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<br />001245
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<br />R~,\Js (c/Nt"'<W"',
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<br />News Release
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<br />February 14, 1994
<br />For Immediate Release
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<br />News Contact:
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<br />Ross Bethel
<br />(303) 866-3441, ext. 308
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<br />NEW SYSTEM HELPS PROTECT COWRADO RIVER INTERESTS
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<br />Increased competition for Colorado River water has prompted the state to launch a
<br />fliHeil'-"-'
<br />major project to improve Colorado's ability to~se its portion of Colorado River water, At the _ .
<br />41~.IlI..r ~,tee ,.",,.,)',,,~
<br />center of the competition is some 15 million acre-feet of 'Water tl''''':r~~v,'!s II..! ~
<br />~t \'I'::, a.......... 'i
<br />9z::m!l8:t:_~~I~fD~(R;,..,[Baslll, " r/, ~1-J.e""I.,..,.J'R..~~o.fL..'~J....~t..;;;;~
<br />,,,,;d"$~ /,.., r.1J) ..,. . "jt !l:. _~
<br />The 1922 Colorado River Compact ~,;e~ sf slIllsBEjH6Rt illtcI3ffite Ilgr-x.h",,,t, ClUJ.
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<br />C911R eases IIpper/ialled tRB R,'('r' < "1' 'ater to the upper basin states of Colorado, New Mexico" ,', af
<br />'- it ~rS."'''''' ...LI
<br />/rS_S'" /......- ,.+--_,
<br />Utah and Wyoming, and the lower basin states of California, Arizona and Nevada, In recent ..",.':.!t.
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<br />~:t,..ril.._f ";;::i;Mk
<br />years, California's annual use has exceeded its basic all~ ..~._l! of 4.4 million acre feet. ~ d,,;.iI.... fJ..,
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<br />c;..ht....-;'j ..".~ "oS .JAfM,,/.~ ...... <tt/'/J,JJ.I.;.. (f.ulS ~
<br />c"t''re., "'.'.f histoncally came from Arizona's-share, _Now that Arizona hlf!begun using +,l- sf.H.j,
<br />
<br />~~.f u...,;. >1M. -Ma. "",,-"- -......... ,. +I... "'I'J'
<br />~ ;'~.;p Colorado River wate'l n=;s Central Arizona Project:t the Lower Basin States have entered an "-J I...e....
<br />
<br />H.et.. .._pMl...,.,..".,..J 11Mi' .....".,
<br />era in whichVwater supply al1AWRF1""'~ will not always satisfy water demands, In addition to
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<br />water demands by the states, there are proposed uses of _ Colorado River water forf'ecovery
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<br />of endangered fish and#fe..authori~tion .2L tft~lean Water A~
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<br />SIt:le.""'o.i-,_c. . f.' II
<br />In this new setting, future administration and management of the Colorado River ~C... ,..,,.!!
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<br />being examined by the seven states and the U,S. Bureau of Reclamation, I,D.. ;0 the principal
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<br />entity responsible for operation and administration of the river. Colorado, having the largest
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<br />undeveloped share of compact entitlement water, is very concerned about protecting its ability
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<br />to use its entitlement of Colorado River water while cooperating with other states and agencies
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<br />in decisions about the future operation of the river.
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<br />The State has begun the development of an integrated information and analysis system _
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<br />- the Colorado River Decision Support System (CRDSS) that will improve Colorado's ability
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<br />to make better decisions about interstate compact policy, water resources management and
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<br />water rights administration, The system will take about four years to develop and cost about
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<br />$ 8,000,000.
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