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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. 75% 23% 14% 11.25% Statewide Water Supply Initiative Fact Sheet he/Green Basin ~ ; .~~ l~ f:IL: I r-~!~- I I.." ~"J ~"'~ \ !- Yant Additionally, the State of Colorado may not deplete the flow in the Yampa River below an aggregate of 5 million AF over any 1 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. Yampa/White/Green Basin Overview The Yampa/White/Green Basin covers roughly 10,500 square miles in northwest Colorado and south-central Wyoming. The largest cities or towns in the basin are Steamboat Springs (population 10,402) and Craig (population 9,185). p-T"r l' nO'... _ Major Storage Projects Normal Storage ReseNoir (AF) Stagecoach ReseNoir 33,275 Willow Creek Reservoir (Steamboat Lake) 23,064 Taylor Draw ReseNoir 13,800 E/khead Creek ReseNoir 13,500 Yamcolo ReseNoir 9,580 Big Beaver ReseNoir (Lake Avery) 7,658 Stillwater ReseNoir 6,088 Source: Colorado Division of Water Resources Office of Dam Safety Database L The Yampa/White/Green Basin is defined in part by the Continental Divide on the east. The elevations in the basin range from 12,200 feet (Mount Zirkel) in the Sierra Madre range to about 5, I 00 feet at the confluence of the Yampa and Green Rivers at Echo Park within Dinosaur National Monument. The basin contains diverse landforms including steep mountain slopes, high plateaus, rolling hills, incised sandstone canyons, and broad alluvial valleys and floodplains. Large portions of the basin are federally owned lands. Livestock, grazing, and recreation are the predominant land uses in the basin. Steamboat Springs is a destination ski resort and is likely to experience continued population growth. Near the towns of Craig, Hayden, Steamboat Springs, Yampa, and Meeker, much of the land is dedicated to agricultural use. The mountains are densely covered by forest. The valley and plateaus are mostly covered by shrubland and are also dotted with forest. Trapper Lake (photos courtesy of Barbara Goodrich) Major Imports into the Basin None Major Exports from the Basin Water Conservation District Colorado River Name Average Annual Diversions (AF) I 4,280 Rio Blanco Water Conservancy Districts Great Northern Juniper Upper Yampa Yellow Jacket Stillwater Ditch Source: Division 6 1998 Annual Report, 1 O-year averages Additional information on this River Basin is available at http://www.cwcb.state.co.us Bill Owens Governor Yampa/White/Green Basin Water Management Issues Russell George Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Rod Kuharich Colorado Water Conservation Board Director The Yampa/White/Green 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: . Agriculture, tourism, and recreation are vital components of this basin's economy. . Industrial uses, especially power production, are a major water use. Future energy development opportunities exist but are less certain. . While rapidly growing in some areas (Yampa River/Steamboat area) the basin is not developing as rapidly as other portions of the state. This has led to concern that the basin will not get a "fair share" of water use afforded to Colorado under the Colorado River Compact. . The Recovery Implementation Program is designed to address the recovery needs of the Colorado River endangered fish while protecting existing water uses and allowing for the future use of Colorado River water in compliance with Interstate Compacts, Treaties, and applicable federal and state law "the Law of the Colorado River." --, Fishhook Lake (photo courtesy of Bill Green) February 2006