WSP12046

• File Number: 8200.800.10
• Description: Colorado River-Colorado River Basin-Colorado River Basin General Correspondence-Lower Basin\states
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/1/1985
• Author: BORLowerCORegion
• Title: Lower Colorado Water Supply Study California
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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SUMMARY

Public Law 96-375. October 3.
1980. authorizes the Secretary of the
Interior to engage in feasibility
studies to identify an annual water
supply of up to 10.000 acre-feet for
noncontract and certain contract
users of Colorado River water within
the State of California.

The overall purpose and objectives
of this study have been to develop
alternative plans for providing these
contract and noncontract water users
with an annual water supply of up
to 10,000 acre-feet. Some of these
identified users have been using
Colorado River water in excess of
their contract amounts while the
remainin9 identified users have been
using Colorado River water without a
legal contract.

The Central Arizona Project (CAP)
became operational in 1985. As
Arizona begins using its full enti-
tlement within the next 5 years. the
water being used bv these identified
contract and noncontract users will
no longer be available.

These Californiil users include
Needles. IVinterhaven, Bureau of
Land Management (B LM), and some
other independent users. The City
of Needles has a present perfected
right to a 1.500 acre-foot annual
diversion or 960 acre-feet of annual
consumptive use; however. it does
not have a contract with the
Secretary of the Interior authorizing
its delivery. Needles is i'llso using
water in excess of its present
perfected right. Property within
Winterhaven has a present perfected
right; however, its entitlement under
that right has not been resolved.
The BLM has a Secretarial
Reservation which sets aside up to

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1,000 acre-feet per year of surplus
Colorado R.iver flows; however. that
reservation will be of little or no
value i'lS soon as the CAP becomes
operational.

The replacement supply. which would
be made available by contract with
the Secretary of the Interior. would
meet the needs for:

· A domestic and municipal and
industrial (1.1& I) water supply for the
City of Needles. This supply would
provide for use that is in excess of
their present perfected right. This
excess use is estimated to be 1.747
acre-feet annually and projected to
increase to 2,894 acre-feet by the
year 2020. The estimate is based on
a growth rate of slightly less than 1
percent annually. However. there
are two communities in the vicinity of
Needles (Laughlin. Nevada. and
Bullhead City. Arizona) that are
experiencing rapid growth rates.
Spillover from these communities may
increase the growth rate of Needles.
Excess use, above their present
perfected right. could approach 7,380
acre-feet; however. this is not very
probable.

· A recreational water supply for the
BLM. The present use is estimated
to be 1.000 acre-feet annually; the
year 2020 projected use is estimi'lted
to be 1,900 acre-feet.

· A domestic and ~1& I water supply
for the town of IVinterhi'lven. The
present consumptive use is estimated
to be 116 acre-feet annually; the year
2020 projected consumptive use is
estimated to be 371 acre-feet.

· A domestic and M& I water supply
for the other users along the

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