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State Water Laws, Policies, and Administration <br /> In summary, the administration and enforcement of the Ground Water <br /> Management Act is placed with the State Ground Water Commission, locally <br /> formed management districts, and the State Engineer, .each of which are vested <br /> with certain regulatory or administrative powers and functions. <br /> COMPACTS AND INTERSTATE DECREES <br /> Geographically, Colorado occupies a unique position within the continental <br /> boundaries of the United States. With few exceptions, waters originating in other <br /> states are not available for use in Colorado. On the other hand, all the surface <br /> flows of the State, except natural losses, are available by gravity to 18 other <br /> states. This situation itself would not be significant if it were not for the fact <br /> that by court decision and interstate compact, the State is compelled to deliver <br /> about 50 percent of the available surface water to other states. <br /> Colorado is a signatory state to nine interstate water compacts. It is also <br /> an involuntary party to the Mexican Water Treaty. Apportionment of the surface <br /> waters of the North Platte and Laramie Rivers is governed by United States Supreme <br /> Court Decrees. <br /> Colorado River Compact, 1922 <br /> Waters of the Colorado River were apportioned by this compact between <br /> the Upper and Lower Basin states. The Upper Basin includes those parts of the <br /> States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming within and from <br /> which waters naturally drain into the Colorado River system above Lee Ferry, <br /> and also all parts of said states located without the drainage area of the Colorado <br /> River system which are now or shall hereafter be beneficially served by waters <br /> diverted from the system above Lee Ferry. The Lower Basin means those parts <br /> of the States of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah within and <br /> from which waters naturally drain into the Colorado River system below Lee Ferry, <br /> and also all parts of said states located without the drainage area of the Colorado <br /> River system which are now or shall hereafter be beneficially served by water <br /> diverted from the system below Lee Ferry. The compact allocated 7,500,000 <br /> acre-feet of consumptive use per annum to each of the two basins, with the <br /> Upper Basin required to deliver 75 million acre-feet of water during any ten- <br /> consecutive-year period reckoned in continuing progressive series. <br /> 2.14 <br />