WSP10734

• File Number: 8200.900
• Description: California Colorado River Issues
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/30/1989
• Author: Warren J. Abbott
• Title: California Colorado River Issues - Overview of Colorado River Issues at 1989
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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California Colorado River Issues JAN :3 0 '8~
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Warren J. Abbott-

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The waters of the Colorado River have perhaps been the subject
of more writing and morc litigation than any other major water
source in this coumry. The fights over Colorado River water rights
continue roday. Justice Black. in an oft.quoted passaac, described
this river ably in A,.izona v. Cali/ornia.'
The ColQado River itself rises in the mountaim of Colorado and
nows gcnerally in a southwesterly direction for about 1,300 miles
through Colorado. Utah; and Arizona and alan. the Arizona-
Nevada and Arizona-California boundaries. .ner which it passes
into Mexico and empties into the Mexican water. o( the Gulf of
California. On ils way to (he sea it receives tributary walen from
Wyomins. Colorado. Utah. Nevada, New Mexico. and Arizol1a.
The river and its tributaries now In a nalutlll basin almost sur-
rounded by large mountain nmges and drain 242,000 square miles.
an area aboul 900 miles lona from north 10 south and 300 to SOO
miles wide from east to wesl . praetically one-twelfth the area of
the continental United StatC5 etduding Alas'u. Much of this 1arle
basin is so arid that it is. as it always has been. lareely dependent
upon manaeed use of the \lIaters of tbe Colorado Rivet System to
make it productive and inhabilable .... . .J

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former Gmrral Counlel. The Mc'UopoliIUl WatCl' Diurid or Soathtm Calirornil.
A.B. Harvard. I9Sl; J.D.. V.C.t.A., 19,.. 10 my ClPlal, 1I'iIh Mctropolilan I haye dcalI
.jlh mOil or the lI.un diacullXd in Ihh paper. Old lhus. 1 diaeJOIC In, biu Ihal may <<ill.
The yje., np'nltd IIcrcin. hownoer, .re mJ _ and _"I not lie 11M IUM u ,h_ or InJ
dient.
l. 37] U.S. S46 (1963).
2. (d. al 552.

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