Book Description

This document presents the results of comprehensive investigations for formulation of framework plans to provide a broad guide to the best use, or combination of uses, of water and related land resource to meet foreseeable needs. It provides appraisals of natural resources and their geographic distribution, projections of future requirements, associated problems and needs, and presents a framework program and alternatives to serve as a general guide for resource development and conservation to the year 2020, with intermediate objectives to the years 1980 and 2000. The proposed levels of development meet the requirements of OBERS projections and use the available resources of the region in varying degrees. Water in the region, as in all semiarid areas, is the limiting criterion. However, it appears that the commitments of the Colorado River Compact can be met and, except for some water deficiency for fish and wild life uses in Arizona and New Mexico and local shortage during low stream flows, on-site demands can be met for the 6.5 MAF development level. At higher levels, augmentation will be required. Costs have been estimated only for the framework plan. Installation and annual operation, maintenance, and replacement (OM and R) costs for water related and associated development for the 1966-80, 1981-2000, and 2001-2020 time frames are shown.