WSP10230

• File Number: 8278.400
• Description: Title I - Mexican Treaty and Minute 242
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1976
• Author: IBWC
• Title: Minute 242 Annual Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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ProRress on the Bypass Drain in Mexico

To implement Point 4 of Minute No. 242, providing for an extension
of the concrete-lined Wel1ton-Mohawk Bypass Drain in Mexico at the
expense of the United States, and pursuant to Minute No. 248, adopted
by the Commission on June 10, 1975, Mexico began construction in
December 1975 of the extension canal with a capacity of 353 cubic
feet (10 cubic meters) per second, from the, international boundary
between Arizona and Sonora to the Santa Clara Slough, on the Gulf of
California, a distance of approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers). As
of January 20, 1977, construction was 98 percent complete. The project
is expected to be entirely complete in March 1977.

Bypass Drain in the United States

Construction began in September 1976 on the upstream extension of the
bypass drain to be constructed in the United States. As of February 1,
1977, construction was approximately 54% complete. It was scheduled to
be entirely completed in December 1977. However, contractor expects to
complete in June 1977.

Groundwaters

Point 5 of Minute No. 242 provides that:

.

"Pending the conclusion by the Governments of the United
States and Mexico of a comprehensive agreement on ground-
water in border areas, each country shall limit pumping
of groundwater in its territory within five miles (eight
kilometers) of the Arizona-Sonora Boundary near San Luis
to 160,000 acre-feet (197,358,000 cubic meters) annually."

Mexico pumped from its San Luis Mesa well field within five miles (eight
kilometers) of the boundary near San Luis the following quantity in
calendar year 1976:

Calendar Year

Acre-Feet

Cubic Meters

1976

97,870

120,722,000

The United States pumped from domestic, municipal, and irrigation wells
located within five miles (eight kilometers) of the boundary near San Luis
the following quantity:

Calendar Year

Acre-Feet

Cubic Meters

1976

*

*

.

The Bureau of Reclamation has under contract the construction by
May 1977 of the first six wells in a planned U.S. wellfield of 22
wells for protective and regulatory pumping within 5 miles of the
Arizona-Sonora Boundary near San Luis. Its schedule for construction
of the next 6 wells is June 1978. The remaining ten wells are to be com-
pleted as needed to maintain flows across the southerly international boundary.

* Data to be supplied later