WSP00250

• File Number: 8220.700
• Description: Colorado River
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 11/1/1966
• Author: Charles J. Meyers
• Title: The Colorado River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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STANFORD LAW REVIEW

[Vol. '9: P.gc,

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The only important tributary waters, the Gila system, which consists
of the Gila main stream and the Salt and Verde Rivers, are fully developed
in central Arizona in the general vicinity of Phoenix."
The last major development contemplated for the Colorado River in
the Lower Basin is the diversion of water from the main stream to central
Arizona to relieve the overdraft on groundwater supplies. Several plans
have been put forward, at least one of which contemplates dams at each
end of the Grand Canyon, the power revenues of which would help finance
the project." The current status of the Central Arizona Project will be de-
veloped later in this Article.

C. Mexico
The Colorado River flows approximately one hundred miles in Mexico,
forming the internation:u border for a few miles and then crossing into
Mexico to become the border between the Mexican states of Baja California
on the west and Sonora on the east. Roughly one thousand square miles
of the Salton Basin lie in Mexico and some of this land (primarily in the
Mexicali Valley) has been irrigated from the Colorado for many years..'
In addition, Colorado River water is used in the vicinity of San Luis, So-
nora, M'~xico. The author has been unable to obtain reliable information
about the amount of Mexican land irrigated from the Colorado, but records
are available showing water deliveries to Mexico as follows~.'

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ACRE-FEET
YEAR (MILLIONS)

1959 . .. .. .. .. ' . .. ' , . . , . , . , .. , , .. P
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19liI ' , , , , . , , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8
19li2 ' . ' . ' . . . , , . . . , . . . . , . . . . . . . . . 2.0
191i3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' . , . . , . . . , . . . . 2.0

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II. UPPER BASIN-LoWER BASIN CONFLICTS

A. Negotiation and Ratification of the 1922 Compact

The 1922 compact grew out of conditions that are commonly present in

interstate and international disputes over river systems. Lower states tend

to develop first and to continue to develop at a faster rate than upper states.

Such development causes the upper states to fear that downstream uses

will have exhausted the supply before they are able to use the water origi-

nating within their own boundaries." But the lower states have their

58. ltJ. lit 39"""43.
59. Su H.R. ..61J, 89th Cong., 1St Sess. (1965).
60. Ht"mifJgI on tht Tr~at'Y With M~xico Relating to the Utili%ation of the WaUf'I of Ct"Ttaifl
RiVt"TI Befort the StnQ/e Committu on FortigfJ Relations. 79th Cong., ut Sess. 73-78 (1945).
61. Hearings on S. /658 (C,.rural Arizona Project). supra note 49,.lIt 493-94.
62. Tbese fan were prevlIlent in the Upper BaSin Sl4IItes before aod during the ratifiC.llrioD of

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