Water-use data were compiled as annual total withdrawals by source and aggregated to 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code watersheds from 1985 to 2010 in five year intervals. The new compilation allows for an evaluation of water-use trends in the Colorado River Basin and the effect of use on the water budget.
National Water Census • Colorado River Basin • Evapotranspiration • Snowpack • Water Use • Groundwater Discharge
Water-use data for the Colorado River Basin (CRB) Focus Area Study were reported as annual total withdrawals by source , groundwater and surface water of both of fresh or saline quality. Categories of water use include public supply, domestic, commercial, industrial, irrigation, livestock, mining, aquaculture, hydroelectric, and thermoelectric power generation, and wastewater returns.
Data also include deliveries from public supply systems for domestic, commercial, industrial and thermoelectric power uses. Consumptive-use estimates are available from 1985-1995 for all relevant categories, and 2010 for irrigation and thermoelectric power uses only. Data were aggregated for 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC-8) watersheds within the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins, at 5-year intervals from 1985 to 2010. The study area includes all of Arizona, and parts of California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
In addition to the water-use data compilations for the 35 years, the USGS collaborated with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and produced a USGS report that compares the two agencies’ water-use activities in the Colorado River Basin. This report, jointly authored by USGS and Reclamation, compares and contrasts the two information programs, describing legal drivers for each agencies’ operations, clarifying terminology, comparing and contrasting information, data, and methods used to water use in the basin. Opportunities were identified for continued collaboration between the two agencies to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and delivery of water-use information in the Colorado River Basin, as well as other areas in the western United States where both agencies are active.
Key Findings and Results
- Total water use, excluding interbasin transfers, averaged about 17 million acre-feet from 1985 to 2010, peaking in 2000 at 17.75 million acre-feet.
- Water used to generate hydroelectric power represents the majority of total water use, but is an instream use. Irrigation of crops is the largest offstream use of water in the CRB, averaging 85% of total offstream use over the 35-year timespan.
- Population in the CRB increased from 4.6 million people in 1985, to over 9.4 million people in 2010, and most of the people were in the lower CRB with about 90% in 2010.
- Read the report
- Get the data
National Water Census • Colorado River Basin • Evapotranspiration • Snowpack • Water Use • Groundwater Discharge
Below are related science components of the Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study.
Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study
Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study: Evapotranspiration
Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study: Snowpack Hydrodynamics
Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study: Groundwater discharge to streams
- Overview
Water-use data were compiled as annual total withdrawals by source and aggregated to 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code watersheds from 1985 to 2010 in five year intervals. The new compilation allows for an evaluation of water-use trends in the Colorado River Basin and the effect of use on the water budget.
National Water Census • Colorado River Basin • Evapotranspiration • Snowpack • Water Use • Groundwater Discharge
Water-use data for the Colorado River Basin (CRB) Focus Area Study were reported as annual total withdrawals by source , groundwater and surface water of both of fresh or saline quality. Categories of water use include public supply, domestic, commercial, industrial, irrigation, livestock, mining, aquaculture, hydroelectric, and thermoelectric power generation, and wastewater returns.
Data also include deliveries from public supply systems for domestic, commercial, industrial and thermoelectric power uses. Consumptive-use estimates are available from 1985-1995 for all relevant categories, and 2010 for irrigation and thermoelectric power uses only. Data were aggregated for 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC-8) watersheds within the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins, at 5-year intervals from 1985 to 2010. The study area includes all of Arizona, and parts of California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
In addition to the water-use data compilations for the 35 years, the USGS collaborated with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and produced a USGS report that compares the two agencies’ water-use activities in the Colorado River Basin. This report, jointly authored by USGS and Reclamation, compares and contrasts the two information programs, describing legal drivers for each agencies’ operations, clarifying terminology, comparing and contrasting information, data, and methods used to water use in the basin. Opportunities were identified for continued collaboration between the two agencies to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and delivery of water-use information in the Colorado River Basin, as well as other areas in the western United States where both agencies are active.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Total population, total withdrawals, and withdrawals by source for the total, Upper, and Lower Colorado River Basin 1985-2010
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Water use by category for the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins in 2010. Key Findings and Results
- Total water use, excluding interbasin transfers, averaged about 17 million acre-feet from 1985 to 2010, peaking in 2000 at 17.75 million acre-feet.
- Water used to generate hydroelectric power represents the majority of total water use, but is an instream use. Irrigation of crops is the largest offstream use of water in the CRB, averaging 85% of total offstream use over the 35-year timespan.
- Population in the CRB increased from 4.6 million people in 1985, to over 9.4 million people in 2010, and most of the people were in the lower CRB with about 90% in 2010.
- Read the report
- Get the data
National Water Census • Colorado River Basin • Evapotranspiration • Snowpack • Water Use • Groundwater Discharge
- Science
Below are related science components of the Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study.
Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study
As one of several Focus Area Studies within the USGS National Water Census (NWC), the USGS has completed a 3-year study of water availability and use in the Colorado River Basin.Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study: Evapotranspiration
New USGS-developed, remote-sensing based approaches were used to quantify agricultural irrigation water consumption on a field-by-field scale. The work produced the first ever Colorado River Basin-wide, 100-m scale actual ET estimate (2010) using Landsat imagery.Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study: Snowpack Hydrodynamics
The Focus Area Study examined factors affecting snowpack distribution, snowmelt, and losses of snowpack water due to sublimation in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Also, as part of the FAS, the USGS has developed methods to make physical measurements of snowpack sublimation.Colorado River Basin Focus Area Study: Groundwater discharge to streams
Methods were developed in the CRB FAS to estimate groundwater discharge to streams in the upper Colorado River Basin (UCBR) using in-stream water-quality data. Results indicate groundwater discharge to streams contributes an average of 48 percent of total streamflow in the UCRB. - Publications