DNR-Project-Final Report to Hecox

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Colorado Water for the 21St Century A SUMMARY OF COMPACTS AND TREATIES GOVERNING COLORADO'S USE OF STREAMS Source: Colorado Division of Water Resources Basin States Alternative of 2007 The intent of the "Basin States Alternative" is to delay the onset of water shortages in the Lower Division States (Arizona, California and Nevada) and to minimize their extent and duration. At the same time, the intent is to maximize the Upper Division States' protection provided by having Lake Powell storage available to release so as to meet the Colorado River Compact requirement that 75 million acre-feet of water flows past Lee Ferry in each ten-year period. The "Basin States' Alternative" will provide for more efficient operation of the system reservoirs for the benefit of both the Upper and Lower Basins. The additional coordination of the operation of Lakes Powell and Mead reflects a compromise that the Upper Basin States are willing to accept: allowing additional Lake Powell releases to Lake Mead at higher reservoir levels -which are offset by reduced Lake Powell releases at lower levels. Levels in both Lakes Mead and Powell will serve as trigger points used in calculating annual Lake Powell release amounts. The Upper Basin States see the modified operation of Lake Powell as a reasonable compromise in an agreement that establishes shortage operations in the Lower Basin as well as real and specific incentives for conservation and augmentation in the Lower Basin - neither of which had existed before. Colorado River Compact of 1922 Compact between the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming Important Provisions: 1. Divides Colorado River Basin into the Lower Basin (California, Arizona, Nevada) and the Upper Basin (Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming) at Lee Ferry, Arizona. (Art. I and II) 2. Allocates 7,500,000 acre-feet of consumptive use to each basin per annum. (Art. III) 3. Allows Lower Basin to increase its consumptive use by 1, 000, 000 acre-feet per year. (Art. III ) 4. Provides for Mexican allocation, first from surplus waters above the 15,000,000 acre-feet per year, and secondly splits obligation equally between the basins. (Art. III) 5. Provides that Upper Basin shall deliver 75,000,000 acre-feet in each consecutive 10-year period to the Lower Basin. (Art. III) 6. Subordinates navigation use to domestic, agriculture, and power purposes. (Art. IV) 7. Subordinates power use to domestic and agricultural purposes. (Art. IV) 8. Termination of compact by unanimous agreement of all signatory states. (Art. X) 5