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<br />11 <br /> <br /> <br />OJ2158 <br /> <br />WATER REQUIREMENTS AND RESOURCES <br /> <br />In 1965, the three primary sources of water available for use in <br />the Lower Colorado Region were: a portion of Colorado River flows <br />delivered at Lee Ferry, Arizona; local runoff; and local ground water <br />supplies. See summary of water requirements and supply on page 36. <br /> <br />Allowing for all losses, depletions, and exports and excluding <br />ground-water overdraft, the total water supply available for use in the <br />Region was 5.75 million acre-feet in 1965 and is projected to decrease <br />to 4.02 million acre-feet in 2020 as a result of increased depletions <br />in the Upper Basin. <br /> <br />Total water requirement (withdrawals) for the Region is projected <br />to increase from the 1965 base of about 10.1 million acre-feet to about <br />13.0 million acre-feet in year 2020. Total water consumed (depletion) <br />is projected to increase from 5.8 million acre-feet in 1965 to about <br />8.5 million acre-feet in 2020. <br /> <br />In 1965, ground-water reserves were being overdrawn (depleted) at <br />a rate of 2.5 million acre-feet annually due largely to a lack of <br />facilities for enabling the Region to utilize its share of Colorado <br />River water. In the absence of an imported water supply, the ground- <br />water overdraft will continue and the regional water deficiency is <br />projected to reach 4.5 million acre-feet annually by year 2020. <br /> <br />Until augmentation of regional water supplies is accomplished and/or <br />salinity control measures are installed, the increased use of water in <br />the Colorado River Basin will result in further quality degradation of <br />the Colorado River. <br /> <br />Maintenance of an acceptable level of water quality is vital to <br />the economy, environment, and general well-being of the people of the <br />Region. Presently deficient water supplies and the probable cost of <br />fUture imported water dictate maximum water utilization, including reuse <br />or recycling. <br />