An agreement among the seven Southwest U.S. states that fall within the Colorado River drainage basin. The pact governs the allocation of the river’s water rights. Originally proposed by attorney Delph Carpenter, the agreement was signed at a meeting at Bishop’s Lodge, near Santa Fe, by representatives of the seven states the Colorado River and its tributaries pass through on the way to Mexico. Arizona did not formally ratify the compact until 1944. Sources: Colorado River Compact – Wikipedia; Danver, 2013.