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Water and Irrigation | |
Upper Colorado River Basin Compact | |
Section 10 | Text of compact. |
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73-13-10. Text of compact. The text of said Compact is as follows: The State of Arizona, the State of Colorado, the State of New Mexico, the State of Utah and the State of Wyoming, acting through their Commissioners, Charles A. Carson for the State of Arizona, Clifford H. Stone for the State of Colorado, Fred E. Wilson for the State of New Mexico, Edward H. Watson for the State of Utah and L. C. Bishop for the State of Wyoming, after negotiations participated in by Harry W. Bashore, appointed by the President as the representative of the United States of America, have agreed, subject to the provisions of the Colorado River Compact, to determine the rights and obligation of each signatory state respecting the uses and deliveries of the water of the Upper Basin of the Colorado River, as follows: (a) That major purposes of this Compact are to provide for the equitable division and apportionment of the use of the waters of the Colorado River System, the use of which was apportioned in perpetuity to the Upper Basin by the Colorado River Compact; to establish the obligations of each state of the Upper Division with respect to the deliveries of water required to be made at Lee Ferry by the Colorado River Compact; to promote interstate comity; to remove causes of present and future controversies; to secure the expeditious agricultural and industrial development of the Upper Basin, the storage of water and to protect life and property from floods. (b) It is recognized that the Colorado River Compact is in full force and effect and all of the provisions hereof are subject thereto. As used in this Compact: (a) The term "Colorado River System" means that portion of the Colorado River and its tributaries within the United States of America. (b) The term "Colorado River Basin" means all of the drainage area of the Colorado River System and all other territory within the United States of America to which the waters of the Colorado River System shall be beneficially applied. (c) The term "States of the Upper Division" means the States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. (d) The term "States of the Lower Division" means the States of Arizona, California and Nevada. (e) The term "Lee Ferry" means a point in the main stream of the Colorado River one mile below the mouth of the Paria River. (f) The term "Upper Basin" means those parts of the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming within and from which naturally drain into the Colorado River System above Lee Ferry, and also all parts of said States located without the drainage area of the Colorado River System which are now or shall hereafter be beneficially served by waters diverted from the Colorado River System above Lee Ferry. (g) The term "Lower Basin" means those parts of the States of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah within and from which waters naturally drain into the Colorado River System below Lee Ferry, and also all parts of said States located without the drainage area
of the Colorado River System which are now or shall hereafter be beneficially served by waters
diverted from the Colorado River System below Lee Ferry. (a) Subject to the provisions and limitations contained in the Colorado River Compact and in this Compact there is hereby apportioned from the Upper Colorado River System in perpetuity to the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, respectively, the consumptive use of water as follows: (1) To the State of Arizona the consumptive use of 50,000 acre-feet per annum. (2) To the States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, respectively the consumptive use per annum of the quantities resulting from the application of the following percentages to the total quantity of consumptive use per annum apportioned in perpetuity to and available for use each year by Upper Basin under the Colorado Compact and remaining after the deduction of the use, not to exceed 50,000 acre-feet per annum, made in the State of Arizona. State of Colorado .......................................................................................... 51.75 per cent,
State of New Mexico ................................................................................... 11.25 per cent,
State of Utah ................................................................................................. 23.00 per cent,
State of Wyoming .......................................................................................... 14.00 per cent
(b) The apportionment made to the respective States by paragraph (a) of this Article is based upon, and shall be applied in conformity with, the following principles and each of them: (1) The apportionment is of any and all man-made depletions; (2) Beneficial use is the basis, the measure and the limit of the right to use; (3) No State shall exceed its apportioned use in any water year when the effect of such excess use, as determined by the Commission, is to deprive another signatory State of its apportioned use during that water year; provided, that this subparagraph (b)(3) shall not be construed as: (i) Altering the apportionment of use, or obligations to make deliveries as provided in
