WSP08974

• File Number: 8210.140.20
• Description: Colorado River Basin Organizations and Entities - Colorado River Basin States Forum California
• State: CA
• Basin: Western Slope
• Date: 1/1/1974
• Author: Myron B Holburt
• Title: Annual Report for the Calendar Year 1973
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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Introduction

The Colorado River Board of
California was created by the State
legislature in 1937. It has the
responsibility of protecting the
rights and Interests of the Stale. Its
agencies and citizens in the water
and power resources of the
Colorado River system. DUlles of
the Board are set forth In Sections
12527 through 12533 of the Water
Code.
The Board is composed of SIX
members appointed by the
Governor from each of the
following agencies: Imperial
Irrigation District. Metropolitan
Water District of Southern
California. Los Angeles City
Department of Water and Power.
San Diego County Water Authority.
Coachella Valley County Water
District. and Palo Verde Irrigation
District. These agencies contribute
two-thIrds of the Board's budget.
The Chairman of the Board.
elected annually by the members.
serves ex officio as Colorado River
Commissioner of California. The
Chief Engineer directs the activities
of the staff. The Attorney General
of the State of California is legal
COunsel to the Board.

Colorado River Operation

The estimated virgin flow of the
Colorado River at lee Ferry during
the 1972-73 water year (October 1
through September 30) was
19.253.000 acre-feet. the highest
flow since 1957, and the third
highest since 1929_ This was 138
percent of the longtime average
flow of 13.9CXl,CXXl acre-feet for the
52-year peflod from 1922 to 1973.
Due to the high flow. storage 10
the major reservoirs increased

.

Hoovor Dam at nigh!.

7.936,000 acre-feet during the water
year. Most of this increase,
5.205.000 acre-feet. was in Upper
Basin reservOirs. The actual flow of
the fiver below Glen Canyon Dam
at lee Ferry for the water year was
10.123.400 acre-feet.
The Bureau of Reclamation
estimated the 1972-73 water year
depletions by the Upper Basin
states (Colorado. New Mexico.
Utah. and Wyoming) at 3.392.CXXl
acre-feet. 126.(X)() acre-feet more
than the 1971-72 water year.
Diversions less measured returns
for the major water users of the
lower Basin states (Aflzona.
California. and Nevada) were
6.362.000 acre-feet for calendar year
1973. 165.000 acre-feet more than
1972. Data for major California
users show diversions less returns
for calendar year 1973 at 5.208.000
acre-feet, 101.(0) acre-feet more
than 1972.
Deliveries of Colorado River
water to Mexico in accordance
with the 1944 Mexican Water
Treaty totalled 1.625.000 acre-feet
dUflng calendar year 1973. or
125.000 acre-feet in excess of the

Treaty's minimum requirement. Of
this amount. 9.405 acre-feet were
dehvered on an emergency basis 10
the City of Tijuana through
facilities of Metropolitan Water
District of Southern CallforOla and
other agencies in accordance With
Minute No. 240 of the International
Boundary and Water Commission.
Of the amount of delivery 10 excess
of the Treaty's minimum
requirement, 125.0Cl0 acre-feet,
about 119.0Cl0 acre-feet was
covered under prOviSions of
Minutes Nos_ 241 and 242 of the
International Boundary and Water
Commission. About 6.000 acre-feet
was chargeable to operational
control of the River and to U S.
users not taking ordered water.
Minutes Nos. 240 and 241 are
described in the Board's 1972
Annual Report and Minute No. 242
IS described in the Water Quality
section of this report.