Laserfiche WebLink
COLORADO RIVER COMPACT WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTION <br />November 2, 1995 FINAL REPORT <br />Page 12 <br />Table 2 <br />Consumptive Use Entitlement <br />Upper <br />Basin Mexican Upper <br />Water Treaty Basin Colorado's <br />Supply Obligation Apportionment Apportionment <br />7,500,000 0 7,500,000 3,855,375 <br />7,500,000 750,000 6,750,000 3,467,250 <br />6,750,000 750,000 6,000,000 3,079,125 <br />A hydrologic determination conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1988 <br />found that under the "Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado River <br />Reservoirs" and considering the critical drought period (i.e., a drought period between 1954 <br />and 1966) that there were only 6.0 MAF available to the Upper Colorado River Basin. Using <br />this 1988 estimate, Colorado's annual consumptive use entitlement on average maybe only <br />3,079,125 acre feet. Therefore, on a long-term average annual basis, Colorado may only <br />be entitled to use between 3.079 MAF and 3.855 MAF of the approximately 10,797,700 <br />acre feet originating in Colorado, and the remainder must flow out of the State to meet <br />downstream compact requirements. however, until full compact development occurs in <br />other states, Colorado could use in excess of this amount on a temporary basis. But, Colorado <br />also needs to be awaze it could be taking significant risks if it makes extended use of more <br />than 3.079 MAF annually. As a result, we have considered a range of development <br />opportunities based upon these different estimates (i.e., 3.855 MAF, 3.467 MAF, and <br />3.079 MAF). <br />V. COLORADO'S CURRENT CONSUMPTIVE USES AND REMAINING ' <br />COLORADO RIVER APPORTIONMENT <br />The Colorado River Basin Project Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to make <br />reports on the annual consumptive use and loss of water from the Colorado River system. <br />The most recent such report was prepazed by Reclamation for the 1981-1985 period. <br />Table 3a shows the state's 1981-85 average, maximum and adjusted maximum <br />consumptive use of water by major tributary basin and type of use in Colorado. While this <br />information is currently in the process of being updated, the updated information is not <br />sufficiently completed to be useful at this time. Suffice to say at this point that new projects <br />have been built since 1985 and that existing projects are being more fully utilized. <br />During the 1981-85 period, Colorado's consumptive use of Colorado River water <br />averaged 2.3 MAF annually. The maximum consumptive use which occurred during the <br />period was approximately 2.5 MAF. An "Adjusted Maximum Consumptive Use" value, <br />