In 2022, the Colorado River Compact celebrated its 100th anniversary as the foundational agreement for a complex legal framework that has come to guide how the river’s waters are utilized by the western states, western tribes, and Mexico. In the leadup to that 100th anniversary, the Utah State Archives and Records Service digitized a variety of important records documenting Utah’s perspective on the negotiation and finalization of the Compact in 1922.

Following the successful launch of the Colorado River Compact Collection, we have turned to the next phase of this story, focusing on digitizing records associated with the extensive water development projects in and around Utah throughout the 20th century that came as a direct result of the Colorado River Compact.

These newly digitized records document the history of the Upper Colorado River Basin and Utah’s development of its allotment of Colorado River waters as designated by the Colorado River Compact. These records document important environmental, social, and legal history in Utah and help reveal the essential history of water development and management in the state.

Where To Start

Each of these records holds primary source documentation of Utah’s efforts to leverage its annual allotment of water from the Colorado River and the infrastructure projects that bloomed throughout the state in the 20th century as state and local officials sought to manage this essential resource for sustaining life in the arid West.

The development of Colorado River resources in Utah took place under the administrations of several Utah governors. Early efforts to begin building Utah’s water infrastructure can be found in both Governor Henry Blood’s Colorado River correspondence (series 22918), as well as  Governor J. Bracken Lee’s correspondence (series 211). For a view of Utah’s role in the Upper Colorado River Commission, and the subsequent work that took place in the state through the Upper Colorado River Storage Project check out the Upper Colorado River Project Case Files (series 200) from the administration of Governor George D. Clyde.

The State Planning Board helped oversee the conservation and development of natural resources in the State of Utah. To learn more about their work in helping to develop and regulate the Colorado River in Utah check out the agency’s power resource records (series 1173), the Board’s water resource minutes (series 21000), the Board’s water resources correspondence (series 21003), and the Board’s water resource reports (series 1180), Various basin studies prepared by, or for, the State Planning Board for the Colorado River Basin, the Great Basin, and the Snake River Basin in Utah can be found in the Board’s water resource draining basin reports (series 20999). In addition, the Planning Board and Soil Conservation Committee prepared and submitted reports that contain data on drainage irrigated lands, precipitation, run-off, and other water related issues that you can see in their water resource flood control hearing records (series 21002).

Much of the initial development and utilization of water allocated to Utah by the Colorado River Compact focused on providing the resource to communities along the Wasatch Front. To learn more check out the Salt Lake City Water Commission Water Committee’s reports (series 4927).