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<br />of 8.5 m. a. f. in aid of any Mexican Treaty <br /> <br />obligation. <br /> <br />4. If yes, must the Upper Basin deliver more <br /> <br />than 750,000 a.f. at Lee's Ferry in order <br /> <br />to absorb "shrink" or transit loss <br /> <br />occurring in the river between Lee's Ferry <br /> <br />and the Mexican boundary. <br /> <br />This problem has been described by the United States <br /> <br />Comptroller General as follows: <br /> <br />A major dispute exists between <br />the Upper and Lower Basins over <br />supplying the 1.5 m.a.f. commitment <br />to Mexico. The Colorado River Com- <br />pact states that any required <br />delivery of water to Mexico shall be <br />supplied first from water surplus to <br />the basic apportionment from the <br />Colorado River system (7.5 m.a.f. to <br />the Upper Basin, 8.5 m.a.f. to the <br />Lower Basin) and if the surplus is <br />insufficient, the burden of such <br />deficiency shall be borne equally by <br />the two basins. <br /> <br />The Lower Basin states contend <br />that there is no surplus and the <br />Upper Basin's share of the Mexican <br />treaty delivery obligation is <br />therefore one-half of the total <br />obligation of 1.5 m.a.f. plus one- <br />half of the losses incurred in <br />delivering the water from Lee Ferry <br />to the Mexican border. The Upper <br />Basin States believe that surplus <br />water exists in the Lower Basin and <br />therefore they are not required to <br />release any water to meet the Mexican <br />treaty obligation. <br /> <br />Report to congress of Comptroller General, May 4, 1979. <br /> <br />-15- <br />