WSP03228

• File Number: 8200.700
• Description: Colorado River - Colorado River Basin - Colorado River Basin General Publications/Issues
• State: CO
• Date: 6/1/1990
• Author: Jeris A Danielson
• Title: A Summary of Compacts and Litigation Governing Colorados use of Interstate Streams
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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UPPER COLORADO RIVER COMPACT
October 11, 1948

Signatory States:

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming

Colorado Commissioner: Appointed by tbe Governor

Major Purposes;

1. Provide for the equitable division of the waters of the Upper Basin allocated by the terms
of tbe Colorado River Compact (Art. l)
2 Eestablish the obligations of each state of the Upper Basin with respect to required
deliveries at Lee Ferry, as set forth in the Colorado River Compact (Art. I)
3. Promote interstate comity (Art. I)
4. Remove causes of present and future controversies (Art. 1)
5. Secure the expeditious agricultural and industrial development of the Upper Basin
(Art. I)

Salient Provisions:

1. Apportionment of waters of [he Upper Basin as follows:

Arizooa

50,000 AFIyr.

Of the total beneficial consumptive use allocated to the Upper Basin less the 5O,CK>O AF
per year to Arizona, the apportionment is (Art. III):

Colorado
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming

51.75%
11.25%
23.00%
14,00%

2 The apportionment is based upon tbe allocation of man. made depletions and beneficial use
is the basis, the measure, and the limit of the right to use. (Art. III)
3. No state shall exceed its apportioned use in any water year when the effect of such use is
7:':..;::.;.;~~~~~~_~~.;;)9_d~prive..~p~~~i~~~9?'.~_~~~.<?f.i~ _8PPQ~~~~;;(M:.III) :.~~-;.-:;:-~:~-:.~; --",~~'~',-".:.....~::::J.:..-~;'
, ,,-<,- 4,!f a caD should be plaCed atLee Ferry by the Lower BasUl, the extent oreurtailment'by-r." "--,.." ,"
each state of the Upper Basin shall be determined by the following:

8. The extent and times of curtailment shall assure full compliance with Article ill of tbe
Colorado River CompacL (ArL ill)

11