Timeline of Colorado River Compact & Key Events
The Colorado River is often described as the most regulated river in the world with a complex and extensive history surrounding its development. Balancing river resources among states and other interests is an ever-evolving process. In addition to the 1922 Colorado Compact, there have been subsequent agreements, federal laws, and court decisions that define how the river is managed. These are commonly referred to as “The Law of the River” and are highlighted along with key historical events on the timeline below.
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Colorado River & Grand Canyon Exploration
Major John Wesley Powell, a Civil War veteran, led a team of nine men in four small wooden boats on an exploration of the Colorado River and Grand Canyon. There are no photos from his first trip but some like this one exist from his second expedition in 1871. Photo credit National Park Service -
International Boundary and Water Commission Created
The International Boundary and Water Commission was created by the U.S. and Mexico and is responsible for applying the boundary and water treaties between the U.S. and Mexico and settling any differences that may arise as a result of their application. -
1922 Colorado River Compact Signed
Negotiated by the seven basin states and the federal government, the 1922 Colorado River Compact defines the relationship between the Upper Basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) and the Lower Basin states (Arizona, California and Nevada). Recognizing the need each individual state would have to develop water at different times, the compact protects each state’s right to develop its allocation on its own time frame. Each basin has the right to develop and use 7.5 million acre-feet of river water annually. Photo credit Bureau of Reclamation -
Boulder Canyon Project Act
Boulder Canyon Project Act ratified the 1922 Compact and authorized the construction of the Hoover Dam and lower basin irrigation facilities. California was apportioned 4.4 million acre-feet of water per year; Arizona 2.8 million acre-feet; Nevada 300,000 acre-feet. The dam was officially dedicated Sept. 30, 1935, and later renamed Hoover Dam in 1947 after President Herbert Hoover. Photo credit Ansel Adams, Our Documents -
Lake Mead
Lake Mead, a man-made reservoir 25 miles southeast of Las Vegas, was created by the completion of Hoover Dam in 1935. It is the largest reservoir in the U.S. -
Mexican Treaty
Treaty for the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande (commonly called the “Mexican Treaty”) committed 1.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year to Mexico. Photo credit International Boundary and Water Commission -
Upper Colorado River Basin Compact
The Upper Colorado River Basin Compact created the Upper Colorado River Commission and outlined its roles and responsibilities. This compact also apportioned the Upper Basin’s 7.5 million acre-feet among Colorado (51.75%), New Mexico (11.25%), Utah (23%) and Wyoming (14%). The portion of Arizona that lies within the Upper Colorado River Basin was apportioned 50,000 acre-feet annually. -
Colorado River Storage Project Act
Colorado River Storage Project Act authorizes the construction of Glen Canyon, Flaming Gorge, Navajo and Curcanti dams. The Act also authorized the construction of several other projects throughout the Upper Colorado River Basin, including the Central Utah Project and Emery County Project. -
Arizona v. California Supreme Court Decision
The Arizona v. California Supreme Court case settled a dispute filed in 1952 over claims to Colorado River waters in the river’s Lower Basin. The court specified the amount of water to which each basin state was entitled. These amounts were adjusted in a 1964 decree. Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and the United States were subsequently added as parties to the proceedings. The controversy centered on how much water each state had a legal right to use from the Colorado River and its tributaries. -
Lake Powell
When Glen Canyon Dam was completed on Sept. 13, 1963, Lake Powell began to fill. It took 16 years to fill to the 3,700 feet level on June 22, 1980. It was built to store water for Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming and help the Upper Basin meet their obligation to the Lower Basin states, while not impairing the ability of the Upper Basin to fully develop their allocation. This water is also used for recreation, power generation and delivering water to Arizona, California and Nevada.Colorado River Basin Project Act
The Colorado River Basin Project Act authorized the Secretary of the Interior to construct a variety of dams, power plants, reservoirs and related works. The Act also authorized and directed the Secretary, in connection with the development of the Colorado River Storage Project and participating projects, to investigate, plan, construct and operate facilities to mitigate losses of, and improve conditions for, fish and wildlife and public recreational facilities. The Act provided authority to acquire lands and to lease or convey lands and facilities to State and other agencies.Long-Range Operating Criteria
Section 602 of the Colorado River Basin Project Act is called the Long-Range Operating Criteria. These criteria are designed to control the coordination of the long-range operation of the storage reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin as part of the Colorado River Storage Project Act and the Boulder Canyon Project Act, which constructed Lake Mead. The Secretary of the Interior initiates a formal review of the Operating Criteria at least every five years.Minute 242
Minute 242 of the U.S.-Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission set a salinity standard that helped reduce the salinity of water the U.S. delivered to Mexico at Morelos Dam in Baja, California.Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act authorized desalting and salinity control projects including the Yuma Desalting Plant.Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines
Interim Guidelines
The 2007 Interim Guidelines are currently in place to manage the river’s reservoirs and allocate shortages and were put in place after enduring the worst seven-year drought on record. They determine when and how much water is released from Lake Powell. They also outline the cuts Arizona and Nevada take as water levels drop in Lake Mead. The guidelines expire in 2026 and negotiations begin in 2021. The Bureau of Reclamation is currently conducting a formal review to evaluate the effectiveness of the guidelines.Minute 319
Minute 319 of the U.S.-Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission signing in Coronado, California provided water for environmental flows for the Colorado River Delta.Minute 323
Minute 323 states that Mexico can continue to store water in Lake Mead; lays out how the two countries will make voluntary cutbacks in times of drought; commits the U.S. to financially supporting water efficiency projects in Mexico that will save more than 200,000 acre-feet of water in return for a one-time water exchange; and requires both countries to provide water and funding for habitat restoration and scientific work in the Colorado River Delta for 10 years.
Drought Contingency Plan Signing
Water officials from all seven Colorado River Basin states joined representatives from the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation May 20, 2019, to sign drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins. These plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the Colorado River. The Upper and Lower Colorado River basin states have developed contingency plans both independently and collaboratively. The product of these discussions is five documents that comprise the Drought Contingency Plan for the Colorado River. Photo credit Bureau of ReclamationThey include:
Interim Guideline Renegotiations Begin
Seven basin states begin Interim Guideline renegotiations to address reservoir management based on the latest hydrology and climate data.Interim Guidelines finalized and adopted.