Plant (Mark Wilmer Pumping Plant) on the shores of Lake Havasu. Construction of the other project features followed. The backbone aqueduct system, which runs about 336 miles from Lake Havasu to a terminus southwest of Tucson, was declared substantially complete in 1993. The new and modified dams constructed as part of the project were declared substantially complete in 1994. All of the non-Indian agricultural water distribution systems were completed in the late 1980s, as were most of the municipal water delivery systems. Several Indian distribution systems are either under construction or remain to be built; it is estimated that full development of these systems could require another 20 years or longer.

When authorized, the plan included the construction of Hooker Dam and Buttes Dam on the Gila River to provide conservation storage, flood and sediment control, and recreation opportunities, and the construction of Orme Dam at the junction of the Salt and Verde Rivers to provide flood protection and water conservation. None of these facilities were built. Although authorized, Buttes Dam and Hooker Dam on the Gila River (in New Mexico) and Charleston Dam on the San Pedro River were not constructed because of cost considerations, a lack of demand for the water, lack of repayment capability by the users, and environmental constraints. To fulfill the authorized functions of Orme Dam, Plan 6 was developed. Plan 6 is the Regulatory Storage Division of the project and includes New Waddell Dam and Camp Dryer Diversion Dam located on the Agua Fria River, a tributary of the Gila River, and a modified Roosevelt and Stewart Mountain dams on the Salt River. These two dams predate the project and have been modified for safety and increased storage capacity.


Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-59 of 59)

There are 59 Projects within this Collection [remove this filter]


