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Show 9 III. Geography of the Colorado River Basin The Colorado River is a stream of continental proportions. From its headwaters in the high peaks of north central Colorado to its mouth in the Gulf of California it runs a course of approximately 1,300 miles. During its journey to the sea it travels within or on the boundaries of five states and one foreign nation, as follows: through western Colorado, 245 miles; across Utah, 285 miles; through Arizona, 295 miles; on the Arizona-Nevada boundary, 145 miles; on the Arizona-California boundary, 235 miles; on the Arizona-Mexico boundary, 16-20 miles; and within Mexico, 75 miles.20 Within the United States the River System drains an area of 242,000 square miles or one-twelfth of the continental United States exclusive of Alaska. This drainage basin is approximately 900 miles long and varies in width from about 300 miles in the northerly section to about 500 miles in the southerly section. It is bounded on the north and east by the Continental Divide, on the west by the Wasatch Range and other divides, and by minor divides on the south and southwest. Within this drainage basin are portions of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.21 The following table shows the relationship of each of these states to the Basin.22 20Ariz. Ex. 1000, p. 9. "Ariz. Ex. 1000, p. 7. 22Ariz. Ex. 1000, p. 8. |
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Original Report: State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Imperial Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, California, City of San Diego, California, and County of San Diego, California |