<br />PlumbIng
<br />the West
<br />
<br />"~E HAVE in the Colorado
<br />an American Nile an-ait-
<br />in!:: r('~ulalion." said Los
<br />Angeles water investigator
<br />Joseph B. Lippincott in 19 J 2.
<br />Since that time the river has
<br />bttn "regulated" almost oul of
<br />existence and now rarely emp-
<br />ties into the Gulf of California.
<br />With scores of reservoirs and
<br />diversion dams, hundreds of
<br />miles of aqueducts and tunnels,
<br />dozens of pumping Slations,
<br />thousands of miles of canals.
<br />and more than 30 hydroelectric
<br />plant!. the river basin contains
<br />one of the world's most con-
<br />trolled river systems.
<br />Riverwide regulation began
<br />with the 1922 Colorado River
<br />Compact, which divided seven
<br />western slates jnto upper and
<br />lower basins (map) and allo-
<br />cated 7.S million Bcre-feet of
<br />,,'ater a year to each. A 1944
<br />treaty with Mexico guaranteed
<br />that country 1.5 million acre~
<br />(eel annually. Although the Col-
<br />orado was committed to deli\'er
<br />16.5 million acre-feet, its annual
<br />fiow has averaged only 14 mil-
<br />lion since 1930, and evaporation
<br />from reservoirs removes another
<br />2 million.
<br />As long as some states con-
<br />tinue to use less than their share
<br />(inset), others can siphon off
<br />more. But as populations rise
<br />and states in both basins com-
<br />pltte waler project!, the Colora-
<br />do will be virtually lapped ouL
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />-
<br />
<br />. I
<br />I -. - I
<br />I' . .:'l" -, -: '.,
<br />jL: ~,'UHITHl ITl'lT~'
<br />J ,..,.....-
<br />\h'/ .... I ',-"
<br />
<br />~~~'\-
<br />
<br />.....
<br />
<br />(0<( ~ILLlON ACRE-FEET ....,. 0 "1 .. '/'-' ---:- t -...---..-:_-
<br />'0';/tC-48 lI,.", "/ O..N W.t.rllM ,., It .I . l7'~)~ \ ~ I'
<br />6,..44", ".~~:Iy ~~tJ, IJo"Q ;I~'~~ ~:~:~=;uon "., 0 / ~:~~~;,);~~ ~~ 0
<br />'- ...~'b... ''''"' ~.'..""-I<~ "'tn t " .I 1"".,.5-.""" ~...:...... tlt
<br />"r-:-Q...._ -T.,.;;.t.<." "'... -'.4JS or....:;;r~tO~gtI. ....... .I {' ':~:'.:~'ir~I:70 ~ of I.AI
<br />',...~., ~.,~ '-..; J 'I ( " ...,.',-, ; 'y ,...
<br />.... ~ \ I "" ~ 1 \>
<br />
<br />'~"" l). '\ \ ' '" I,.-t. /~-..?'.r ,;.' -ft M~t.rW,.m",'.."'",.m."t
<br />, ~..~" o:;.~ i.~ \ ~ , .., ~ / ) lI..u.roMbyu...G"""RI......
<br />.....~~" .;.~ .' \ Ck ""~ '" . .... 'r /1:' "'~ ,...-' -''1''CoIo..d...~.,...""",,",,.
<br />~ ". .\ ~~~... r ';~:"~ ".~; , . ,,,:,,~,,,,",,...,. " -;;;...,;
<br />, \ \\ ~~{>, i ~ "', ,,~. -u . ..". ..::.ji/,.;.,..... . . ~'{ ~"""'\
<br />\ \ b ~\I/~,;:v", \ 1v~1s- Ol'\tlacre-footl..,.ualto /~~~ (')"'" 't.~~~-:c,.,.. ~ \~. ...j
<br />II \ "\ ~<!I .. .(,,E';. 0l'1li footof..tarto'f'Ir1nSl ..,~ .,r';1II.' . '?~""l'''- ~~~_ " to') . ...
<br />\ \ l foO"'~"'o .U'A"""'." . (vJl.'I <- ') ',.,.,; '" d' \~ ~~ '-( /..,....
<br />.)~J 3.3S.850glllon,. "~r Sl~il t,~: ':' ~~~J.::-'{:,., I ~, ~--)
<br />C' Hoo....rOPlhnpound.LlkI ...........'1\,," '. . f :;;4f""Ut~"'rtn:';rrro:;--th/..... ~ .....
<br />'*'f M..d(whlchunRoretwo,..... J' ._.,'>".i"~' CO ~_-.:::r 1.~1fr:..;.r~n~~~,":: ~ :.
<br />(. ,..,n'rh1lrflOW'lnd,.""r-\ ~ r _ .....,A ) fa v I ......8f'Ill 1T'~"":'''rr-' -," ...
