There’s a good chance you’ve heard about the Colorado River compact because it’s been in the news a lot. But compacts also govern rivers in southeastern Colorado. The agreements help guide how water is shared across state lines. Decrees and treaties also affect our waterways. The Arkansas River flows nearly 1,500 miles from the mountains near Leadville, through southeastern Colorado, into Kansas and Oklahoma, eventually meeting the Mississippi River.  At nearly 1,900 miles long, the Rio Grande River flows out of the San Juan Mountains through the San Luis Valley into New Mexico and then on to Texas. Both rivers are critical resources providing water for homes, farms, industry and recreation. As growth and drought strain water resources, interstate agreements affecting these waterways take on more significance.