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<br />Sharing Colorado River Water: History, Public Policy and the Colorado River Compact <br /> <br /> <br />Page 6 of 15 <br /> <br />11.25 percent to New Mexico. <br /> <br />Percentages were given rather than actual amounts because by this time the Upper Ba <br />states were unsure of the amount of water they would have for themselves, after <br />complying with the Law of the River and delivering 7.5 mafper year to the Lower Be <br />states. <br /> <br />The states vary to the extent they are currently using their Colorado River allocation. <br />Development is occurring much slower in the Upper Basin states than in the Lower <br />Basin and as result Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico have not yet used the <br />full allocation of Colorado River water. <br /> <br />The rapidly growing Lower Basin states have a more immediate need of their Colora( <br />River apportionments. Southern Nevada anticipates that the state's 300,000 af Colora( <br />River allocation along with its groundwater resources will meet its needs only until <br />about 2015. Officials are vigorously exploring options for obtaining more water, <br />including dipping into Arizona's hitherto unused portion. <br /> <br />The Central Arizona Project was to enable Arizona to more fully use its full 2.8 maf <br />allocation of Colorado River water. Transported CAP water, however, has not sold as <br />readily as expected. As a result, Arizona in recent years still used only part of its <br />allocation, leaving from 300,000 to one maf in the river. With the establishment of a <br />water bank, Arizona is expected to use almost its full allocation for the first time this <br />year. Before the water bank, the state did not expect to use its full allocation until the <br />mid-21st century. <br /> <br />Meanwhile at the end of the line is thirsty southern California. California long has <br />profited from other states not using their full allocations. Conveniently located <br />downriver, California has been diverting unused water apportioned to other states. <br />Although allocated 4.4 maf of Colorado River water, California is using about 5.2 ma <br />in 1997. <br /> <br />http://ag.arizona.eduJAZWATERlarroyo/101comm.html <br /> <br />9/12/2006 <br />