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~\\Il,..."n tnJ1Ul.\J 2002] THE lAST GREEN lAGOON 975 I. ~ the Mexican diversions, the cost savings would still be significant.424 Decreased salinity would reduce damage to city water delivery systems and consumers; for example, both Mexicali and Tijuana receive much of their municipal supply from the Colorado River.425 This dependence is expected to increase due to the exploding population and the gradual drawdown of groundwater supplies.426 Savings to Mexican agriculture would likewise be enormous. The Imperial Valley in the U.S. and Mexicali Valley in Mexico are roughly proportionate in size and character (Mexicali Valley is actually the southem half of the Imperial Valley basin).427 The BOR study estimated that 1 ppm of additional salt at Imperial Dam would collectively cost Imperial Valley farmers at least $108,000 in direct and perhaps an. additional $240,000 in indirect costs,428 lID serves approximately 490,000 acres.429 whereas Mexicali Valley has 530,000 acres under irrigation.430 Given the overall similarity and geographic proximity of the Imperial and Mexicali Valleys, the costs and potential savings associated with Colorado River salinity.. would presumably be comparable. The United States government would also see signific_ant savings. The Yuma desalinization plant will cost an estimated $25 million annually to operate, in addition to periodic $18 million replacements of desalting equipment.431 Even in its current ready-'reserve status, the plant still costs nearly $6.8 i ~ I L r ,- I 424. For example, the FINAL EIS for the new surplus criteria predicted a 19 ppm average decrease in salinity (around 2.2%) at Imperial Dam resulting from only an occasional transfer (under extremely dry conditions)' of 100.000 af of water from PVID to MWD. FINAL EIS, supra note 71. at 3.5-9. These benefits accounted only for the reduction in salt loading due to the temporary discontinuance of irrigation in PVID - there is no dilution benefit, but rather a dilution deficit. since the water is removed from the river upstream of Imperial Dam. See id. If these benefits can be achieved without dilution. the salinity reduction effects of even a smaller amount of water transferred annually for Delta use ought to be comparable (due to the added benefits of dilution); the benefits of a larger. flood-size transfer (260,000 af or more) could be expected to be even larger. 425. See Hayes, supra note 53, at 808. 426. Id. 427. Id at 803, 808; FRADKIN, supra note 9. at 268. See also MORRISON ET AL., supra note 137, at 11, 31. 428. WORSTER, supra note 174, at 323. 429. FRADKIN, supra note 9, at 268. 430. Hayes, supra note 53, at 808. Some of the acreage in both Imperial and Mexicali valleys is served by groundwater~ MORRISON ET AL.. supra note 137. at 11, 31. 431. PONTIUS, supra note 3, at 68.