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Cave Creek reviews Bartlett Dam option as project costs climb to $3.7 billion
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Summary
Staff said Cave Creek joined the Bartlett Dam effort as a nonvoting participant and requested 1,000 acre‑feet of storage; consultants warned the project’s average annual supply to Cave Creek could be around 286 acre‑feet and that estimated costs have increased to about $3.7 billion.
Town staff presented the Bartlett Dam modification project as a potential long‑term source of additional storage on the Verde River but cautioned about variability in expected yield and rising project costs.
Sean Cruz Weisner said the town became a nonvoting member in September 2024 and requested up to 1,000 acre‑feet of storage. He cautioned that, based on the project proponent’s averages, the town’s expected annual yield would likely average about 286 acre‑feet per year — a figure staff described as variable from year to year depending on Verde River conditions.
Weisner also said the project’s estimated cost has grown substantially; staff cited a recent figure of about $3.7 billion for the full project and observed that federal funding would be required for construction. He said Cave Creek’s per‑acre‑foot cost for its 1,000 acre‑feet allocation would be significant and that the town would need to decide whether to remain in the project as final funding plans and federal decisions become clearer.
Staff said the Bartlett Dam project is undergoing feasibility and environmental review and that construction would depend on securing federal contributions. The town emphasized that Bartlett is one leg of a broader diversification strategy rather than a sole solution.