<br />/ .t..f.~bn".".n...tt- '- -':I, ,"'()!.. ~~ /,rC '." ~~. '" .'..:-;...""" ..'.5
<br />Jto hounolhydnMIllic:trttfi'Ow.r" ... ". I J"'f f............... ~A..-tt... /,,,,~, -1 J.,,''- 1 ~w. . ~".;. <, .. . L . .......
<br />o ay.ar. ,,...~~ ", ',: . :;.'" "(f"';~_' I" ::\', -(:'~.' (,~'. i/':f. , : . ':;:-'.' I ,.,.....-. J ~....
<br />'\...(0 L\ ~ ~.......... . .:~'!.g~ _ ~~,. ~ (1., l) '. 1',1 /f:.... '1.:. " -" L , .<4~; -' t:!....{,. '........
<br />.... 'T . ),.... ,.:'''. ". ~,tl ~ .K~'tIo"......P_~ ~~Il"'~'(o Iv ,\ "'", ~. _/~' ~" "::si .....
<br />. B,",.<h'm..,.'V.n.i,p~-1\r \ ,....' _ t . . ' S-~,!!,-""."....-_....~.. 'J! -~' ~;.,;, t.n ':,1..1' .:\11~' .....
<br />duc\lY.fal'flll.nd II. 1.400,"1Ie1 / \ <"L' i'1"" "tf,. ~. 1 "'A'thlUS.........rnond\ln I\ 1'~~'?~II.'.....,,::,~\,~.
<br />.rpl..Ii~''''''''''''Jd,."" of . IS: ,... . II) ~~~ ,."'; ", .........m..~.... J. V ,II. . "'~~'J-.!..'~"~AJ./~1;~. "-
<br />.,....'m th......t, ,",. ", ,'~ ':-.;...... "" .!ru~.~~~~~'':1:... c..; , -.. "', '3,J,.... ..... . r:;;]
<br />thls..ltonS.... r I -.. .~ .~.=- .",~ ["'.' I.. Y' ,....~'-:~ -.'.... ~ Y" .q~'O;t~' r:bt.."
<br />. ,. ~ . .. . l .""'_ .,.;;.I~ _) '~'..' II 'l...' ..'
<br />:"-~.. I, ' . 1"'"4""(~ ." . ~1'ff';}1:/ 1.b.~' ,~'_JL;........~rt~ ~''''~/~ "" ~ -r. ~ ',:~::
<br />A' .. ,. ~. .~'~:.' l"/TI'" ~~ 0 c'"'" ~ '....,~;I1 ,~U;~ll\~. "i I~R . .~..'\ I
<br />~,A.. ~ \.. ,Q";d',,a' , 'I 1;~~_"\' """"';.,. O{Q-',)v.iu-,':.i"l.'~o. .... I
<br />~~~. ". """ .... ;:... .;..0,,:' .:. ..... ' .....~:!l>,;~Jf.,~.'. '(.-\:i'':" ..~t ~.-'. \ Ai,. :.;?~ ~~''''''<.~.'~~.'
<br />q.... .,~, ~""'~)", '.e'l1ooCol<onod.....,A......." -: .. ~...o.... ,', -,:,.. ....; O~.{.;"'~''',~ ~ ' 1;;',(~. ': t,o'" ,,,,>I., .1
<br />...~ I .' k' 1\") ~..aboutathlrdef .. C't\--..;.-z., r -l.~~..i.~ ,M . ';( \ '
<br />"!> :" ''''.. :_ .',;~' ~""mC."""". ~; ~<;j" ',_ ~........%. '.. " ~"7r'~".. '-')/iT.i.) , p{;" . -' . I
<br />)0. : ~").. : .,. \-\.(TIl"*~.III..\er. :,.~.I tt d...'':J ,.,.., ''"''. .., )..}.,,-/,.....",J ;~...;..f..,q/j'.--{c,.
<br />~"'" '""~!>":\._h A;;;("" . ~; ; . :, .'. . llf; _'::.0 ot ~,,"'!I. ;.. :ar-::-/(,~r ,. ~, T~~..p,........nddlt,...
<br />~ '::_~ :\ I I ,,-J~~ .... "/"': - ';., .,.i~' ~_ I..~ .. ...,. ;("" .j ';,. ,.'-I.J....'-"I:I&' ...0' dlYllrt Co'orw.do RiYtr..ttr
<br />. ~-"C(, J \ ~'lt.." " . ..rf -"C('!h' f""- "'., . ~I'-'''' ~ # I 0 ..rt...rdthl'OughlhooRoc1.....
<br />~ ~ '%:--~~'" I' '!. ~ ..-.ClntraJ^rIzonaPro,J-ell i~' ~ JV": f!' ~; - _ . 0_ --ie'. ,;.d (__.("""~.. lo 1'00,000 urtuff.nnlllld
<br />~ " ~~~ 'I"~ . _ Wat.rdi"rtedfro,".h I ~ ....~ {" ".~.. r ~ _ .r ~:- ; w\otltJlo.luchuo.ny.r.
