WSP06020

• File Number: 8271.300
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - General Information and Publications-Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/3000
• Author: Sidney McFarland
• Title: Water Quality and the Law of the River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Although the numerous water supply studies that have been
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conducted differ in their conclusions, they all indicate the

presence of a serious water deficiency in the Lower Basin of the

Colorado River. In fact, they show that a real crisis is being

faced by Arizona, southern California, and Nevada. Even in the

Upper Basin the remaining Colorado River water is fast being ex-

hausted as development goes forward.

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All of the studies show conclusively tha~any large increase

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in use of water in the Lower Basin must, even now, be supplied in

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part from water apportioned by the ColoradCLRiver Compact to the

Upper Basin States but presently unused by them.

The water supply of the Colorado River will neither be sufficient

to meet future requirements of the areas dependent upon it, nor to

meet apportionments of the consumptive use of water made 'by the

Colorado River Compact to the Upper and Lower Basins plus the delivery

of ,,,ater to Nexico as required by international treaty. It is in-
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evitable that water requirements will exceed the supply. This is

the reason that the Colorado River Project Act emphasizes the need
for augmentation and the reason the states feel the Secretary of

the Interior h&3 not given adequate and urgent attention to the

augmentation studies.

Water supply and water quality, of course, cannot be separated.

It serves no useful purpose to have water available if it is un-

usable. It is understandable that little attention was given

to water quality in the early years of water ~evelopment in the

Colorado River Basin. because water ~laS plentif~l. l\s water use
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increased, water quality has become a matter of more concern through-

out the Basin.

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