WSP10005

• File Number: 8507
• Description: Rio Grande Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Date: 1/1/1975
• Title: 1975 Water Assessment Rio Grande Region Activity 4 Phase II part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Funds for performing the Assessment work in the Rio Grande
Region have been furnished to the Regional Sponsor by the Water
Resources Council through a Memorandum of Agreement approved
March 18, 1975, and by two supplemental agreements approved Novem-
ber 28, 1975, and February 23, 1977. The funds have been distributed
to the three Region States through agreements between the States and
the Bureau of Reclamation and to the Federal Agencies and the Regional
Study Director's office as agreed to by the Regional Sponsor. The
financial accounting of the obligation and expenditures of the assess-
ment funds has been maintained by the Regional Finance Officer of the
Bureau of Reclamation, Amarillo, Texas.

The Regional Sponsor has delegated performance of the assessment
work to its Rio Grande Coordinating Committee, working through a Re-
gional Study Director as provided in the Memorandum of Agreement.
The actual work has been performed largely by representatives of
the three States of the Region and the Regiona~ Study Director, with
representatives of the Federal agencies reviewing drafts and offering
data, suggestions, and counselling generally on the products. Col-
lectively, however, the Rio Grande Coordinating Committee reviews and
recommends approval of the reports which are submitted to WRC as ful-
fillment of the Memorandum of Agreement. This process, coupled with
reviews by public participants selected by the States; assures that
the State-Regional point of view is reflected in the report.

The Rio Grande rises in the mountains of southern Colorado and
flows south across New Mexico into Texas at El Paso. From El Paso
to the Gulf of Mexico--700 airline miles and 1,244 river miles--it
forms the boundary between the United States and Mexico. The Conti-
nental Divide forms the western boundary of the Region. The eastern
boundary trails off through rolling hills and the High Plains area
without marked relief.

Five aggregated sub-areas CASA's) have been defined by the Water
Resources Council for the Rio Grande Region. These ASA's are identi-
fied by county lines and encompass a total area of 137,200 square
miles in the three States of Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, as shown
on Map, Page 5. Colorado includes 6 counties in ASA 1301. New
Mexico includes 14 counties in ASA 1302 and 5 counties in ASA 1304.
Texas includes 2 counties in ASA 1302, 13 counties in ASA 1303, and
10 counties in ASA 1305.

In contrast the total watershed area includes 229,000 square
miles of which 93,000 square miles are in Mexico, and 136,000 square
miles are in the United States. Of the 136,000 square miles of water-
shed area in the United States, only 89,000 square miles contribute
drainage to the rivers of the basin, and 44,000 square miles drain
into several closed basins. The remainder, 3,000 square miles, are

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