WSP05725

• File Number: 8210.140.20
• Description: Colorado River Basin Organizations and Entities - Colorado River Basin States Forum - California
• State: CA
• Basin: Western Slope
• Date: 1/1/1961
• Author: CO River Board of CA
• Title: Californias Stake in the Colorado River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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CALIFORNIA'S STAKE IN THE
COLORADO RIVER

The State of California has a large and vital .lltake in tbe Colorado
River. At least half of the State, meaBured in terD18 Dot only 01 present
population but also of reasonably prospective population, is dependent
in whole or in part on the Colorado River as tbe source of water supply
for irrigation, domestic, municipal and industrial purposes, and also as
a very substantial Bnd important souree of electric power 8upplJ..
Over B. million acres of lands-about. half of which are now irri-
gated-in the desert region of Southern California; situated chiefly in
the Palo Verde, lmperial and Coaebella Valleys, are dependent almost.
solely on the Colorado River 11.8 a source of water supply for irrigation
and for domestic and industrial purposes as well. The irrigation of
these lands will require in excess of 4,000,000 acre-feet annually of
Colorado River water,
The metropolitan areas of Southern California, 8ituated aD the coastal
plain and foothills lying south and west of the coastal range from Los
Allgeles-San Bernardino and vicinities on the north to San Diego and
vicinity on the sonth---embracing a present population of more than
7,500,000 inhabitants-are dependent upon the Colorado River as a
source of supplemental water supply for domestic, industrial and mu-
nicipal purposes. Plans conceived many yel1I'8 ago contemplate the
ultimate dh"ersiOD of about 1,212;000 acre.feet annuaJly of Colorado
River water for use in the cities and areas within the Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California. Without the supply available
since ]941 from the Colorado River the great Los Angeles-Orange
County indUBtrial area could never have assumed the "ital role in
natioDal defense and industrial production that it has played during
and since World War II. The bringing of Colorado River water in 1947
to the Cit.l' of San Diego and adjacent municipalities and districts
came just in time to avert a disastrollB water shortage.
Colorado River water is already being ueed in large quantities and
is the only immediate source of supply to meet the rapidly increasing
demands of further growth of population and industry in Southern
California. About half the member agencies of the Metropolitan Water
District oC Southern California now receive major portions of their
water supplit'S from the Colorado River. The day is rapidly approach.
ing when the Colorado River Aqueduct as well as all 10CRI sources of
supply on the coastal plain will be developed to their full capacities.
For ultima.te maximum development of the metropoLillln areaa, addi.
tional water from other sources will be needed.
The total amount of water from the Colorado River contemplated
in the design and construction of projects for beneficial consumptive
use in Southern California aggregates about 5,400,000 acre-feet an-
nually. The main works, which are utilizing the bulk of this amount,

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