who governs the water in the colorado river
For water officials in the Upper Colorado Basin states â Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico â the ongoing drought posed an additional threat. According to the Colorado River Compact of 1922, which governs the allocation of the river's water, the Upper Basin has to deliver a required volume of water to Lake Mead from Lake Powell. If they fail to do so, the Lower Basin states of Arizona, Nevada and California could make a so-called compact call.