Glen Dam (1968)
Created Lake Powell with a storage capacity of 27 million acre feet of water.
2.4 million people visit Glen Canyon Recreation Area annually. Generates over 3.4 billion kilowatt-hours of energy per year.
Regulates the amount of water delivered to the lower basin states of Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Last Dam Built on Colorado River amid rising environmental concerns.
Hoover Dam (1936)
Built to control floods and generate hydroelectric power.
Tallest dam on the Colorado River at 726.4 feet.
Stores 27 million acre feet in Lake Mead.
Built at a cost of $49 million or $824 million in today's dollars.
Generates 4.2 billion kilowatt-hours of energy per year.
Davis Dam (1951)
Regulates water delivery to Mexico through integrated Davis and Hoover power plants, and provides power for Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Used more than 3.6 million cubic yards of construction materials.
Construction began in 1942, temporarily suspended due to WWII.
Stores up to 1.8 million acre feet of water.
Generates about 968.6 million kilowatt-hours of net energy per year.
Parker Dam (1938)
Provides water and power to Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Tucson.
Created Lake Havasu, 45 miles in length.
Deepest dam in the world.
Generates about 453.8 million kilowatt-hours of net energy per year.
Central Arizona Project diversion canal extends 336 miles to Phoenix and Tucson areas.
Colorado River Aqueduct pumps water 242 miles to California.
Imperial Dam (1938)
Delivers irrigation and drinking water to the Yuma, Imperial, Coachella, and Gila Valleys through the All-American and Gila Gravity Main Canal.
Diverts 90% of the river's remaining water flow.
Irrigates nearly 600,000 acres of rich farmland.
Desilting works remove river silt to prevent canal sedimentation.
All-American Canal is 80 miles long, 150 feet wide, and carries 15,155 cubic feet of water per second.
Laguna Dam (1909)
First dam on the Colorado River, effectively ending steamboat traffic. Constructed using 486,800 cubic yards of material.
Brought a secure water supply to the Yuma area.
Superseded by construction of Imperial Dam in 1938.
Historic and modern photos of the dam reflect dramatic reduction in river flows.
Morelos Dam (1950)
Named after Mexican patriot Jose Maria Morelos, an independence leader.
Serves as Mexico's only dam on the river, providing 1.5 million acre feet of irrigation and drinking water to the Mexicali Valley.
River runs dry south of Morelos and no longer reaches the Gulf of California.
Water deliveries are monitored by the International Boundary and Water Commission.
