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Compact Facts Colorado River Compact of 1922 Allocates 7.5 million AF of consumptive use annually to (I) the Upper Colorado River Basin (those parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming above Lee Ferry, Arizona), and (2) the Lower Colorado River Basin (those parts of Arizona, California, and Nevada below Lee Ferry, Arizona). This Compact requires the Upper Colorado River Basin to deliver an average of 75 million AF to the Lower Basin during any consecutive I a-year period. The Lower Basin is allowed an additional 1.0 million AF of consumptive use from the Colorado River system. Rio Grande, Colorado, and Tijuana Treaty of 1944 between the United States and Mexico Guarantees delivery of 1.5 million AF of Colorado River water per year to Mexico. If there is not adequate surplus water to satisfy the obligation, the Upper and Lower Basins are to equally share the burden of reducing uses to make up any deficiencies. Upper Colorado River Basin Compact of 1948 Allocates the 7.5 million AF apportionment of consumptive uses available to the Upper Basin as follows: Arizona Colorado Utah Wyoming New Mexico 50,000 AF/year 51.750/0 23% 14% 11.25% Statewide Water Supply Initiative Fact Sheet Gunnison Basin I --- - ~ ~.H /-- T , ~JMA ('i..J~;>i..AT"" ~~ ! l.~~",m Gunnison Basin Overview Major Storage Projects Major Imports into the Basin The Gunnison Basin stretches over 8,000 square miles of western Colorado, extending from the Continental Divide to the confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers near Grand Junction. The largest cities in the basin are Montrose (population 14,153), Delta (population 7,827), and Gunnison (population 5,271). The Gunnison Basin is defined by the Elk Range to the north, the Sawatch Range in the east, the San Juan Mountains to the south, and the Uncompahgre Plateau to the southwest. Water traveling from the headwaters to Grand Junction encounters greater than 9,500 feet of elevation change. The Gunnison Basin is largely forested. Forest area is distributed throughout the basin and covers approximately 52 percent of the total basin area. About 5.5 percent of the land in the basin is classified as planted/cultivated land and is concentrated in the Uncompahgre Valley between Montrose and Delta with additional concentrations near Gunnison and Hotchkiss. Additionally, the State of Colorado may not deplete the flow in the Yampa River below an aggregate of 5 million AF over any I a-year period. Depending upon the interpretation of the Compacts, other laws, and the amount of water in the river, Colorado's right to the consumptive use of water under the Compacts may range from 3.079 million AF to 3.855 million AF per year. Colorado currently consumes an average of 2.3 million AF per year with facilities in place capable of using up to 2.6 million AF. Colorado's apportionment has not been divided among the various subbasins within the state. The Yampa and La Plata River Basins have specific delivery obligations under the Compacts. The allocation and administration of Compact waters within Colorado remains open to discussion but ultimately will be subject to rules and regulations for administration by the State Engineer. Normal Storage ReseNoir IAF) Blue Mesa Reservoir 940,800 Morrow Point ReseNoir 117,190 Taylor Park ReseNoir 106,200 Ridgway ReseNoir 94,126 Crystal ReseNoir 26,000 Paonia ReseNoir 20,950 Crawford ReseNoir 14,395 Silverjack ReseNoir 13,520 Onion Valley (a.k.a., Gould) ReseNoir 9,000 Overland ReseNoir 5,828 Fruitgrowers Reservoir 4,540 Source: Colorado Division of Water Resources Office of Dam Safety Database Diversions Name IAF) 1 Leon Lake Tunnel 1,364 2 Mineral Ditch 138 3 Red Mountain 99 TOTAL 1,601 Major Exports from the Basin Average Annual Name Diversions IAF) 1 Red/ands Canal 510,930 2 Hallenbeck ReseNoir #1 4,324 3 Grand Junction FL + WW 2,484 4 Weminuche Pass Ditch 1,133 5 Divide Creek HL Ditch 1,011 6 Tabor Ditch 741 7 Tarbell Ditch 643 8 Larkspur Ditch 73 TOTAL 521,339 Major Water Organizations Water ConseNation District Colorado River Water ConseNancy Districts Bostwick Park North Fork Crawford Tri-County Upper Gunnison River Fruitland Mesa Grand Mesa Source: Water Division 4 1998 Annual Report, 1 O-year average Additional information on this River Basin is available at http://www.cwcb.state.co.us Bill Owens Governor Gunnison Basin Water Management Issues Russell George Department of Natural Resources Executive Director The Gunnison Basin will face several key points and challenges with respect to water management issues and needs over the next 30 years. The following provides an overview of some of the points and challenges that have been identified. Rod Kuharich Colorado Water Conservation Board Director . Growth in the headwaters will require additional water management strategies. . Addressing agricultural water shortages in the upper portion of the basin is an important goal of the community; lack of financial resources is an impediment. . There is concern over possible future transbasin diversions and the effect this might have on the basin's future. . Resolving federal issues is a priority. Federal issues include resolving the National Park Service claims for flows in the Black Canyon, completion of the Blue Mesa/Aspinall reoperations Environmental Impact Statement, and addressing Endangered Species issues in the Gunnison River near the confluence with the Colorado River main stem. . The area between Ouray and Montrose is rapidly growing. Tourism is important in the headwater areas but agriculture is dominant in the Uncompahgre Valley. A rapid influx of retirees and growth in the Uncompahgre Valley may dramatically change the agricultural uses and land use in the area. ~- Taylor Park Reservoir (photo courtesy of Holley Noon) February 2006