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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On June 17-20, 1942, at El Paso, Texas, the committee of
sixteen passed a resolution embodying a formula for allocation of
Colorado River water. The formula provided that a given amount of
water should be made available at the border to Mexico on the basis
of releases from Boulder Dam. The Committee was later advised that
the formula would not be acceptable to the Mexican Government and it
would be useless to proceed on that basis.

At a meeting held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on April 14-16,
1943, the Department of State submitted a formula for delivery of
water to Mexico. This formula was approved by five of the states,
with Nevada not voting and California voting against said formula.
Subsequently on January 27-28, 1944, at a meeting in Salt Lake
City, Utah, the Department of State reported the salient features
of the treaty which had been negotiated with Mexico but which had
not yet been signed. The actual treaty itself was not given to
the committee. At this meeting the five states again expressed
views that the salient features of the treaty were more acceptable
than those features they had approved at the Santa Fe meeting.
California again opposed the proposal and Nevada agreed. No
formal action was taken as it was the agreement of the committee
that unless unanimous approval could be obtained the states would
go their separate ways.

Subsequently in July, 1944, at Santa Fe, New Mexico,
the five states supporting the treaty had a meeting with the repre-
senatives of the State of Texas and the Six States Committee was
then formed. This organization was formed for the purpose of
uniting support for the ratification of the treaty.

ANALYSIS OF TREATY PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO THE COLORADO RIVER

Article 1

Definition of Terms - This article defines certain terms
which are used in the Treaty.

Article 2

The Commission and Its Jurisdiction - This article continues
the previously created commission and renames it the International
Boundary and Water Commission. The commission is given the status
of an international body, consisting of a United States section
and a Mexican section and the article provides that the settlement
of all disputes to which its observance and execution may give rise
are entrusted to the International Boundary and water Commission.

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