OCR Text |
Show WATER SUPPLY REPORT by Tipton and Kalmbach, Inc. In order to provide additional and up-to-date information on the subject, the internationally known engineering firm of Tipton and Kalmach, Inc., was employed by the Upper Colorado River Commission to make a detailed analysis of the availability of Colorado River water for the Lower Colorado River Basin Project. This study was completed during the summer of 1965. The report on the study consists of two parts: Volume I - Text, and Volume II - Appendices. The text describes the manner in which the studies were made and gives the results of the most pertinent studies and final conclusions based on those results, and the reasons therefor. The Appendices consist of copies of all the detailed river and reservoir operation studies that were considered directly pertinent to the report. The Appendices also contain tables indicating the estimated present depletions on the river by the States of the Upper Division of the Colorado River Basin, and the prognostication by projects of increased depletion in the future, as made by various entities. A master table is included which indicates all known potentials in the Upper Basin and estimates of others which might come into being. The analysis shows that based upon historical flows of the Colorado River, with all presently existing and authorized storage reservoirs, and assuming deliveries at Lee Ferry curtailed to 75 million acre-feet in each period of ten years, there are only 6,300,000 acre-feet of water per annum available for consumptive use in the Upper Basin. The Colorado River Compact apportions 7,500,000 acre-feet to the Upper Basin. When reservoir evaporation in the Upper Basin is deducted, the net consumptive use available to the Upper Basin amounts to only 5,600,000 acre-feet. The fact is confirmed by the study that there is not enough water in the River with existing storage facilities for the Upper Basin to deliver 75,000,000 acre-feet at Lee Ferry in every ten-year period and at the same time consume its compact-apportioned 7,500,000 acre-feet annually. There is not sufficient water for all projects presently contemplated for the Upper Basin. This shortage is caused by nature's water-deficient supply combined with the com- 30 |