Show some interesting facts about proposed stupendous undertaking colorado river rises near longs peak in colorado and empties into the gulf of california in old mexico it is 1700 miles long and drains square mules it was discovered by hernando de alarcon a spanish explorer in 1540 one of its main tributaries tributa ries is the green river which is orriles long it rises in the wind river range of mountains in wyoming the colorado branch of the river used to be known as the grand this stream and the green nver join miles from the colorado line in utah and from there to the gulf of california Cali ornia it was known as the colorado river A bill passed july 25 1921 in the congress of the united estates authorized the river to be known as the colorado from its source in longs peak all of the way to the gulf of california Cali ornia congress on august 19 1921 authorized the formation of the 7 states compact to provide for allocation of the waters of the river each of the 7 states to the compact was authorized to appoint a commission ctet at santa fe new mexico and on november 24 1922 agreed to and signed a by the terms of this compact the great drainage basin was divided into 2 basins upper and lower colorado wyoming utah and new mexico were put in the upper basin and california arizona and nevada in the lower basin under the compact states m the upper basin were allois ed a anor right to the use of acre feet of water and states in the lower basin were allowed a prior right to acre feet of water compact was signed by all 7 chinn missioners ners and afterwards ratified tv 6 states the legislature of arizona alone voting against it early this year the legislature of utah withdrew from the compact leaving only 6 states to the original agreement arizona refused to sign the compact because it could not agree with california on a division of the water imperial valley in california is irrigated by water from the colorado river it is feet below the level of the sea at one time the gulf of california extended up into the state of california but it is now miles from the international boundary between mexico aid california where the imperial valley is now located millions of years ago the gulf of california covered this area 1000 feet deep A great basin in southern california and northern mexico has been filled with silt from the colorado river from to iffet det p because of its rapid fall from its source feet above sea level fo feet on tile state line between colorado and utah the colorado nver is one of the most dangerous in the country in flood periods end is at the saime time one of the most valuable streams in the country for power sites bill authorizing construction of dam at boulder damsite dam site provided for the guaranteeing by the federal government of a bond issue of no bonds were to be issued until irrigation and power contracts biad been secured sufficient to insure payment and interest on the bonds within a period of 23 years city of los angeles alone offers to contract fr all of the power that the dam will provide it the project is consummated sum mated engineers have submitted plans for a dam feet high at the mouth of the boulder canyon in arizona this dam would back up water in the colorado river BO miles and tap a tributary the virgin river 50 miles among the estimated items of cost for building the dam are dam proper imperial irrigation canal installation of power equipment and construction of power lines other items will bring the total cost to |