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/ }.;' , t..) <=> ..J w Central Arizona Project, which transports Colorado River water to central and southrrn Arizona. In the Central Arizona Project aqueduct system, water flows east and south across central Arizona, through Phoenix, and finally comes to an end at the San Xavier Indian Reservation south of Tuc- son. Diversion Dams Headgate Rock Dam Located about 10 miles below Parker Dam is Headgate Rock Dam, a diversion dam. It diverts water into the Colorado River Indian Tribes Main Canal, which transports Colorado River water to Colorado River Indian Reserva- tion lands In Arizona. The dam was con- structed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Palo Verde Diversion Dam The Palo Verde Division Dam Is located about 10 miles north of the Blythe and Ehrenberg area of the Colorado River. The dam diverts water to the Palo Verde Irrigation District. Imperial Dam Imperial Dam is the United States' southern- most diversion dam on the river. It straddles the border between California and Arizona about 21 miles northeast of Yuma Gust upstream of Yuma). Imperial Dam diverts Colorado River waler into river-sized canals to Irrigate farmlands in California and Arizona. On the California side or the river, Imperial Dam diverts water into the A11.American Canal that carries water in CalifornIa to: I> the Bard Water District, I> the Quechan Indian Tribe's Reservation, I> the Imperial Valley, and I> the CoacheIla Valley. In addition, a portion of water in the AII- American Canal is diverted into the Yuma Main Canal, which carries that water through the Reservation Division, then through the Colorado River Siphon under the Colorado River, and then into the Yuma Valley in Arizona. When water reaches it farthest point on the AII- American Canal system, it has traveled nearly 500 miles after leaving Hoover Dam and has re- quired 10 days to make the trip. On the Arizona side of the Colorado River, Imperial Dam diverts water into the GIla Gravity Main Canal that car- ries water in Arizona to: I> the Yuma Mesa, I> the North and South Gila Val- leys, and I> the Wellton and Mohawk Val- leys along the Gila River. Laguna Dam Laguna Dam, located about 15 miles northeast of Yuma Gust upstream of Yuma), straddles the border between California and Arizona. As part of the original Yuma Project, Laguna Dam was built to divert water to farmlands in the Yuma area. Laguna Dam, the lirst dam Reclamation con- structed on the Colorado River, is located about 15 miles north- east of Yuma. Construction or Laguna Dam started in 1905 ancHinished in 1909, with the lirst water deliveries to the Yuma area beginning in 1910. Laguna Dam is now used primarily as a small regulating structure for the reservoir be- hind the dam and for recrea- tion. Laguna Dam was used originally as a diversion dam for the Yuma Irrigation Project until 1939 when Imperial Dam was completed approximately live miles upstream of Laguna Dam. Morelos Dam Morelos Dam, owned and con- structed by Mexico, is the southernmost dam on the Colorado River. Located in the Limitrophe Division of the river, it straddles the border be- tween Mexico and Arizona. Morel09 Darn diverts Mexico's share of Colorado River water into Mexico's Alamo Canal that transports Colorado River water throughout Mexico's Mexleall Valley. Morelos Dam is Mexico's only dam on the Colorado River. No other diver- sian structures exist south of Morelos Dam on the Colorado River. Operating Criteria for River Flows During wet years In 1980 all reservoirs along the Colorado River were filled with water for the lirst time. Three years later, the high runoff of 1983 started a cycle of wet weather on the watershed. During the four-year period of 1983-86, the river contained more water than during any similar period In the nearly 10(). year recorded "history' of Colorado River flows. During wet cycles of abnormal- ly high river flows the Bureau of Reclamation operates the river under flood control criteria, as developed by Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers. Ur.der flood control criteria, storage space is made available In the reservoir behind Hoover Dam so there is room to contain and regulate high flows in the river system during snowmelt runofl months. This is accomplished by predicting the amount of ex. pected runoff during the an- nual April-July snowmelt period from historical records of moisture on the watershed. During dry years Stored water is a valuable resource and Is controlled in the reservoirs for future use. During cycles of dry weather (or low runoff years), the Bureau of Reclamation operates the river system under criteria known as releases for downstream re- quirements. During cycles 01 dry weather, only enough water Is released through the system to meet the needs of