<br />"- "'Pi' '. ~., ,_ColoradOlaa..d.~~ j" ~' . .... (f I';i:' ~~ \o,,~ __I '- '-. _ -~ 1, .\C"--C'.
<br />~.,~...__~.. . ,'t. k' .ot'ground".t.reUn..ntly' J.. .. -~ ,..IlO' €: 'CI ....... -'- [, V
<br />~... ~.- " , . ~l .... IlL. 'I' ft x;.r .
<br />c. ~../ .,.,. ...,)o'ti ~"',.' ';S '. ,- .. _'" J" .:. ~.- '_ /,; 'r~-"""" ), V
<br />/", .. ,.,. '. ,/.___" ~.~...."G Ii or / .~ ..
<br />..... I' ~""'- -:~ 'G,!, ,. t. "--, . - ; 'p. -" r' ; c:...... "\> ',0 '.
<br />~"\ ... .ro '- :...~~ "/~ &,.1 . . ."' .' " ~.
<br />/. ~ ....'. '''. ',of .,~."':",. ,,' , ,'. , - ~'-,--...../"-- . 'l:' ...........
<br />\..___ ,.(J "" j ~.,)"';-~;.1, l~ If.l)\ '. N..Mulco'..hlrw.~ .........
<br />.. ..,. 4 ,~",~, 1/. ..! 'I ofthlCofcrra6uyd'''' ........
<br />\. ,.,. ..., ~ '. ,!1 . . COIIl" from trfbvtart.. .,
<br />S.llnlty '-...llne...,.1 'rom SO I I' .' .&. '!"Q.. 0 '" rr, ...J ... kdudln!J tIw St." J_ "
<br />parbr-rrnIRlonlPplI'I).tthfCol- ~..r, :'1[.....:~ 'r A~ "l. r.....".:J;. (^, ' ~ Rt..r.wl.lch....,.nt-
<br />orwdo,lOIIn:ltolllOflth.nlOO , I \.) ~ ~,.. r. . -' - { '.t.8Oooo.......n
<br />pprn..tl'"~rl.1D.'"-f.r.bo... ..'\" ;' i . AI..,- ~ ~ I thfNn~Jo"""":If. Mor.t.....24Inchn
<br />thfU.Spot.bl...tlrlt.ndud < \,1' '" .J\'fi___'Io<ll_ I. j ....O(.~",....t1on. ~ annu.Jpndpltltion
<br />of!500pP'" Thlqualltyoft'" , .,1 t{ ~wo;;" . - / ~ ., 1- .
<br />....tu....chlngM..,<corrocntbe \ \ ' ~ r" :-. ! J)' , It IJ ~ ,~ ~ ~(,...:v~ ~ ,"",lt141uwd
<br />wlthlnII! FPmofthat'ouNht . \ c;, -~!: \ ~ X.,; /1' I ~ A. ~ rq 0_
<br />.r1.Jo..",. \. l.~1;' J" ',. . .' ~,. Lo-
<br />\'/ 'J" ; ~ I t' 'Jll-.," .~. .~1r.., _ '" If, c....w.........
<br />.,'" l..{ I I,I (), ",'__ \. I _ .1f
<br />NATIONAL GEXJGRAPHIC \~.. ."t'" .: ) '. J : j\~<': r / c;] N..........."._...
<br />'. . ". I . r.'" 'J tlt ~ IN
<br />Pages l6-17, June 91 'l, ...{) r'" "::":'''r.;;;. .. -t I .. .......-
<br />\,. ~(.'~. . "r.: INfltl 0 o....rondMnplw
<br />4t '- '"." .; 'I 1~ (' 0
<br />~ ) :~ I;... I! ThlCoIoracioRMr k*'dralnl
<br />....r ,. (.f,;'~~ 1'./ t.. :-' a_.u.,lIml..rtdl"lflootof
<br />I ....,~::-.;. I ... 24...ooo...r.".....-_-
<br />C' q)..~.... twelfthtJ.....fthl
<br />o ,,/'" ___u.s.
<br />......,.. .........-
<br />'.
<br />" r-..
<br />
<br />WATER IN.
<br />WATER OUT
<br />1990
<br />
<br />-I<~"
<br />.C'C',.'~D",
<br />'ol"b.
<br />
<br />C''''{/,ot::
<br />,~
<br />"'.:~I '\>/1'
<br />'.
<br />
<br />,
<br />
<br />~:~"'''rll
<br />... ~.,-"
<br />-..,;., ..
<br />"" .....
<br />'" "'~
<br />
<br />.c,~.~
<br />,'1"/C .
<br />('~O
<br />,
<br />
<br />.
<br />,
<br />.
<br />
<br />-..
<br />'. . .
<br />
<br />"
<br />
<br />--
<br />
<br />_cu___
<br />.1\,,,u,..____'1
<br />
<br />-.....
<br />
<br />../"
<br />1 ~.
<br />
|