The C. C. Cragin Water Line Project, an important step in Payson’s future and in the community’s ability to attract a university campus, continues to make progress.  According to LaRon Garrett, assistant town manager, on Sep 14th Payson closed on a loan from the Arizona Water Infrastructure Financing Authority (WIFA) and those funds will be used to finalize the remaining design and begin construction. 

Construction will begin in mid September on the first of seven in-town upgrades.  The next phase will begin construction in early October and the third phase by November.  The connection to the Salt River Project (SRP) system is currently out to bid and should also begin construction in November.  Payson continues to work with the Bureau of Reclamation to obtain additional federal funding through that agency.

The C.C. Cragin Water Line project is popularly referred to by some as the Blue Ridge project.  However, as part of the Arizona Settlement Act of 2004, the reservoir’s name was changed from Blue Ridge to C.C. Cragin to honor SRP’s superintendent of the 1920s and 30s.