Article XI, XII, XIII, or XIV of this Compact; In the event curtailment of use of water by the States of the Upper Division at any time shall become necessary in order that the flow at Lee Ferry shall not be depleted below that required by Article III of the Colorado River Compact, the extent of curtailment by each State of the consumptive use of water apportioned to it by Article III of this Compact shall be in such quantities and at such times as shall be determined by the Commission upon the application of the following principles: (a) The extent and times of curtailment shall be such as to assure full compliance with Article III of the Colorado River Compact; (b) If any State or States of the Upper Division, in the ten years immediately preceding the water year in which curtailment is necessary, shall have consumptively used more water than it was or they were, as the case may be, entitled to use under the apportionment made by Article III of this Compact, such State or States shall be required to supply at Lee Ferry a quantity of water equal to its, or the aggregate of their, overdraft or the proportionate part of such overdraft, as may be necessary to assure compliance with Article III of the Colorado River Compact, before demand is made on any other State of the Upper Division; (c) Except as provided in subparagraph (b) of this Article, the extent of curtailment by each State of the Upper Division of the consumptive use of water apportioned to it by Article III of this Compact shall be such as to result in the delivery at Lee Ferry of a quantity of water which bears the same relation to the total required curtailment of use by the States of the Upper Division as the consumptive use of Upper Colorado River System water which was made by each such State during the water year immediately preceding the year in which the curtailment becomes necessary bears to the total consumptive use of such water in the States of the Upper Division during the same water year; provided, that in determining such relation the uses of water under rights perfected prior to November 24, 1922, shall be excluded. (a) All losses of water occurring from or as the result of the storage of water in reservoirs constructed prior to the signing of this Compact shall be charged to the State in which such reservoir or reservoirs are located. Water stored in reservoirs covered by this paragraph (a) shall be for the exclusive use of and shall be charged to the State in which the reservoir or reservoirs are located. (b) All losses of water occurring from or as the result of the storage of water in reservoirs constructed after the signing of this Compact shall be charged as follows: (1) If the Commission finds that the reservoir is used, in whole or in part to assist the States of the Upper Division in meeting their obligations to deliver water at Lee Ferry imposed by Article III of the Colorado River Compact, the Commission shall make findings, which in no event shall be contrary to the laws of the United States of America under which any reservoir is constructed, as to the reservoir capacity allocated for that purpose. The whole or that proportion, as the case may be, of reservoir losses as found by the Commission to be reasonably and properly chargeable to the reservoir or reservoir capacity utilized to assure deliveries at Lee Ferry shall be charged to the States of the Upper Division in the proportion which the consumptive use of water in each State of the Upper Division during the water year in which the charge is made bears to the total consumptive use of water in all States of the Upper Division during the same water year. Water stored in reservoirs or in reservoir capacity covered by this subparagraph (b)(1) shall be for the common benefit of all of the States of the Upper Division. (2) If the Commission finds that the reservoir is used, in whole or in part, to supply water for use in a State of the Upper Division, the Commission shall make findings, which in no event shall be contrary to the laws of the United States of America under which any reservoir is constructed, as to the reservoir or reservoir capacity utilized to supply water for use and the State in which such water will be used. The whole or that proportion, as the case may be, of reservoir losses as found by the Commission to be reasonably and properly chargeable to the State in which such water will be used shall be borne by that State. As determined by the Commission, water stored in reservoirs covered by this subparagraph (b)(2) shall be earmarked for and charged to the State in which the water will be used. (c) In the event the Commission finds that a reservoir site is available both to assure deliveries at Lee Ferry and to store water for consumptive use in a State of the Upper Division, the storage of water for consumptive use shall be given preference. Any reservoir or reservoir capacity hereafter used to assure deliveries at Lee Ferry shall by order of the Commission be used to store water for consumptive use in a State, provided the Commission finds that such storage is reasonably necessary to permit such State to make use of the water apportioned to it by this Compact. The Commission shall determine the quantity of the consumptive use of water, which use is apportioned by Article III hereof, for the Upper Basin and for each State of the Upper Basin by the inflow-outflow method in terms of man-made depletions of the virgin flow at Lee Ferry, unless the Commission, by unanimous action, shall adopt a different method of determination. The consumptive use of water by the United States of America or any of its agencies, instrumentalities or wards shall be charged as a use by the State in which the use is made; provided, that such consumptive use incident to the diversion, impounding, or conveyance of water in one State for use in another shall be charged to such latter State. (a) There is hereby created an interstate administrative agency to be known as the "Upper Colorado River Commission." The commission shall be composed of one Commissioner representing each of the States of the Upper Division, namely, the States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, designated or appointed in accordance with the laws of each such State and, if designated by the President, one Commissioner representing the United States of America. The President is hereby requested to designate a Commissioner. If so designated the
Commissioner representing the United States of America shall be the presiding officer of the
Commission and shall be entitled to the same powers and rights as the Commissioner of any
State. Any four members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.
