Colorado River Compact

Colorado River Compact
source
Name	Colorado River Compact
Date signed	November 24, 1922
Location	Santa Fe, New Mexico
Signatories	Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming

Colorado River Compact. The Colorado River is a vital source of water and hydroelectric power for the Southwestern United States, supporting agriculture in the Imperial Valley of California and the Yuma Valley of Arizona, as well as industry and municipalities in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Denver. The compact was negotiated by Herbert Hoover, then United States Secretary of Commerce, and signed by the seven basin states on November 24, 1922, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This agreement was influenced by the Rio Grande Compact and the La Plata River Compact, and it has been a model for other interstate compacts, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin Compact.

Introduction

The Colorado River Compact is a foundational agreement that allocates the water resources of the Colorado River among the seven basin states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The compact was necessary due to the growing demand for water in the Southwestern United States, particularly in California and Arizona, which were experiencing rapid population growth and agricultural development in the Imperial Valley and the Yuma Valley. The compact has been influenced by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Park Service, which have played important roles in the management of the Colorado River and its watershed. The compact has also been shaped by the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, which have protected the environmental and ecological resources of the Colorado River Basin.

History

The Colorado River Compact was negotiated during a period of significant change in the Southwestern United States, with the construction of the Hoover Dam and the Glen Canyon Dam transforming the hydrology of the Colorado River. The compact was influenced by the Mexican Revolution and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which established the international border between the United States and Mexico. The compact has been shaped by the United States Supreme Court decisions in Arizona v. California and Colorado v. New Mexico, which have clarified the rights and obligations of the basin states under the compact. The compact has also been influenced by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Reorganization Act, which have protected the water rights and land rights of Native American tribes in the Colorado River Basin.

Provisions

The Colorado River Compact allocates the water resources of the Colorado River among the seven basin states, with each state receiving a specific percentage of the total water available. The compact establishes the Upper Colorado River Basin Commission and the Lower Colorado River Basin Commission to manage the water resources of the Colorado River and resolve disputes among the basin states. The compact also provides for the construction of dams and reservoirs to store and regulate the flow of the Colorado River, including the Lake Mead and Lake Powell. The compact has been influenced by the Federal Power Act and the Water Power Act, which have regulated the development of hydroelectric power in the Colorado River Basin.

Signatory States

The seven basin states that signed the Colorado River Compact are Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Each state has its own unique water rights and water needs, and the compact has been designed to balance these competing interests. The compact has been influenced by the California Department of Water Resources, the Arizona Department of Water Resources, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board, which have played important roles in the management of the Colorado River and its watershed. The compact has also been shaped by the Nevada State Legislature, the New Mexico State Legislature, and the Utah State Legislature, which have enacted laws and regulations to protect the water resources of the Colorado River Basin.

Impact and Controversies

The Colorado River Compact has had a significant impact on the development of the Southwestern United States, supporting agriculture, industry, and municipalities in the region. However, the compact has also been the subject of controversy, particularly with regard to the allocation of water resources among the basin states. The compact has been influenced by the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, which have protected the environmental and ecological resources of the Colorado River Basin. The compact has also been shaped by the Native American Rights Fund and the Indian Law Resource Center, which have protected the water rights and land rights of Native American tribes in the Colorado River Basin.

Amendments and Updates

The Colorado River Compact has been amended and updated several times since its signing in 1922, including the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968 and the Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead of 2007. The compact has been influenced by the United States Congress and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which have regulated the development of hydroelectric power in the Colorado River Basin. The compact has also been shaped by the International Boundary and Water Commission and the North American Free Trade Agreement, which have protected the water resources and environmental resources of the Colorado River Basin. The compact continues to play an important role in the management of the Colorado River and its watershed, and it will likely be the subject of ongoing negotiation and amendment in the years to come. Category:Water management