WSP03356

• File Number: 8210.110.60
• Description: Colorado River Water Users Association
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 12/8/1952
• Author: CRWUA
• Title: Proceedings of the 9th Annual Conference
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

Since 1951 the survey has been compiling in one series of reports
summaries of all stream flow records collected throughout the nation prior
to 1950. The records are critically examined, revised where necessary, and
estimates made to fill in short breaks. Because of its size, this project
will be spread over several years, beginning with records for areas where
the need appears most urgent, as the Colorado River Basin. About 85 percent
of the records for the Basin have been compiled and it is contemplated that
the report will be ready for publication as a water-supply paper by 1954.

When the upper Colorado R!ver Compact was approved, the all-Federal
program of stream gaging, sediment, and chemical quality investigations was
expanded in that region as it was recognized by the Upper Colorado River
Commission that additional data were essential to carry out the terms of
the Compact. Funds for expansion were made available by Congress following
a request by the affected States. However, the new network covers only part
of that requested and needed. At present, 45 gaging stations are operated
in the Upper Basin with these ''Upper Basin Compact" funds. In addition, 29
gaging stations in both upper and Lower Basins are operated with Colorado
River Compact funds, which first became available to the Survey on July 1, 1928.

As an example of the importance of these records: Article III of the
Colorado River Compact provides for apportionment of water among the upper
and Lower Basins and the Republic of Mexico. It states that further appor-
tionment of the beneficial uses of the waters of the Colorado River System
not apportioned by the Compact 11JB.y be made after OctOber 1, 1963, if and
when either basin shall have reached its total beneficial consumptive use
as provided in the Compact. It is imperative, therefore, that we plan so
that by 1963, we will have the basic data necessary to resolve questions
that will arise.

Equitable apportionment of Colorado River water requires answers to
two main questions: (1) What is the geographical source of the water, (2) and
what disposal is made of it? As present stream flow records are inadequate
for resolving these questions, proposals have been made to increase substantially
the number of gaging stations throughout the basin. The proposed stations number
about 400, more than half of which are in the present program. Not all the
stations nOW operated are in this group, because many are operated for specific
purposes not directly related to the questions cited above.

Examination by Survey district engineers of these proposals disclosed
that many of the new locations would be not readily accessible-- some virtually
inaccessible at times. Furthermore, because of shifting channels and flashy
runoff, frequent measurements might be necessary to insure accuracy, particularly
at high stages. As times of high stage usually coincide with times of inacces-
sibility, resident hydrographers probably would be required at some stations.
Construction and operation of those stations would, therefore, be costly. It
is recognized that the cost, although a reason for careful scrutiny of a pro-
posed station, cannot be the main criterion.

Same of the stations proposed would be on transmountain diversions,
for some of which records are obtained by other agencies but not reviewed by
the Surveyor published in Water-Supply Papers. In view of the importance of
such records for compact information, they should be an integral part of the
basin-wide network.

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