994) become difficult, and report such findings to the Governors of the Upper Basin States, the
President of the United States of America, the United States Section of the International Boundary
and Water Commission, and such other Federal officials and agencies as it may deem appropriate
to the end that the water allotted to Mexico under Division III of such treaty may be reduced in
accordance with the terms of such treaty; (a) No State shall deny the right of the United States of America and, subject to the conditions hereinafter contained, no State shall deny the right of another signatory State, any person, or entity of any signatory State to acquire rights to the use of water or to construct or participate in the construction and use of diversion works and storage reservoirs with appurtenant works canals and conduits in one State for the purpose of diverting, conveying, storing, regulating and releasing water to satisfy the provisions of the Colorado River Compact relating to the obligation of the States of the Upper Division to make deliveries of water at Lee Ferry or for the purpose of diverting, conveying, storing, or regulating water in an upper signatory State for consumptive use in a lower signatory State, when such use is within the apportionment to such lower State made by this Compact. Such rights shall be subject to the rights of water users in a State in which such reservoirs or works are located, to receive and use water, the use of which is within the apportionment to such State by this Compact. (b) Any signatory State, any person or any entity of any signatory State shall have the right to acquire such property rights as are necessary to the use of water in conformity with this Compact in any other signatory State by donation, purchase or through the exercise of the power of eminent domain. Any signatory State, upon the written request of the Governor of any other signatory State, for the benefit of whose water users property is to be acquired in the State to which such written request is made, shall proceed expeditiously to acquire the desired property either by purchase at a price satisfactory to the requesting States, or, if such purchase cannot be made, then through the exercise of its power of eminent domain and shall convey such property to the requesting State or such entity as may be designated by the requesting State; provided, that all
costs of acquisition and expenses of every kind and nature whatsoever incurred in obtaining the
requested property shall be paid by the requesting State at the time and in the manner prescribed
by the State requested to acquire the property. (a) The signatory States recognize La Plata River Compact entered into between the States of Colorado and New Mexico, dated November 27, 1922, approved by the Congress on January 29, 1925 (43 Stat. 796), and this Compact shall not affect the apportionment therein made. (b) All consumptive use of water of La Plata River and its tributaries shall be charged under the apportionment of Article III hereof to the State in which the use is made; provided, that consumptive use incident to the diversion, impounding or conveyance of water in one State for use in the other shall be charged to the latter State. Subject to the provisions of this Compact, the consumptive use of the water of the Little Snake River and its tributaries is hereby apportioned between the States of Colorado and Wyoming in such quantities as shall result from the application of the following principles and procedures: (a) Water used under rights existing prior to the signing of this Compact. (1) Water diverted from any tributary of the Little Snake River or from the main stem of the Little Snake River above a point one hundred feet below the confluence of Savery Creek and the Little Snake River shall be administered without regard to rights covering the diversion of water from any down-stream points. (2) Water diverted from the main stem of the Little Snake River below a point one
hundred feet below the confluence of Savery Creek and the Little Snake River shall be
administered on the basis of an interstate priority schedule prepared by the Commission in
conformity with priority dates established by the laws of the respective states. Subject to the provisions of this Compact, the consumptive use of the waters of Henry's Fork, a tributary of Green River originating in the State of Utah and flowing into the State of Wyoming and thence into the Green River in the State of Utah; Beaver Creek, originating in the State of Utah and flowing into Henry's Fork in the State of Wyoming; Burnt Fork, a tributary of Henry's Fork originating in the State of Utah and flowing into Henry's Fork in the State of Wyoming; Birch Creek, a tributary of Henry's Fork originating in the State of Utah and flowing into Henry's Fork in the State of Wyoming; and Sheep Creek, a tributary of Green River in the State of Utah, and their tributaries, are hereby apportioned between the States of Utah and Wyoming in such quantities as will result from the application of the following principles and procedures: (a) Waters used under rights existing prior to the signing of this Compact. Waters diverted from Henry's Fork, Beaver Creek, Burnt Fork, Birch Creek and their tributaries, shall be administered without regard to the state line on the basis of an interstate priority schedule to be prepared by the States affected and approved by the Commission in conformity with the actual priority of right of use, the water requirements of the land irrigated and
the acreage irrigated in connection therewith. Subject to the provisions of this Compact, the rights to the consumptive use of the water of the Yampa River, a tributary entering the Green River in the State of Colorado, are hereby apportioned between the States of Colorado and Utah in accordance with the following principles: (a) The State of Colorado will not cause the flow of the Yampa River at the Maybell Gaging Station to be depleted below an aggregate of 5,000,000 acre-feet for any period of ten consecutive years reckoned in continuing progressive series beginning with the first day of October next succeeding the ratification and approval of this Compact. In the event any diversion is made from the Yampa River or from tributaries entering the Yampa River above the Maybell Gaging Station for the benefit of any water use project in the State of Utah, then the gross amount of all such diversions for use in the State of Utah, less any returns from such diversions to the River above Maybell, shall be added to the actual flow at the Maybell Gaging Station to determine the total flow at the Maybell Gaging Station. (b) All consumptive use of the waters of the