WSP01908

• File Number: 8278.300
• Description: Title I - Merxican Deliveries
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 2/1/1963
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Special Studies - Delivery of Water to Mexico
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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PART III. HYDROLOGY OF '1'IIE LOWER COLORADO RIVER
BELOV HOOVER DAM

A. Water Supply

1. Description of Physical Features Below (and Including)

Hoover Dam. The main stream of the C010rado River rises in the

Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado, f10vs southwest about 1,400

miles to the Gulf of California traversing the mountain vall.eys of

Colorado, the spectacular canyons of southeastern Utah and northern

Arizona and finally, balow Lake Mead, passes through broad aJ.lu-

vial vaJ.leys interspersed vi th mountain chains. The natural

drainage area of the Lower Colorado River Basin below Hoover DiIm

and above the northerly international boundary is about 75,200

square m11es. From Hoover Dam to the point where the Colorado

River crosses the international boundary into Mexico, the river

flovs generally in a southerly direction for a distance of about

326 ml1es. Of this distance, about 129 m11es are contained

within reservoirs and 52 miles are in narrow canyons. The

remaining 145 miles traverse broad aJ.luvial va11.eys.

A listing of the existing dams and lakes on the C010rado

River in the Lower Basin is given in Table No.1. These features

are also shown on Di-aving No. 423-300-59, "Map and Operational

Diagram - Lower Colorado River - Lees Ferry to Gulf of California."

Hoover Dam is a concrete thick-arch structure 726 feet high

and 1244 feet long at the crest. Lake Mead, the reservoir behind

Hoover Dam, is used to provide storage for improvement of naviga-

tion, river regulation, and flood control; for the de1ivery of

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