Economic Significance of Water Supply

Attachment No. 2, Lower Colorado River Basin Project, Economic Significance of Water Supply for Homes, Industry, Agriculture, page 5THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN The Colorado River, flowing from headwaters in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, also drains portions of New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California, and Nevada. It forms the boundary between California and Arizona. From its headwaters to the Republic of Mexico the length of the river is 1,300 miles. The total drainage area of the Colorado River Basin is approximately 244,000 square miles, of which some 2,000 square miles are in Mexico. The average run-off of the basin is only 1.3 inches which reveals its extremely arid character. Nevertheless, the river not only provides water for agricultural uses along its entire length, but also supplies water for export to farming areas in eastern Colorado, central Utah, and eastern New Mexico. Water is also exported from the basin to major metropolitan areas including Denver, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Los Angeles. Facilities are either authorized or under construction to export additional water to Albuquerque, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs, and for additional supplies to Denver and Salt Lake City. Study is being made of possible diversions to other cities, including Cheyenne. Energy produced at hydroelectric developments on the river and its tributaries is distributed over a wide area in the West. Thus, the influence of the Colorado River far exceeds the reaches of its geographical boundaries, for not only does the river benefit directly the millions of people who reside within its basin, but many thousands in surrounding areas as well. Historically, development in the Colorado River Basin lagged behind most regions in the Nation because of its remoteness, and its arid climate. Recently, however, economic growth has advanced rapidly, resulting in utilization of the dormant wealth in agriculture, mining, lumbering and tourist attractions. Inevitably, this called forth the scarcest resource of all - water. Once raging in flood or depleted in drouth, the erratic flows of the Colorado will be virtually under full control upon completion of the upper basin storage reservoirs. By interstate compacts, by international treaty with Mexico, and by the affirmation of the highest courts, the waters of the Colorado are legally apportioned to the riparian states for their beneficial use. Full resource development depends on the remaining vital projects to conserve and deliver water and on augmenting the natural flows of the river by import or otherwise.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,435,330 byte