Management of the upper and lower Colorado River basins - an integrated effort
The history of the Colorado River is one of increasing regulation and development. Since the passage of the Reclamantion Act in 1902, water management has been concerned with allocating the water, reaching agreement between the concerned parties, and building the structures needed to control and use the river. The controlled development of the Colorado River began with the Colorado River Compact in 1922, which protected the Upper Basin States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming from unlimited development in the faster growing Lower Basin States of Arizona, Nevada, and California. Futher compacts, treaties, and court decisions have apportioned the water between the basins, among the States, and with México. The scope of water management expanded over the years as competing demands developed. Initially, projects were designed for flood control and irrigation. Later came water for power development, municipal and industrial water uses, recreation and fish and wildlife, all of which fully implemented the multiple purpose concept. As development of the river continued, water quality became an issue because increasing consumptive use increased salt levels. The newly awakened environmental awareness of the Nation resulted in greater attention being directed toward pollution control, and the mitigation of water development impacts on fish and wildlife, and cultural resources. Increasing recreation on the Colorado River and its reservoirs placed additional demands on the river. With all of these changes, it became necessary to increase the public's input into decisionmaking through public involvement programs. New procedures for developing and improving the projects resulted. As the major units of the Colorado River Storage Project complete their filling stages, regulation of the river is moving into a new era, one of long term operating procedures. With the potential for further development limited, the Water and Power Resources Service and others involved must look ahead to total integration of all water sources, and to the development of more efficient use and conservation of the West's most valuable resource
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
Minneapolis, Minn. (EUA)
1981
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| Subjects: | MANEJO DE CUENCAS, CUENCA RIO COLORADO, ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA, |
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