View source for Dams, reservoirs, and other infrastructure

==Overview==

The natural channels and functions of the Colorado River and its tributaries have been overlain and modified by an enormous network of water infrastructure. Large dams and reservoirs are the most obvious elements of this infrastructure, which also includes canals, ditches, tunnels, pump stations, pipelines, and hydropower generation. While nearly all major rivers in the western U.S. have similar infrastructure for water supply and other purposes, the Colorado River system is unusual in both the ratio of reservoir storage to the annual average streamflow (about 4:1) and the fraction of the river’s total natural streamflow that is consumptively used (100% in most years).

[[File:CRB_infrastructure_map_2.png|thumb|550px|Figure 1. Major dams, reservoirs, and water delivery projects in the Colorado River Basin, as listed in Tables 1-3. Image: Adapted from map by the Center for Colorado River Studies, Utah State University, based on original map by Reclamation)]]

===Dams and reservoirs===

There are 8 major dams and reservoirs, and 7 diversion dams, on the Colorado River mainstem, and hundreds of dams and reservoirs the tributaries. Excluding the reservoirs in the Gila River Basin (as explained below), total storage capacity across the basin is about 62 million acre-feet (maf). About 80% of this system storage capacity is in Lake Mead (26.1 maf) and Lake Powell (23.3 maf), with the remainder spread across dozens of major reservoirs (>0.1 maf) and hundreds of smaller ones, primarily in the Upper Basin. Over 90% of the system storage capacity is held by dams owned and operated by Reclamation, or owned by Reclamation and operated by a cooperating agency. Table 1 lists the 10 largest reservoirs within the Colorado River Basin by water-supply storage (per the Reclamation teacup diagrams for the [https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/basin/index.html Upper] and [https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/TeacupDiagram.html Lower] basins). 

By tradition and practice, the water supply and water use within the Gila River and other tributaries within Arizona have been excluded from that state's Colorado River water allocation and from tabulations of basinwide [https://coloradoriverscience.org/Consumptive_uses_and_losses use] and supply. Similarly, reservoir storage capacity in the Gila basin is generally excluded from tabulations of Colorado River system storage and [https://coloradoriverscience.org/Colorado_River_Mid-term_Modeling_System_(CRMMS) system modeling], despite being within the physical Colorado River Basin. Most of the total capacity (about 5 maf) in the Gila basin is held behind dams operated by Salt River Project (Phoenix).  


'''Table 1. The 10 largest reservoirs within the Colorado River Basin.''' 

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Reservoir (Dam, if different name)
! River
! State
! Dam Operator (Owner, if different)
! Capacity (water-supply storage), AF
! Hydropower installed capacity, MW
|-
| Mead ([https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=122 Hoover])
| mainstem
| NV/AZ
| Reclamation
| 26,100,000
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=540 2079]
|-
| Powell ([https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=144 Glen Canyon])
| mainstem
| UT/AZ
| Reclamation
| 23,314,000
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=522 1320]
|-
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=105 Flaming Gorge] 
| Green
| UT/WY
| Reclamation
| 3,671,100
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=545 152]
|-
| Mohave ([https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=47 Davis])
| mainstem
| AZ/CA
| Reclamation
| 1,801,200
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=541 255]
|-
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=242 Roosevelt]**
| Salt
| AZ
| Salt River Project (Reclamation)
| 1,653,000
| 36
|-
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=310 Navajo]
| San Juan
| NM/CO
| Reclamation
| 1,647,900
| 32
|-
| Strawberry* ([https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=190 Soldier Creek])
| Strawberry
| UT
| Central Utah WCD (Reclamation)
| 1,105,900
| n/a
|-
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=62 Blue Mesa ]
| Gunnison
| CO
| Reclamation
| 827,500
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=529 86]
|-
| Havasu ([https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=207 Parker])
| mainstem
| AZ/CA
| Reclamation
| 618,300
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=573 120]
|-
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=291 Granby]*
| mainstem
| CO
| Northern Water & Reclamation (Reclamation)
| 539,800
| 1
|}

(*Not included in Reclamation's system models, but typically included in calculations of Colorado River system storage; **Not included in Reclamation's system models, or in system storage)

===Major water delivery projects===

In addition to thousands of individually operated ditches and canals that divert water from the mainstem and tributaries, there are a number of major water delivery projects or systems encompassing at some or all of the following: large canals (carrying 100-4000 cubic feet per second), pump stations, aqueducts, pipelines, tunnels, and reservoirs. Several of these major projects involve transbasin diversions, conveying water to uses outside of the Colorado River Basin; all water diverted to another basin counts as consumptive use (CU). Other projects distribute water within the basin, such that return flows (diversions minus consumptive use) have the potential for reuse. 
 
