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<br />4 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />001986 <br /> <br />Pitt et aI, August 2001.. Replacing the Bypass Flow On The Colorado River <br /> <br />'that a Close reading of the CRBSCA indicates this interim period is not y~t over. However, it is <br />likely that at some point in the future, the United States will be obligated to fmd a new way to <br />replace the bypass flow. <br /> <br />In addition to authorizing a number of projects that might be developed to replace bypass' flows, <br />the CRBSCA additionally authorizes BOR to explore alternatives that demonstrate an economic <br />advantage. A 1984 amendment to the CRBSCA obligates BOR to use "cost-effectiveness as the <br />underlying criterion in determining which salinity control unIts should be operated.,,22 <br /> <br />The remamder of this paper analyzes three alternatives for replacing the bypass flow, including <br />,two under consideration by the Bureau of Reclamation: operation of the Yuma Desalting Plant <br />(YDP) and off stream storage of Colorado River water.2 In addition the paper considers an <br />another ,alternative, which combines the lease of water from WMIDD and groundwater pumped <br />from the Yuma Mesa Area. <br /> <br />BYPASS FLOW REPLACEMENT ALTERNATIVES <br /> <br />1. LEASE OF WELLTON-MOHA WI( WATER AND SECURING OF FEDERAL <br />RIGHTS TO YUMA MESA GROUNDWATER <br /> <br />One way for the United States federal government to replace the bypass flow is to transfer (lease <br />or purchase) water, from fanners- who use the Colorado ~ver to irrigate crops. This paper <br />examines a lease as one form of water transfer, but given the federal government's need for a <br />permanent source of water, it may also be important to consider a permanent acquisition of water <br />rights, such as through purchase and fallowing ofland currently,under irrigation and cultivation. <br /> <br />Water used by fanners in the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District to grow cereals <br />and grains has relatively low economic productivity, suggesting that' some water users are likely <br />to respond positively to an attractive lease offer. It is important to note that a reduction of <br />irrigation water use in WMIDD would reduce the quantity of water draining into the MODE. <br />Protection of the Cienega de Santa Clara ecosystem could be accomplished by complementing a <br />lease program with the addition to the MODE of brackish groundwater pumped from the Yuma <br />Mesa groundwater mound (see Figure I). <br /> <br />22 Pub. L. No. 98-596. Full text of the 1984 amendments to the CRBSCA can be found at US BOR, Colorado River <br />Water Quality Office, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act Handbook, Section I. <br />23 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, handout at LasVegas briefing, 5/~O1. <br /> <br />5 <br />