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COLORADO RIVER COMPACT <br />(§37-61-101, et. seq., C.R.S.) <br />November 24, 1922 <br />Signatory States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and <br />Wyoming <br />Major Purposes: <br />1. Equitable division of the waters of the Colorado River (Art. I) <br />2. Establish relative importance of different uses (Art. II) <br />3. Promote interstate comity (Art. I) <br />4. Remove causes of present and future controversies (Art. I) <br />5. Secure expeditious agricultural and industrial development of the basin (Art. I) <br />Important Provisions: <br />1. Divides Colorado River Basin into Upper and Lower Basins, with the dividing line at <br />Lee Ferry, Arizona. For legal purposes also designates Lower Division (California, <br />Arizona, Nevada) and Upper Division States (Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, <br />Wyoming). (Art. I and II) <br />2. Apportions 7,500,000 acre-feet of consumptive use to each basin per annum. (Art. <br />III (a)) <br />3. Allows Lower Basin to increase its consumptive use by 1,000,000 acre-feet per year. <br />(Art. III (b)) <br />4. Provides for Mexican allocation, first from surplus waters above water apportioned to <br />each basin (15,000,000 acre-feet per year total), and secondly splits obligation <br />equally between the basins. (Art. III (c)) <br />5. Provides that Upper Basin shall not deplete the flow of the river below 75,000,000 <br />acre-feet in each consecutive 10 -year period to the Lower Basin. (Art. III (d)) <br />6. Recognizes the states' authority to regulate and control within their respective <br />boundaries the appropriation, use and distribution of water. (Art. IV (c)). <br />7. Not intended to be construed as affecting the obligation of the U.S. to Indian Tribes. <br />(Art. VII). <br />8. Termination of compact by unanimous agreement of all signatory states. (Art. X) <br />