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Show A126 APPENDIX 214 Wyoming v. Colorado case. The practice of interwatershed diversion is extensively followed in Wyoming, and this State itself has limited possibilities for diversions of water from the Green River Basin. The proposed diversion from the Colorado watershed for use by the City of Denver and adjacent country is the only other diversion of any size. The natural limitations are such as to prevent any material amount of water from being diverted from the Colorado watershed, and the question need therefore give no concern. For the purpose of making the Compact effective a political division of the interested States is made by grouping Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming as the "States of the Upper Division," and Arizona, California, and Nevada as the "States of the Lower Division," these groups representing, respectively, the interests of the Upper Basin and the Lower Basin. The term "Lee Ferry" is used to designate a natural point of demarcation upon the main Colorado River between the Upper Basin and the Lower Basin as located near the upper end of the Grand Canyon. Article III contains the important provisions as to the apportionment of the waters of the river, the agreement as to the delivery by the Upper Division of certain amounts of water at Lee Ferry, and provision for futher equitable apportionment of the unapportioned water of the Colorado River System whenever the need for same might become apparent. It was the endeavor of the Commission at its first session to arrive at a basis whereby a definite apportionment of the use of water could be made to each of the seven States. After extended consideration this plan was found to be impractical by reason of the facts that accurate determination could not now be made as to the possibilities of development in the different States, and agreement could not be reached upon any relative figures. By reason of the fact that the great conflict arises between the interests in the Upper Basin and the Lower Basin, it was finally agreed that apportionment between the two should form the basis of the Compact so far as the division of water was concerned. The apportionment of water allowed to each division is more than sufficient for the ultimate use of water in each so far as same is determined by the present estimates of the United States Reclamation Service. To Wyoming the grouping of the States into the two divisions appears of especial advantage as the possibilities of future development in this State, compared to the amount of water Wyoming contributes to the Colorado River, is greater than for any of the other three States of the Upper Division. The average flow of water available for use in the entire Colorado River System is estimated at about twenty million acre-feet annually. Sixteen million acre-feet are allocated under the terms of the Compact, leaving a residue of four million acre-feet to be apportioned at a future date. Development in the Upper Basin will be much slower than in |
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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] : |