The 1,440-mile-long Colorado River passes through parts of seven
states, several Indian reservations and the Republic of Mexico.
California is entitled to 4.4 million acre-feet of water annually
from river. Most of that water irrigates crops in the Palo Verde,
Imperial and Coachella valleys, located in the southeastern
corner of the state, but the Colorado also is a vital source of
water for urban southern California. Urban supplies are
distributed by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California through its Colorado River Aqueduct.