Lower Colorado River Project

Document: Lower Colorado River Project, text begins "The Southwest area of the United States…..", 1962?, (photocopy) page 1[1962? LOWER COLORADO RIVER PROJECT The Southwest area of the United States (comprising the State of Arizona; southern portions of Colorado, Nevada, and Utah; and the western part of New Mexico) is expanding in population and industrial development at a far greater rate than any other part of the United States. In addition, there exists today tremendous areas of irrigated land and practically unlimited additional land that could be irrigated if adequate water were made available. As a result of existing development and the explosive population and industrial expansion in the area, a serious situation exists as to water availability for sustaining the present economy, as well as the urgent requirement for additional water to take care of growing future needs. At present, practically the sole source of water for this area is the Colorado River, and the amount of water available to the lower basin States from that river is governed by the provisions of the Colorado River Compact. The Central Arizona area surrounding Phoenix and Tucson is a prime example of the water situation. All of the surface water from the Salt, Verde, Gila, and other streams in the area is completely utilized. In addition, some 4,200,000 acre-feet of water is pumped from the underground annually in order to satisfy present water requirements. Recharge to the underground is estimated at approximately 2,000,000 acre-feet with the obvious result of mining underground water at theEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 2,316,558 byte