WSP12593

• File Number: 8282.500.20
• Description: CO River Operations-Accounting - Long Range Reservoir Operation-Annual Operations Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/3/1984
• Author: Unknown
• Title: 1984 Colorado River Operation Study Report - Preliminary and Reviewed Draft - 10-03-84
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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flooding, and its high sediment load limited the river's usefulness as
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a dependable~year-round water supply. With the existing storage and

regulatory structures, the Colorado River is able to provide flood

control and a dependable annual water supply to the seven Colorado River
Basin States and the Republic of Mexico. In addition, hydropower
installations in the Colorado River Basin provide about 9,500 GWH/yr
(gigawatthours per year) of hydropower generation.

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Operation of the Colorado River System is tightly constrained by ;o~\.;
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interstate compacts, court decrees, water delivery contracts, and ,(CO
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lnternational treaty requirements. The Colorado River Compact~~he
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Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968, and the~Mexican Water Treaty

allocate the limited water supply of the Colorado River ~DS~~~~ U.S. 6.k-ajC1~I~e.- Dc.l.t!').,..

States and Mexico. Of particular importance is the equitable allocation
of water between the Upper Basin States (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and
New Mexico) and the Lower Basin States (Arizona, California, and

Nevada).

The division point between the Upper and Lower Basins is at Lee Ferry,
a point in the main stream of the Colorado River 1 mile below the mouth

of the Paria River. The Colorado River Compact determined this division

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and specified that at least 75 million acre-feet of water over each con-

secutive 10-year period must be delivered to the Lower Basin States at '
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. Lee Ferry. In addition, the Compact has provisions for the Upper Basin ~~
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to supply a portion of the 1.5 million acre-feet United States obliga- ~

tion to Mexico. Current operating criteria specify an objective

delivery of 8.25 million acre-feet per year at Lee Ferry.

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