The Colorado River Compact

The Colorado River Compact of 1922 divides the river's water among seven southwestern U.S. states—Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Nevada—to support booming populations and economies that depend on this 1,500-mile waterway originating in the Rocky Mountains. What started as a solution to interstate disputes has become strained by overuse, inaccurate early estimates, prolonged drought, and climate shifts, prompting tense negotiations as the agreement nears its 2026 review.

Why the Compact Formed

Rapid growth in lower basin states like California and Arizona in the early 1900s sparked conflicts under the prior appropriation doctrine, a Supreme Court-backed rule granting water rights to the first users—favoring downstream developers with existing projects. Upstream states (Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico) feared exclusion from future growth. Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover mediated, proposing to split the basin at Lee Ferry—a point where tributaries converge into a single stream—into equal upper and lower halves, avoiding state-by-state divisions that could hinder development. After 27 meetings, the compact was signed, despite reluctance; New Mexico's representative called it the "least objectionable" option.