Tables 2 and 3 list selected major projects in the Upper Basin and Lower Basin, respectively. Each project supplies an average of at least 100,000 acre-feet of consumptive use per year. The consumptive use can vary significantly from year to year; for Lower Basin projects see the [https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/wtracct.html Lower Basin Annual Water Accounting Reports]. Data on the annual diversions for Upper Basin projects can typically be obtained from the relevant state water resources agency, but data on annual consumptive use may not be available.  


'''Table 2. Major water delivery projects in the Upper Basin.''' Listed approximately in descending order of average annual consumptive use supplied by that project. Abbreviations for main uses: Ag = Agriculture; M&I = Municipal and industrial; Tribes = water to satisfy water allocations to one or more tribal nations–which could be used for Ag and/or M&I.

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
!Project
!Primary diversion point
!State
!Operator (Owner, if different)
!Main use(s)
!Comments
|-
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=412 Uncompahgre Project]
| Gunnison Tunnel north portal (Gunnison River)
| CO
| [https://uvwua.com/about Uncompahgre Valley WUA]
| Ag
| 6-mile tunnel, 128 miles of canals, 238 miles of laterals; also diverts local Uncompahgre R.; Ag: 70,000 acres
|-
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=464 Grand Valley Project]
| Cameo Diversion Dam (mainstem)
| CO
| [https://gvwua.com/about-gvwua/ Grand Valley WUA] (Reclamation)
| Ag; M&I
| 55-mile main canal, 35-mile secondary canal, 166 miles laterals; Ag: 40,000 acres; M&I: outdoor only; also supplies Orchard Mesa Power Plant (hydropower)
|-
| [https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Structures/7200645 Grand Valley Canal]
| Diversion dam at Palisade (mainstem)
| CO
| [https://www.grandvalleyirrigation.com/ Grand Valley Irrigation Co.]
| Ag 
| 100 miles of canals; Ag: 40,000 acres
|-
| [https://www.northernwater.org/what-we-do/deliver-water/colorado-big-thompson-project Colorado-Big Thompson Project]
| Lake Granby (mainstem)
| CO
| [https://www.northernwater.org/about-us Northern Water] & Reclamation (Reclamation)
| M&I, Ag
| Transbasin; 130 miles tunnels and canals; M&I: Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Boulder; Ag: 600,000 acres (supplemental supply)
|-
| [https://www.doi.gov/cupcao/Overview Central Utah Project]
| Multiple (Duchesne River basin)
| UT
| [https://cuwcd.gov/#gsc.tab=0 Central Utah WCD] (Reclamation)
| M&I, Ag, Tribes 
| Mostly transbasin, some water used locally; M&I: Salt Lake City, other Wasatch Front cities, Jensen
|-
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20120925123715/http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=San%20Juan-Chama%20Project San Juan-Chama Project]
| Multiple (San Juan River basin)
| NM
| Reclamation
| M&I, Ag, Tribes
| Transbasin; 27 miles of tunnels, Heron Lake; M&I: Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Alamos; Ag: 90,000 acres (supplemental)
|}


'''Table 3. Major water delivery projects in the Lower Basin.''' Listed approximately in descending order of average annual consumptive use supplied by that project. See Table 2 for abbreviations for main uses. 

