WSP09503

• File Number: 8278.400
• Description: Title I - Mexican Treaty
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 5/10/1962
• Author: CWCB - D. Hamburg
• Title: Mexican Water Treaty Negotiations Pertaining to the Colorado River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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and am abstracting below what I believe to be the significant
language found on the subject of the quality of the return flows.

P. 83 to middle of P. 85:

"SENATOR DOWNEY. Mr. Lawson, you have very strongly
stated, as did Mr. Grew, that you are entirely confident
that upon the completion of these various projects there
will be 900,000 acre-feet of water, at least, of return
flow at the boundary, that Mexico will be able to use; is
that right?

MR. LAWSON. That is right; yes, sir.

SENATOR DOWNEY. And you then stated to the committee
that we would only have to add to that 600,000 acre-feet
of fresh water to make the 1,500,000 acre-feet of water;
is that correct?

MR. LAWSON. Correct.

SENATOR DOvffiEY. And I think that you were about to
read from a recommendation that was made some time ago
that Mexico should be given 750,000 acre-feet plus the
return flow?

MR. LAWSON. That is right.

SENATOR DOWNEY. Of course I know that you only
state that after careful consideration, and you are quite
certain that you are justified in making that statement
to the committee. I know that is true. Do the representa-
tives of Mexico agree with you in that?

MR. LAWSON. In negotiating the treaty, Senator, we
had difficulty in persuading the Mexican representatives
to accept that kind of water that is recovered flow,
drainage water, and return flow which would require in
the future probably some dilution with fresher water of
a less alkaline quality. We had no expression from the
Mexicans in the negotiations except that at the beginning
of the negotiations they insisted that the full amount of
it be upstream water.

SENATOR DOWNEY. If you will bear with me one minute
I think I have a suggestion that might be helpful in
cutting this whole matter short.

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