WSP13037

• File Number: 8280.10
• Description: CREST - Colorado River Enhancement Snowpack Test
• State: CO
• Author: Unknown - Crest members/BOR?
• Title: Briefing Document for the Colorado River Enhancement Snowpack Test
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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BRIEFING DOCUMENT
FOR THE
COLORADO RIVER
ENHANCED SNOWPACK TEST

I. Federal Authority and Responsibility
A. Colorado River Basin Act of 1968

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The Colorado River Basin Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-537) directs the
Secretary of the Interior ". . .to provide a program for the further
comprehensive development of the water resources of the Colorado River
Basin and for the provisions of additional and adequate water supplies
for use in the Upper as well as the Lower Colorado River Basin"
(Section 102a). This Act, pursuant to the Reclamation Laws, authorizes
the Secretary to construct the Central Arizona Project and the
Colorado River Storage Project participating units. Under Title II,
the Secretary is authorized to prepare and implement an augmentation
plan to meet the water requirements of these new projects, existing
projects and water allotments, and the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico.

A national commitment to provide 1.5 million acre-feet together
with any associated losses of water from the Colorado River to meet
the Requirements of the Mexican Water Treaty, and an overcommitment
of Basln water, are recognized by Section 202 of Public Law 90-537.
The Law states: liThe Congress declares that the satisfaction of the
requirements of the Mexican Water Treaty from the Colorado River
constitutes a national obligation which shall be the first obligation
of any water augmentation project planned pursuant to Section 201
of this Act and authorized by the Congress."

B. Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974

The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (Public Law
93-320) authorized and directed the Secretary of the Interior to
proceed with a program of works of improvement for the enhancement
and protection of the quality of water in the Colorado River. Section
lOl(c) of the Act states that replacement of the reject stream from
the desalting plant and of bypassed Welton-Mohawk drainage water is
"recognized as a national obligation as provided in Section 202 of
the Colorado River Basin Project Act. II

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C. 1981 House Oversight Hearing on Colorado River AUQmentation

On March 25, 1981 the House Subcommittee on Water and Power held a
hearing on the augmentation of the Colorado River water supply. The
hearing was held at the request of several members of the House of
Representatives who wished to assess the proqress made to date by the
Secretary of the Interior on augmenting the Colorado River water
supply as contemplated by the Colorado River Basin Project Act.