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
!Project
!Primary diversion point
!State
!Operator (Owner, if different)
!Main use(s)
!Comments
|-
| [https://www.iid.com/water/water-transportation-system/colorado-river-facilities/all-american-canal All-American Canal] & [https://www.iid.com/water/water-transportation-system/irrigation Imperial Irrigation District]
| Imperial Dam
| CA
| Imperial ID (Reclamation)
| Ag
| 82-mile main canal, >1000 miles total canals; Ag: 470,000 acres.
|-
| [https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b7b28dd4c36a413e8d533ba540f998cb Central Arizona Project]
| Lake Havasu
| AZ
| Central Arizona Project
| Tribes; M&I; Ag
| Main canal 336 miles long; 14 pump plants; Tribes: 11 (includes both Ag, M&I)  M&I: Phoenix area, Tucson; Ag: 350,000 acres; CAP water also used for groundwater recharge
|-
| Mexico: Reforma & Independencia Canals, Tijuana Aqueduct
| Morelos Dam
| Baja Calif. (MX)
| Dam: International Boundary Water Commission 
| Ag, M&I
| All of Mexico’s water allocation is diverted at Morelos Dam; 100s of miles of aqueducts, canals, and laterals; Ag: 600,000 acres in Mexicali Valley; M&I: Mexicali, San Luis, Tijuana
|-
| [https://www.mwdh2o.com/media/ja5k5pcu/cra_fact-sheet-2021.pdf Colorado River Aqueduct]
| Lake Havasu
| CA
| [https://www.mwdh2o.com/your-water/how-we-get-our-water/ Metropolitan Water District of Southern CA]
| M&I
| Transbasin; 242-mile aqueduct; 5 pump plants, 9 reservoirs; M&I: Los Angeles and San Diego metro areas
|-
| [https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=459 Gila Project]
| Imperial Dam
| AZ
| 5 Yuma-area water districts
| Ag; M&I
| Ag: 100,000 acres; M&I: Yuma
|-
| [https://pvid.org/history.php Palo Verde Diversion Project and Irrigation District]
| Palo Verde Dam
| CA
| [https://pvid.org/ Palo Verde ID] 
| Ag; M&I
| 244 miles of main canal and laterals; Ag: 100,000 acres; M&I: Fallowing program transfers water to MWD
|- 
| [https://www.cvwd.org/166/Agricultural-Irrigation-Drainage Coachella Canal]
| Imperial Dam
| CA
| [https://www.cvwd.org/ Coachella Valley Water District]
| Ag
| Branches off All-American Canal; 123-mile canal w/ 500 miles of underground laterals; Ag: 60,000 acres
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_River_Project Salt River Project]
| Granite Reef Dam (Salt River)
| AZ
| [https://www.srpnet.com/grid-water-management/water-management/where-water-from Salt River Project] (Reclamation)
| M&I
| Lake Roosevelt, six major canals, 1100 miles of canals, laterals and drains; M&I: Phoenix metropolitan area
|-
| Southern Nevada Water System
| Lake Mead
| NV
| [https://www.snwa.com/water-resources/water-resource-plan/index.html Southern Nevada Water Authority]
| M&I
| Three intakes at Lake Mead, two pump stations; nearly all water used indoors is treated and returned to Lake Mead; M&I: Las Vegas metropolitan area
|}

==Data and tools==
<onlyinclude>
===[https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/hydrodata/reservoir_data/site_map.html Reclamation HydroData Reservoir Map]=== 

Provides map-based access to current and historical reservoir level, storage, inflows, and releases, for about 70 reservoirs within the basin or that store Colorado River water, including all of the 10 major reservoirs in Table 1 except for Roosevelt Lake. 

===[https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/hydrodata/gage_data/site_map.html Reclamation HydroData Gage Map]=== 

Provides map-based access to current and historical diversions and flows at over 20 points in the Upper Basin, including elements of the following projects: Central Utah, Uncompahgre, Grand Valley, and San-Juan Chama.
  
===[https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/riverops/BcooDataExplorer.html Reclamation Boulder Canyon Operations Office (BCOO) - Data Explorer]===

Provides map-based access to daily data for the diversions by major water users between Lake Mead and Mexico, including SNWA, MWD, CAP, Palo Verde, and the All-American Canal.

===[https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Stations?Stations=All&submitButton=Submit&SelectedStationType=Diversion%20Structure CWCB/DWR - Colorado’s Decision Support Systems (CDSS)]===
CDSS provides map-based access to daily and monthly data for about 150 diversion structures within Colorado’s portion of the CRB, including elements of the following major projects: Uncompahgre, Grand Valley, Grand Valley Canal, Colorado-Big Thompson.

===[https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/wtracct.html Reclamation - Lower Basin Annual Water Accounting Reports (1964–2022)]===
These reports, covering only the Lower Basin, break down annual consumptive use by point of diversion, quantifying the water usage of the various water districts, irrigation districts, municipalities, and tribes, including the use associated with the major projects identified in Table 3.  
</onlyinclude>

==Additional resources==

===[https://www.usbr.gov/projects/facilities.php?region=Upper%20Colorado%20Basin%20Region Reclamation - Upper Colorado Region - Projects & Facilities]===

This page lists the several dozen projects, dams, and other facilities constructed, owned and/or operated by Reclamation within the Upper Basin, with each one linked to pages with information about that project or facility. Note that the information on these pages may not have been updated since the 1990s.

===[https://www.usbr.gov/projects/facilities.php?region=Lower%20Colorado Reclamation - Lower Colorado Region - Projects & Facilities]===
 
This page lists the several dozen projects, dams, and other facilities constructed, owned and/or operated by Reclamation within the Lower Basin, with each one linked to an individual page with information about that project or facility. A similar [https://www.usbr.gov/lc/projects.html homepage for Lower Basin projects and facilities] links to the same set of individual project and facility pages. Note that the information in the pages may not have been updated since the 1990s.

===[http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/Maps/MapColoradoRiverBasin2021BabbittLincoln.pdf Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy - Colorado River Basin Map]===

This highly detailed basin map, created in 2021, shows the locations of several dozen dams, canals, and aqueducts, including but not limited to the dams and projects in Figure 1 and Tables 1-3.