WSP11923

• File Number: 8273.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Federal Agency Reports - BOR
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1968
• Title: Reconnaissance Report - Augmentation of the Colorado River by Desalting of Sea Water
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

....
00
-.J
CO

the requirements of the Mexican Water Treaty constitutes a national

obligation. Accordingly, such legislation provides that costs of

construction, operation, and maintenance allocated.to the replerii~h-

ment of depleted Colorado River flows occasioned by compliance with

the Mexican Water Treaty shall be nonreimbursable. The replenish-

m('l1t would include losses in tra,nsit, evaporation from regulatory

reservoirs, and regulatory losses at the. Mexican boundllry incurred

in the transportation, storage, and delivery of water i.n discharge,

of the obligations of that treaty.

As discussed previously, the amount of augmentation necessary

to satisfy the Mexican Water Treaty will vary with the magnitude

of water losses on the lower Colorado River. For the plan requiring

2.0 m.a.f. augmentation, 1.8 m.a.f. is identified with Mexican water

deliveries. For the plan requiri.ng 2.5 m.a.f. augmentation, 1.93

m.a.f. is id'entifi.ed with Mexican water deliveries. The costs of

the augmentation works are split betw'een reimbursable and non-

reimbursable, essentially on a pro rata basis.

Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund--Pending legis la-

tion (S. 1004, H.R. 3000, and similar bills) provides also for

establishment of a Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund

which would be a source of financial assistance to return the

reimbursable costs of au~nentation works. For the purposes of

this report, it is assumed that the following revenues i-,ccruing

to the Development Fund would be available to apply toward the

reimbursable costs of the augmentation plan: (1) the surplus

12