OCR Text |
Show A78 APPENDIX 210 drained by the Gila, Little Colorado, and other lower tributaries). Lee Ferry is situated at the head of the canyon, in the State of Arizona, a few miles southerly from the intersection of the Colorado Kiver with the boundary common to the States of Arizona and Utah, and is the natural point of demarcation between the upper region and the lower region. All waters of the entire river system within the upper region (including those returning to the river from irrigated lands) unite to form a single stream at Lees Ferry, where the flow may be measured and recorded. The compact conforms to this natural division. The upper region, plus all lands outside the drainage area which may be beneficially served by waters diverted from the river, is designated as the "upper basin." The lower region is designated as the "lower basin." The seven States are grouped into two political divisions. Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, constitute the States of the upper division. The States of Arizona, California, and Nevada constitute the lower division. Seven million five hundred thousand acre-feet exclusive annual beneficial consumptive use is set apart and apportioned in perpetuity to the upper basin and a like amount to the lower basin. Any waters necessary to supply lands in the Republic of Mexico (hereafter to be determined by international treaty) shall be supplied from the surplus flow of the river. If the surplus is not sufficient, any deficiency shall be borne equally by the upper basin and the lower basin; By reason of development upon the Gila River and the probable rapid future development incident to the necessary construction of flood works on the lower river, the lower basin is permitted to increase its development to the extent of an additional 1,000,000 acre-feet annual beneficial consumptive use before being authorized to call for a further apportionment of any surplus waters of the river. No further apportionment of surplus waters of the river shall occur within the next 40 years. At any time after 40 years, if the development in the upper basin has reached 7,500,000 acre-feet annual beneficial consumptive use or that of the lower basin has reached 8,500,000 acre-feet, any two States may call for a further apportionment of any surplus waters of the river, but such supplemental apportionment shall not affect the perpetual apportionment of 7,500,000 acre-feet made to each basin by this compact. The States of the upper division shall not cause the flow of the river at Lees Ferry to be depleted below an aggregate of 75,000,000 acre-feet for any period of ten consecutive years (7,500,000 acre-feet average annual flow over any 10-year period) if necessary for use in the lower basin. This is approximately 50 percent of the river flow at Lees Ferry during the lowest 10-year period of which we have a record. |
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Original book: [State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde 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, defendants, United States of America, State of Nevada, State of New Mexico, State of Utah, interveners] : |