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Water Use and Accounting under the Law of the River
California is one of the seven Colorado River Basin States that shares an allocation of water from the Colorado River System pursuant to the 1922 Colorado River Compact and additional elements of the “Law of the River”, a term used to describe the numerous compacts, laws, court decisions, decrees, contracts, rules and guidelines used to help manage the system.
Since 1922 the Colorado River Basin States have worked together and with the federal government to manage and operate the Colorado River System and have developed tools and guidelines to help guide those operations.
The Bureau of Reclamation plays an important role in the operation of facilities and accounting for water uses in the Lower Colorado River System. The accounting of water uses in the Upper Basin is coordinated through the Upper Colorado River Commission, established under the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact of 1948. In 2007, the Secretary of the Interior adopted the Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead that establish operating guidelines for the system through 2026.
For more information see:
1922 Colorado River Compact
A summary of the Law of the River
Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado River Accounting and Operations
2007 Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead
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Binational Issues and Activities with Mexico
Pursuant to the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico and the United States, the United States is obligated to deliver 1.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water annually to Mexico. Currently, there are on-going binational discussions and negotiations associated with operations and activities associated with Treaty compliance including Minute 242 regarding salinity standards are maintained and operations and activities associated with Minutes 316, 317, 318, and 319.
In November 2012, the United States and Mexico signed Minute 319 that establishes cooperative strategies to improve long-term management of the Colorado River.
For more information see:
International Boundary and Water Commission
1944 Water Treaty
Minute 242
Minute 319
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California’s 4.4 Plan
In 1999, the California Colorado River Water Use Plan was drafted to outline the State’s proposed plan to maintain its use of Colorado River water use at 4.4 million acre-feet a year. Key components of the plan were used as the framework for the Quantification Settlement Agreement completed in 2003, and have otherwise been implemented to help enable California to maintain water uses within its basic mainstream apportionment.
For more information see:
California Colorado River Water Use Plan
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Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
In 1972, Congress enacted the Clean Water Act, mandating efforts to maintain water quality in the United States. Around the same time, Mexico and the United States agreed to Minute 242 of the 1944 Water Treaty relating salinity levels of Colorado River water being delivered to Mexico. In 1973, the Colorado River Basin States established the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum for interstate cooperation on activities to comply with Section 303(a) and (b) of the Clean Water Act.
The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Public Law 93-320) was enacted in 1974 and authorizes the Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to implement measures that enhance and improve the water quality of the Colorado River System for use in the United States and Mexico.
Title I of the 1974 Salinity Control Act authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to take actions necessary to comply with the agreements made between the United States and Mexico in Minute 242. Projects authorized under Title I include the extension of the Main Outlet Drain Extension, the Yuma Desalting Plant, the Coachella Canal Unit, the Protective and Regulatory Pumping Unit, and the Reject Stream Replacement Study.
Title II of the Salinity Control Act created the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program, authorizing activities upstream from Imperial Dam to meet the objectives and standards set by the Clean Water Act. Implementation of salinity control measures under Title II is administered through the Salinity Control Forum and Advisory Council, and is a cooperative effort involving the Basin States and federal agencies from the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture. Since the implementation of the Salinity Control Program, measures have been put in place to control more than 1.2 million tons of salt annually.
For more information see:
Salinity Control Program
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Yuma Desalting Plant
Coachella Canal Unit
Protective and Regulatory Pumping Unit
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Colorado River Basin Water Supply & Demand Study
In 2012, the Bureau of Reclamation, in collaboration with the Colorado River Basin States, completed the Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study (Basin Study). The purpose of the Basin Study is to identify current and future imbalances in water supply and demand in the Basin through 2060, and to provide a series of potential adaptive and mitigation strategies to address supply imbalances. The Basin Study contains four major sections: Water Supply Assessment; Water Demand Assessment; System Reliability Analysis; and Development and Evaluation of Opportunities for Balancing Supply and Demand.
In May 2012, the Basin States and Reclamation initiated the Basin Study’s next steps process. Phase 1 of the “Next Steps” process is underway.
For more information see:
Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study
Basin Study Next Steps
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Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program
To address concerns regarding impacts from the operation of Glen Canyon Dam, in 1982, the United States Bureau of Reclamation initiated a multi-agency interdisciplinary Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Studies program and in 1996 completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the operation of Glen Canyon Dam.
The resources analyzed in the EIS include: water, sediment, fish, vegetation, wildlife and habitat, endangered and other special status species, cultural resources, air quality, recreation, hydropower, and non-use values.
The 1992 Grand Canyon Protection Act (Public Law 102-575), describes a process of “adaptive management” whereby the effects of dam operations on downstream resources would be continually monitored and assessed. The Grand Canyon Protection Act, and the 1996 EIS are the guiding documents for development and implemention of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program.
In 1997, the Secretary of the Interior established the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG), a federal advisory committee to provide an opportunity for public involvement in the operation of Glen Canyon Dam and downstream resources.
For more information see:
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program
U.S. Geological Survey Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
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Lower Colorado Multi-Species Conservation Program
The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) is a cooperative effort among the Lower Basin States of Arizona, California, and Nevada, several federal agencies and others to balance the use of the Colorado River water resources with the conservation of native species and their habitats. The program, authorized by Congress in 2005, works toward the recovery of species currently listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). It also reduces the likelihood of additional species listings. Implemented over a 50-year period (2005 through 2055), the program accommodates current water diversions and power production, and provides opportunities for future water and power development by providing long-term ESA and CESA compliance through the implementation of a Habitat Conservation Plan.
The program area extends over 400 miles of the lower Colorado River from Lake Mead to the southern border with Mexico, and includes lakes Mead, Mohave, and Havasu, as well as the historic 100-year floodplain along the main stem of the lower Colorado River. The LCR MSP requires the creation of over 8,100 acres of habitat for fish and wildlife species and the production of over 1.2 million native fish to augment existing populations. The plan will benefit at least 26 species, most of which are state or federally listed endangered, threatened, or sensitive species.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is the implementing agency for the LCR MSCP. Partnership in the LCR MSCP occurs primarily through the LCR MSCP Steering Committee, currently representing 57 entities, including state and federal agencies, water and power users, municipalities, Native American tribes, conservation organizations, and other interested parties, which provides input and oversight functions in support of LCR MSCP implementation. Program costs associated with program implementation are evenly divided between the federal government and non-federal partners.
For more information see:
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program
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Lower Colorado Water Supply Project
In 1986, Congress enacted the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project Act (Public Law 99-655) which authorized the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate, and maintain the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project to supply water for domestic, municipal, industrial and recreational purposes. In 2005, the act was amended to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the City of Needles for the design and construction of Stage 2 of the Project that will add 5,000 acre-feet of capacity to the Project. The amendment further authorized the Secretary to contract with additional entities who hold Section 5 contracts for municipal and industrial uses within the State of California for the use of any unused Project water (Public Law 109-103, Sec. 203).
In 1992, the City of Needles contracted with the Department of Interior for rights to water created under the project and assumed administrative responsibility to execute subcontracts for the use of Colorado River water with other eligible water users.
Eligible subcontractors are limited to persons or non-Federal governmental agencies whose lands or interests in lands are located adjacent to the Colorado River in the State of California, who do not hold rights to Colorado River water or whose rights are insufficient to meet their present or anticipated future needs as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.
For more information see:
Lower Colorado Water Supply Project Act, the Project, and subcontracting eligibility requirements
To obtain an application to subcontract with the City of Needles to receive water through the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project, click here.
