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<br />Introduction
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<br />The Colorado River Board of
<br />California was created by the State
<br />legislature in 1937. It has the
<br />responsibilitv of protecting the rights
<br />and inter{",ls of the State, its agencies,
<br />and its citizens in the water and
<br />hydroelectric power resources of the
<br />Colorado River System. The duties of
<br />the Board are set forth in Sections
<br />12527 through 12533 of the California
<br />Water Code. The aClivities of the
<br />Board's 13 member staff are directed
<br />by Ihe Chief Engineer. The California
<br />Attorney Cent'ral is legal counsel to
<br />the Board.
<br />During August 1976, A,B. 3227 was
<br />passed by the California Legislature
<br />and signed into law by the Covt'rnor
<br />(Chapler 485, 19761, effective January
<br />1,1977. This Il'Rislation maintains the
<br />six members of the Board appointE'd
<br />by the Governor from the agencies
<br />with Colorado River waler dnd power
<br />rights, and adds five members to the
<br />Board. The six agencit's holding water
<br />and power rights on the Colmado
<br />River, Imperial IrriRation District, The
<br />Metropolitan Water District of
<br />Southern California, City of lm
<br />Angeles Department of Waler and
<br />Power, San Diego County Water
<br />Authority, COc1chella Valley Counly
<br />Water DiSlfict, and Palo Verde
<br />Irrigation District, wilt also have
<br />alternate members appoinled by the
<br />Governor who can exercise the
<br />authority of the member in his
<br />absencE'. The Governor is to appoint
<br />three additional members horn the
<br />public. Tht' Directors of the
<br />Departments of \Vater Resources and
<br />Fish and Came, or their designees, are
<br />to be members of Ihe Board. The
<br />Governor is to annually appoint a
<br />Chairman from among the members
<br />of the Board other than the Director
<br />of \Vater Rf'SQurces or the Direclor of
<br />Fish and Game or their designees,
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<br />View trom La Rumofosa Sierra of big IIIr
<br />on Tijuana Aqueducl_
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<br />Colorado River Operation
<br />
<br />Operation'> Ourin8 1976
<br />
<br />The estimated virgin flow of the
<br />Colorado River .II lee Ferry during
<br />the 1975---76 watt'r year (Oclober 1
<br />through September 30) was
<br />11.451,000 acre-feet. This was 82
<br />percent of the long-lime average How
<br />of '3,906,000 acre-fet'1 ior Ihe 55-year
<br />period from 1922 10 1976.
<br />During the water year, storage in
<br />Upper Basin rE.>servoirs decreased bv
<br />9]8,000 acre-feet. and storage in
<br />lower Basin resen'oirs increased by
<br />254,000 acre-feet. As of September 30,
<br />1976, the total active storaRe in the
<br />major Upper Basin reservoirs was
<br />25,447,000 acre-feel, and the active
<br />stmaRe in thE.> lower Basin reservoirs
<br />was 22,366,000 acre-feet. The actual
<br />flow of Ihe river below Glen Canyon
<br />Dam at lee Ferry for !he water year
<br />was 8,494,000 acre-feet.
<br />The Bureau of Reclamation
<br />estimated the 1975-76 water year
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<br />Upper Basin depletions by th(> Upper
<br />Basin states (Colorado, New Mexico,
<br />Utah, and Wyoming) at 3,776,000
<br />acre-f!;'et, 170,000 acre-feet more than
<br />the previous year's final figure.
<br />Diversions less measured returns
<br />from the mainstream for the major
<br />water users of the lower Basin stales
<br />(Arizona, California. and Nevada)
<br />\\-'ere 5,735,000 acre.feet for calendar
<br />year 1976, 403,000 less than in 1975.
<br />Data for major California users show
<br />diversions less returns for calendar
<br />year 1976 at 4,582,000 acre~feet.
<br />310,000 acre-feel less Ihan 1975. Mosl
<br />of this decreast' is accountro for by
<br />heavy rains which occurred in the
<br />agricultural areas served from the
<br />lo....er Colorado during April and
<br />September, causing reductions in
<br />irrigation water diversions.
<br />Deliveries of Colorado Riv("r \'vater
<br />to Mexico in accordance with the
<br />19+1 Mexican Water Treaty IOlallE'd
<br />1,774,000 acre-feet during calendar
<br />year 1976 or 274,000 acre-feet in
<br />excess of the Treaty's minimum
<br />requirement. A portion of the water
<br />delivered, 10,258 acre-feet. was
<br />conveyed on an interim basi'; to the
<br />City of Tijuana through facililj~ of the
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