Colorado State Water Plan 1974 (Phase II)

Home Browse Search

State Water Laws, Policies, and Administration The compact makes provision for the diversion and measurement of uses of certain tributaries of the Colorado River in the Upper Basin which serve as a source of water for two signatory states. Tributaries dealt with include: Little Snake River - Colorado and Wyoming Henry's Fork - Utah and Wyoming Yampa River - Colorado and Utah San Juan River - Colorado and New Mexico La Plata River - Colorado and New Mexico Arkansas River Compact, 1948 This compact between the States of Colorado and Kansas, with the consent of the United States Congress, provides operating criteria for the John Martin Reservoir constructed by the Corps of Engineers in 1943. During the winter storage season (November 1 - March 31) Colorado may demand releases of water equivalent to the river flow but not to exceed 100 cubic feet per second. During the summer storage season (April 1 - October 31) Colorado may demand releases of water equivalent to the fiver flow up to 500 cubic feet per second. Kansas may demand releases of water equivalent to the portion of the river flow between 500 and 750 cubic feet per second. During the summer storage season, water being held in storage may be released upon demand by both states concurrently or separately in amounts dependent upon the magnitude of the storage. With concurrent demand, Colorado is entitled to 60 percent of the release and Kansas 40 percent. Laramie River Litigation - Nebraska vs. Wyoming, 353 U.S. 953, 1957 The U.S. Supreme Court decision in this case allocated to Colorado users the right to divert from the Laramie River and its tributaries 49,375 acre-feet of water in each calendar year. Only 29,500 acre-feet of such water could be used within the drainage basins of the Laramie River and 19,875 acre-feet could be diverted outside the Laramie River Basin. 2.18