Colorado River Boundary Markers Division

Agency Contact Information

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Authority

The Colorado River Boundary Markers Division was established by Laws 1961, Chapter 72. Statutory authority is found at A.R.S. §§ 41-525.01 through 41-525.03.

Function

The Division was created to investigate and determine methods to permanently mark the boundaries between the states of Nevada and California and the state of Arizona in order to implement the terms of the Colorado River Boundary Commission decisions.

History

Background

Various commissions have been established from time to time to address issues relating to the Colorado River. The names of the entities are very similar (i.e. the Colorado River Commission, the Colorado River Boundary Commission and the Colorado River Boundary Markers Division). The Colorado River Commission addressed water rights, flood control and the Colorado River Compact. The Colorado River Boundary Commission was created to resolve disputes related to state boundaries. The Colorado River Boundary Markers Division was created to permanently mark the state boundary lines agreed to by the Colorado River Boundary Commission.

Session Laws

The Office of the Colorado River Boundary Markers Division was established by Laws 1961, Chapter 72 as a division within the State Land Department and the Arizona State Land Commissioner served as the ex officio Colorado River Boundary Marker Commissioner. Subject to appropriations, the office was responsible for permanently marking the established boundaries between the states of Nevada and California and the state of Arizona. The office was also required to: 1) investigate problems associated with marking the boundaries at the time the boundaries were permanently established under the terms of the Colorado River Boundary Commission Act; 2) report the results of investigations to the Colorado River Boundary Commission; 3) determine methods to mark the boundaries in a manner agreeable to all states and report those methods to the Colorado River Boundary Commission; 4) cooperate with California, Nevada and the federal government to establish the permanent markers; and 5) report any related problems to the Legislature.

The measure included an expiration date of either three years after the effective date of the act or three years after the duties of the division were completed, whichever was later.

Note The Colorado River Boundary Commission issued a final report on May 27, 1967. The report states the Commission completed its work and notes that two separate compacts with California and Nevada were ratified and approved by the U.S. Congress. The final report does not mention the Colorado River Boundary Markers Division.

Sources

• Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 41, Chapter 3, Article 2.1
• Session Laws
  • Laws 1961, Chapter 72