RELIABILITY OF COLORADO RIVER BASIN SYSTEM IN RESPONSE TO DEMANDS OF UPPER AND LOWER BASINS

The Colorado River Compact apportions water between upper and lower basin and requires the upper basin to deliver a total of 7.5 MAF to lower basin each year. The Colorado river system has been very reliable in past and has survived many dry periods without failing to meet the demand requirements of both basins. The drought that began in the region at the turn of the century has rendered it very difficult for the upper basin to meet the delivery requirements to the lower basin. Many management options have been explored and some have been implemented to maintain increase the reliability of the system. This report focuses on creating a pareto front for the reliability of the Colorado river supply in response to demands to upper and lower basin. This could help in identify what would be the tradeoffs for reliability of one basin if the system is managed to meet the requirements of the other basin.