Yampa River and its tributaries shall be charged under the apportionment of Article III hereof to the State in which the use is made; provided, that consumptive use incident to the diversion, impounding or conveyance of water in one State for use in the other shall be charged to the latter State. Subject to the provisions of this Compact, the consumptive use of the waters of the San Juan River and its tributaries is hereby apportioned between the States of Colorado and New Mexico as follows: The state of Colorado agrees to deliver to the State of New Mexico from the San Juan River and its tributaries which rise in the State of Colorado a quantity of water which shall be sufficient, together with water originating in the San Juan Basin in the State of New Mexico, to enable the State of New Mexico to make full use of the water apportioned to the State of New Mexico by Article III of this Compact, subject, however, to the following: (a) A first and prior right shall be recognized as to: (1) All uses of water made in either State at the time of the signing of this Compact; and (2) All uses of water contemplated by projects authorized at the time of signing of this Compact, under the laws of the United States of America whether or not such projects are eventually constructed by the United States of America or by some other entity. (b) The State of Colorado assents to diversions and storage of water in the State of Colorado for use in the State of New Mexico, subject to compliance with Article IX of this Compact. (c) The uses of the waters of the San Juan River and any of its tributaries within either State which are dependent upon a common source of water and which are not covered by (a) hereof, shall in times of water shortages be reduced in such quantity that the resulting consumptive use in each State will bear the same proportionate relation to the consumptive use made in each State during times of average water supply as determined by the Commission; provided, that any preferential uses of water to which Indians are entitled under Article XIX shall be excluded in determining the amount of curtailment to be made under this paragraph. (d) The curtailment of water use by either State in order to make deliveries at Lee Ferry as required by Article IV of this Compact shall be independent of any and all conditions imposed by this Article and shall be made by each State, as and when required, without regard to any provision of this Article. (e) All consumptive use of the waters of the San Juan River and its tributaries shall be charged under the apportionment of Article III hereof to the State in which the use is made; provided, that consumptive use incident to the diversion, impounding or conveyance of water in one State for use in the other shall be charged to the latter State. (a) Subject to the provisions of the Colorado River Compact and of this Compact water of the Upper Colorado River System may be impounded and used for the generation of electrical power, but such impounding and use shall be subservient to the use and consumption of such water for agricultural and domestic purposes and shall not interfere with or prevent use for such dominant purposes. (b) The provisions of this Compact shall not apply to or interfere with the right or power of any signatory State to regulate within its boundaries the appropriation, use and control of water, the consumptive use of which is apportioned and available to such State by this Compact. The failure of any State to use the water, or any part thereof, the use of which is apportioned to it under the terms of this Compact, shall not constitute a relinquishment of the right to such use to the Lower Basin or to any other State, nor shall it constitute a forfeiture or abandonment of the right to such use. The use of any water now or hereafter imported into the natural drainage basin of the Upper Colorado River System shall not be charged to any State under the apportionment of consumptive use made by this Compact. (a) The State of Arizona reserves its rights and interests under the Colorado River Compact as a State of the Lower Division and as a State of the Lower Basin. (b) The State of New Mexico and the State of Utah reserve their respective rights and interests under the Colorado River Compact as States of the Lower Basin. Nothing in this Compact shall be construed as: (a) Affecting the obligations of the United States of America to Indian tribes; (b) Affecting the obligations of the United States of America under the Treaty with the United Mexican States (Treaty Series 994); (c) Affecting any rights or powers of the United States of America, its agencies or instrumentalities, in or to the waters of the Upper Colorado River System, or its capacity to acquire rights in and to the use of said waters; (d) Subjecting any property of the United States of America, its agencies or instrumentalities, to taxation by any State or subdivision thereof, or creating any obligation on the part of the United States of America, its agencies or instrumentalities, by reason of the acquisition, construction or operation of any property or works of whatever kind, to make any payment to any State or political subdivision thereof, State agency, municipality or entity whatsoever, in reimbursement for the loss of taxes; (e) Subjecting any property of the United States of America, its agencies or instrumentalities, to the laws of any State to an extent other than the extent to which such laws would apply without regard to this Compact. This Compact may be terminated at any time by the unanimous agreement of the signatory States. In the event of such termination, all rights established under it shall continue unimpaired. This Compact shall become binding and obligatory when it shall have been ratified by the legislatures of each of the signatory States and approved by the Congress of the United States of America. Notice of ratification by the legislatures of the signatory States shall be given by the Governor of each signatory State to the Governor of each of the other signatory States and to the President of the United States of America, and the President is hereby requested to give notice to the Governor of each of the signatory States of approval by the Congress of the United States of America. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Commissioners have executed six counterparts hereof each of which shall be and constitute an original, one of which shall be deposited in the archives
of the Department of State of the United States of America, and one of which shall be forwarded
to the Governor of each of the signatory States.
No Change Since 1953 |
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