WSP05098

• File Number: 8220.200.05.A
• Description: Hoover Dam/Lake Mead/Boulder Canyon Project
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1985
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Hoover Dam
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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The tenn "Lower Basin" means those
parts of the States of Arizona, Calilomia,
Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah within
and from which waters naturally drain
into the Colorado River system below
Lees Fen)', and all parts of these States
that are not pan of the river's drainage
system, but which may benefit from
waters diverted from the system below
Lees Fen)',
The Colorado River Compact appor-
tioned from the Colorado River system in
perpetuity to the Upper Basin and to the
Lower Basin, respectively, the exclusive,
beneficial consumptive use of 7,500,000
acre-feet of waler per year. In addition,
the compact gave the Lower Basin the
light to increase its anllllal beneficial
consumptive llse of water by 1,000,000
acrc- feet.
The Colorado River Compact did not
apportion water to any State. This was
left to the States in each Basin to resolve
among themselves. On October 11, 1948,
the Upper Basin States entered into the
Upper Colorado River Basin Compact,
which states how much of the Upper
Basin's 7,500,000 acre-foot annual allot-
ment each State is entitled to use. (see pg.
49 lor States and amounts,)
Although the Boulder Canyon Project
Act authorized the States of Arizona,
California, and Nevada to enter into an
agreement appol1ioning the Lower Basin
entitlement, the States could not reach an
agreement. In a suit tiled before the U.S.
Supreme Court in 1952, Arizona asked
for a detemlination of how the river's
water should be divided among the three
States. During the next 8 years, a Special
Master appointed by the Court heard
testimony from the States and other in-
terested parties. He presented his recom-
mendations to the Court in 1960. In Oc-
tober Term 1962, the COUI1 ruled that of
the first 7,500,000 acre-feet of mainstem
water delivered to the Lower Basin,
California was entitled to 4.400,000 acre-
feet; Arizona 2,ROO,Ooo acre-feet; and
Nevada 300,000 acre-feel.

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The Boulder Canyon Project Act
On Deccmber 21, 1928, the Boulder
Canyon Project Act became law. As pass-
ed, the Act:
- approved the Colorado River
Compact;
- provided that in the event only six
States should ratify the compact, it
would become effective as a six-State
compact; and that California should
agree to limit its use of water for the
benefit of the other six States;
~ authorized construction of a dam at
Black Canyon or Boulder Canyon;
- authorized construction of the All-
American Canal system connecting the

Bureau of Reclamation signs the contract with
Six Companies, Inc., for the constrnction of Hoover
Dam, powe/plant. and appurtenant works. The
S48,890, 995.50 contract was the largest construction
contract let by the United States Government lip
to that time.

Imperial and Coachella Valleys with
the Colorado River; and
- authorized $165 million for construction
of the entire projecL
Further, the Act stated that the dam
authorized for construction would have
the following purposes:
- flood control;
- improvement of navigation and regula-
tion of the Colorado River;
- storage and delivel)' of Colorado
River waters for reclamation of public
lands and other beneficial uses ex-
clusively within the United States; and