Project Overview

Learn about the proposed action, project purpose and need, and project milestones.

Background

GSC Farm, LLC (GSC Farm) owns approximately 504 acres of agricultural land in the Cibola Valley in La Paz County, Arizona. GSC Farm held an entitlement to an annual diversion of up to 2,913.3 acre-feet per year (AFY) of Arizona fourth-priority lower Colorado River water entitlement for irrigation use within the service area of its Contract for Delivery of Colorado River Water for Use in Arizona, Contract No. 13-XX-30-W0571, dated December 23, 2013, as amended, with Reclamation. In December of 2018 GSC Farm entered into a purchase and transfer agreement with Queen Creek to transfer their Arizona fourth-priority lower Colorado River water entitlement to Queen Creek.  They then sought Reclamation’s approval to assign 2,033.01 AFY of its Arizona fourth-priority lower Colorado River water entitlement Queen Creek to modify the point of diversion, place of use, and type of use of their entitlement held under Contract 13-SS-30-W0571. Reclamation completed an environmental assessment and published their finding of no significant impact in response to GSC’s request. Following the 9th Circuit’s order denying a temporary injunction, Reclamation and GSC Farm executed appropriate contracts providing for the transfer of 2,033.01 AFY of GSC’s Arizona fourth-priority lower Colorado River water entitlement to Queen Creek in April of 2023.

Queen Creek is a community of approximately 89,300 people (estimated July 2025) that is in the southeastern part of the greater metropolitan Phoenix area, in Maricopa and Pinal counties, Arizona. The Queen Creek water service area extends beyond the town boundaries and encompasses an estimated population of 94,300 individuals (estimated 2024). In December 2018, Queen Creek entered into a Purchase and Transfer Agreement with GSC Farm for their Arizona fourth-priority lower Colorado River water entitlement. Queen Creek began taking water deliveries in June of 2023 and continues to take those water deliveries in compliance with the 9th Circuit’s August 13, 2024, order. Queen Creek purchased the 2,033.01 AFY of GSC Farm Arizona fourth-priority lower Colorado River water entitlement using financing provided by a Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) loan. Under the terms of its loan Queen Creek is precluded from using water purchased with the WIFA funds for growth.

Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is the lead federal agency and decision-maker for this Project. Reclamation was established in 1902 to manage water resources and promote economic development in the West. Reclamation is the largest wholesaler of water in the country and participates in comprehensive water management plans to meet water needs and balance competing uses of water in the West. For more information go to: https://www.usbr.gov.

Purpose and Need

Reclamation’s purpose for the action is to further evaluate GSC Farm’s partial assignment and transfer of its Arizona fourth-priority Colorado River water entitlement, including changing the point of diversion, place and type of use, and transport the water in the Central Arizona Project canal to Queen Creek. Reclamation’s need for action, specifically the completion of an EIS, is to comply with the 9th Circuit Court Order dated August 13, 2024, that remanded the EA to Reclamation to prepare an EIS. Queen Creek’s objective in acquiring the water entitlement that was formerly held by GSC Farm is to diversify its water portfolio and reduce its dependence on groundwater.

No Action

Under the No Action alternative Queen Creek would retain its entitlement to the 2,033.01 AFY of Arizona fourth-priority Colorado River water, however they would lack a means of transporting the water to Queen Creek. The delivery contract between the U.S. and Queen Creek and the wheeling contract to transport the Arizona fourth-priority Colorado River water entitlement held by Queen Creek would be canceled. GSC Farm would continue to hold its 69.93 AFY Arizona fourth-priority Colorado River water entitlement and would, at some point, seek to transfer its remaining entitlement to a municipal water provider concurrent with or prior to development of 280-acres of 504-acre property of GSC Farm land formerly associated with the transferred water.

Proposed Action

Under the Proposed Action, Reclamation would authorize continuation of the existing delivery contract between the U.S. and Queen Creek and the wheeling contract to use the CAP Canal to transport the Arizona fourth-priority Colorado River water entitlement held by Queen Creek. Queen Creek would continue to take delivery of an estimated 1,931.36 AFY of its Arizona fourth-priority Colorado River water entitlement at one of the Groundwater Savings Facilities evaluated in the environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact previously published by Reclamation. GSC Farm would continue to hold its 69.93 AFY of Arizona fourth-priority lower Colorado River water entitlement and would, at some point, seek to transfer its remaining entitlement to a municipal water provider concurrent with or prior to development of 280-acres of 504-acres of GSC Farm property formerly associated with the transferred water.

Major Milestones

  • Public Scoping to Initiate NEPA

    • NOI Published On INSERT DATE

    • 30-Day Public Scoping Period On INSERT DATE

    • Web-based Live Teams Event Public Meetings (2 scheduled):

      • Meeting 1: <DATE & TIME>

      • Meeting 2: <DATE & TIME>

      • *Instructions to access Microsoft Teams here.

  • Final EIS and Record of Decision

    • Target date: April 2027