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Water Quality Operations Hydrrlla weed IS troublesome in canals. Since wafer quality aspects of Colorado River operations are extensively described in the biennial series of reports entitled Quality of Water, Colorado River Basin, only minimal discussion of this aspect of operation is presented in this report. Reporl NO.1 0 of the biennial series was issued in January 1981. During water year 1981, the United States by- passed a total of 131 ,000 acre-feellhrough the By-pass Drain, This water was replaced with a like amount of other water, pursuant to Minute No, 242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission. Under the provisions of Minute No, 242. the Republic of Mexico is entitled 10 receive at Moralos Dam water Of a quality no worse than 115 parts per million (plm) (io 30 plm) greater than that arriving at Imperial Dam. During water year 1981, the average salinity of the Colorado River allmperial Dam was 786 plm, During that period the average salinity of the waters at Morelos Dam was 872 plm. resulting in a salinity different,al of 86plm. well within the provision of Minute No. 242. ~-I-'-j- t"'" . l . f~ Backfill placement at Yuma. AriZ., Desalllng Planl No large amount of Gila River infiltration to the Wellfon.Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District is expected during water year 1982 because no flood control releases from Painted Rock Reservoir are anticipated. The totai flows in the By-pass Drain during water year 1982 are estimated to be less fhan 180,000 acre-feet. No by-pass waters are expected to be returned to the Colorado River below Morelos Dam during waler year 1982, In recognizing the need 10 manage water quality of the Colorado River, it has been recommended that long term salinity increases in the river be controlled through a water Quality improvement program generally described in the report, Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program, dated February 1972. and a slatus report of the same title, dated January 1974, The program calls for a basin-wide approach to salinity control while the Upper Basin continues to develop its compact.apportioned waters. The initial step towards impro....ement of the Quality of the river's water was authorization by the Congress of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project (Public Law 93-320), on June 24, 1974, 25