Ak-Chin Indian Community West Side Farms Data Recovery Project
  1. Ak-Chin Indian Community West Side Farms Data Recovery Project
Archaeological Assessment of 16 Sites at Lake Pleasant Regional Park
  1. Archaeological Assessment of 16 Sites at Lake Pleasant Regional Park
An Archaeological Reassessment and Evaluation of Eight Site Clusters Around Horseshoe Reservoir, Tonto National Forest
  1. An Archaeological Reassessment and Evaluation of Eight Site Clusters Around Horseshoe Reservoir, Tonto National Forest
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 1, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 1, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 10, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 10, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 11, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 11, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 12, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 12, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 2, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 2, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 3, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 3, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 4, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 4, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 5 Within a Borrow Area, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Yuma and Maricopa Counties, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 5 Within a Borrow Area, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Yuma and Maricopa Counties, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 5A, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Yuma and Maricopa Counties, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 5A, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Yuma and Maricopa Counties, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 5B, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 5B, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 6, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 6, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 7, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 7, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 8, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 8, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 9, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along Reach 9, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along the Bouse Hills-Harcuvar-Little Harquahala 115 kV Transmission Lines, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along the Bouse Hills-Harcuvar-Little Harquahala 115 kV Transmission Lines, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along the Liberty-Parker-Hassayampa Transmission Line, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz and Maricopa Counties, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along the Liberty-Parker-Hassayampa Transmission Line, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, La Paz and Maricopa Counties, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along the McCullough-Davis 230 kV Transmission Line, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Clark County, Nevada and Mohave County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations Along the McCullough-Davis 230 kV Transmission Line, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Clark County, Nevada and Mohave County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations of the Burnt Mountain and Agua Fria Tunnels, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations of the Burnt Mountain and Agua Fria Tunnels, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey and Investigations of the Havasu Pumping Plant Borrow Area, Mohave County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey and Investigations of the Havasu Pumping Plant Borrow Area, Mohave County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey for the Tucson Aqueduct System Reliability Investigations (TASRI) Reservoir, Pima County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Survey for the Tucson Aqueduct System Reliability Investigations (TASRI) Reservoir, Pima County, Arizona
Archaeological Survey of Five Parcels Around Roosevelt Lake
  1. Archaeological Survey of Five Parcels Around Roosevelt Lake
Archaeological Survey on the Ak Chin Indian Reservation, West Half
  1. Archaeological Survey on the Ak Chin Indian Reservation, West Half
Archaeological Testing at AZ T:3:79(ASM) in Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
  1. Archaeological Testing at AZ T:3:79(ASM) in Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
A Class I Cultural Resources Literature Review and Research Design for the New Mexico Unit of the Central Arizona Project, Catron, Grant, and Hidalgo Counties, New Mexico
  1. A Class I Cultural Resources Literature Review and Research Design for the New Mexico Unit of the Central Arizona Project, Catron, Grant, and Hidalgo Counties, New Mexico
Class III Cultural Resources Survey and Site Damage Assessment at Arizona Horse Lovers Park, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
  1. Class III Cultural Resources Survey and Site Damage Assessment at Arizona Horse Lovers Park, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
Cultural Resource Assessment of 13 Sites in Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
  1. Cultural Resource Assessment of 13 Sites in Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
Cultural Resources Assessment of 117 Archaeological Sites for the Fannin-McFarland and Tucson Aqueducts, Central Arizona Project Canal, Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima Counties, Arizona
  1. Cultural Resources Assessment of 117 Archaeological Sites for the Fannin-McFarland and Tucson Aqueducts, Central Arizona Project Canal, Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima Counties, Arizona
Cultural Resources Assessment of 22 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reaches 1 and 2 of the Fannin-McFarland Portion of the CAP Canal
  1. Cultural Resources Assessment of 22 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reaches 1 and 2 of the Fannin-McFarland Portion of the CAP Canal
Cultural Resources Assessment of 23 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reach 3 of the Fannin-McFarland Portion of the CAP Canal
  1. Cultural Resources Assessment of 23 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reach 3 of the Fannin-McFarland Portion of the CAP Canal
Cultural Resources Assessment of 28 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reach 4 of the Fannin-McFarland Portion of the CAP Canal
  1. Cultural Resources Assessment of 28 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reach 4 of the Fannin-McFarland Portion of the CAP Canal
Cultural Resources Assessment of 39 Sites in the Agua Fria Conservation Area
  1. Cultural Resources Assessment of 39 Sites in the Agua Fria Conservation Area
Cultural Resources Assessment of 59 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reaches 1 and 2 of the Tucson Aqueduct (Phase A)
  1. Cultural Resources Assessment of 59 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reaches 1 and 2 of the Tucson Aqueduct (Phase A)
A Cultural Resources Survey of 1,420 Acres Along the Lower San Pedro River, North of Benson
  1. A Cultural Resources Survey of 1,420 Acres Along the Lower San Pedro River, North of Benson
Cultural Resources Survey of 34 Acres Along Fossil Creek
  1. Cultural Resources Survey of 34 Acres Along Fossil Creek
Damage Assessment of AZ T:4:157(ASM) and AZ T:4:156(ASM) in Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
  1. Damage Assessment of AZ T:4:157(ASM) and AZ T:4:156(ASM) in Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
Hayden Rhodes Aqueduct Phase IV Small Sites Assessment, Central Arizona Project Canal
  1. Hayden Rhodes Aqueduct Phase IV Small Sites Assessment, Central Arizona Project Canal
The Hayden Rhodes Large Site Resurvey Phase II
  1. The Hayden Rhodes Large Site Resurvey Phase II
The Hayden-Rhodes Large Site Resurvey
  1. The Hayden-Rhodes Large Site Resurvey
The Historical Archaeology of Dam Construction Camps in Central Arizona
  1. The Historical Archaeology of Dam Construction Camps in Central Arizona
Homesteading and Ranching in the Vicinity of Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties, Arizona
  1. Homesteading and Ranching in the Vicinity of Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties, Arizona
Intensive Cultural Resource Survey of Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties, Arizona
  1. Intensive Cultural Resource Survey of Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties, Arizona
Lake Pleasant 52 Sites Relocation
  1. Lake Pleasant 52 Sites Relocation
Lake Pleasant 8 Sites Relocation
  1. Lake Pleasant 8 Sites Relocation
Lake Pleasant Condition Assessments for 41 Sites
  1. Lake Pleasant Condition Assessments for 41 Sites
Lake Pleasant Regional Park Cultural Resources Management Plan
  1. Lake Pleasant Regional Park Cultural Resources Management Plan
The Lower Verde Archaeological Project
  1. The Lower Verde Archaeological Project
Phase 1 Investigations at AZ T:4:150(ASM), a Multicomponent Rockshelter at Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
  1. Phase 1 Investigations at AZ T:4:150(ASM), a Multicomponent Rockshelter at Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
Phase 2 Data Recovery at AZ T:4:150(ASM), a Multicomponent Rockshelter at Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
  1. Phase 2 Data Recovery at AZ T:4:150(ASM), a Multicomponent Rockshelter at Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Yavapai County, Arizona
Relocation, Reassessment, and Remapping of 74 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reaches 3, 4, and 5 of the Tucson Aqueduct (Phase B)
  1. Relocation, Reassessment, and Remapping of 74 Archaeological Sites Located Along Reaches 3, 4, and 5 of the Tucson Aqueduct (Phase B)
Roosevelt Platform Mound Study
  1. Roosevelt Platform Mound Study
Salt-Gila (Fannin-McFarland) Aqueduct Central Arizona Project Mapping and Assessment
  1. Salt-Gila (Fannin-McFarland) Aqueduct Central Arizona Project Mapping and Assessment
Salt-Gila Aqueduct (Fannin-McFarland Aqueduct) Archaeological Data Collection Studies and Supplemental Class III Survey Project
  1. Salt-Gila Aqueduct (Fannin-McFarland Aqueduct) Archaeological Data Collection Studies and Supplemental Class III Survey Project
San Xavier Central Arizona Project Extension: Archaeological Investigations At AZ BB:13:16(ASM)-Locus F, Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, San Xavier District, Pima County, Arizona
  1. San Xavier Central Arizona Project Extension: Archaeological Investigations At AZ BB:13:16(ASM)-Locus F, Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, San Xavier District, Pima County, Arizona
Survey for Pinnacle Park at Reach 11 of the Central Arizona Project
  1. Survey for Pinnacle Park at Reach 11 of the Central Arizona Project
Tucson Aqueduct Project Phase A
  1. Tucson Aqueduct Project Phase A
Tucson Aqueduct Project Phase B
  1. Tucson Aqueduct Project Phase B