WSPP00068

• File Number: 8200.300.40.A
• Description: Colorado River Basin-Colorado River Basin Legislation/Law-Compacts-Colorado River Compact
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/1/1976
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Colorado River Compact-Synopsis of Major Documents-Synopsis of Major Documents and Events Relating to the Colorado River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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with Mexico concerning the waters of the Colorado River. In
recognition of article III(c) of the Colorado River Compact relating
to a future potential agreement with Mexico, Congress further sug-
gested that Arizona and California should mutually agree to supply
the Lower Basin's half of any deficiency from the main stream of
the Colorado River.

Arizona adamantly refused to enter into the compact suggested
by Congress, a situation which continues to exist. However, this
issue was at least partially laid to rest by the Supreme Court
decision in the case of Arizona vs. California, and by certain
provisions of the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968.

A further provision of the Boulder Canyon Project Act gave
congressional approval for the Upper Basin states to negotiate a
compact among themselves dividing among the respective states the
7.5 maf apportioned to the Upper Basin by the Colorado River Compact.
This the Upper Basin states did by the Upper Colorado River Basin
Compact of 1948.

3. Mexican Treaty and Protocol of 1944

On February 3, 1944, at Washington, D. C., a treaty was
executed between the United States and Mexico relating to the Colo-
rado River and the Rio Grande. This treaty was subsequently rati-
fied by the United States Senate on April 18, 1945. The most
significant provision of that treaty relating to the Colorado River
is as follows:

Article 10

Of the waters of the Colorado River, from any and all
sources, there are allotted to Mexico:

(a) A guaranteed annual quantity of 1,500,000 acre-feet
(1,850,234,000 cubic meters) to be deLivered in accordance
with the provisions of Article 15 of this Treaty.

(b) Any other quantities arriving at the Mexican points
of diversion, with the understanding that in any year in which,
as determined by the United States Section, there exists a
surplus of waters of the Colorado River in excess of the amount
necessary to supply uses in the United States and the guaranteed
quantity of 1,500,000 acre-feet (1,850,234,000 cubic meters)
annually to Mexico, the United States undertakes to deliver to
Mexico, in the manner set out in Article 15 of this Treaty,
additional waters of the Colorado River system to provide a
total quantity not to exceed 1,700,000 acre-feet (2,096,931,000
cubic meters) a year. Mexico shall acquire no right beyond
that provided by this subparagraph by the use of the waters of
the Colorado River system, for any purpose whatsoever, in excess
of 1,500,000 acre-feet (1,850,234,000 cubic meters) annually.

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