Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73

§1556 Definitions

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 32— - COLORADO RIVER BASIN PROJECT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 1556

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Sets meanings for key words used in this chapter and uses the Colorado River Compact’s definitions where they exist. Main stream means the Colorado River channel downstream of Lee Ferry in the United States, including its reservoirs. User or water user means the United States or any person or entity allowed to use main stream water under the Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. California (376 U.S. 340). Active storage means reservoir water that can be released through existing outlet works and not bank storage. Colorado River Basin States are Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Western United States means states wholly or partly west of the Continental Divide. Augment or augmentation means adding water into the Colorado River system beyond its natural supply.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §1556

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in this chapter, (a) all terms which are defined in the Colorado River Compact shall have the meanings therein defined;

(b)“Main stream” means the main stream of the Colorado River downstream from Lee Ferry within the United States, including the reservoirs thereon;

(c)“User” or “water user” in relation to main stream water in the lower basin means the United States or any person or legal entity entitled under the decree of the Supreme Court of the United States in Arizona against California, and others (376 U.S. 340), to use main stream water when available thereunder;

(d)“Active storage” means that amount of water in reservoir storage, exclusive of bank storage, which can be released through the existing reservoir outlet works;

(e)“Colorado River Basin States” means the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming;

(f)“Western United States” means those States lying wholly or in part west of the Continental Divide; and

(g)“Augment” or “augmentation”, when used herein with reference to water, means to increase the supply of the Colorado River or its tributaries by the introduction of water into the Colorado River system, which is in addition to the natural supply of the system.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 1556

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73