WSP12542

• File Number: 8282.400
• Description: Colorado River Operations and Accounting - Deliveries to Mexico
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 5/1/2001
• Author: David and Lucille Packard Foundation
• Title: Immediate Options for Augmenting Water Flows to the Colorado River Delta in Mexico - RE-Colorado River-Mexican Delta Issues - 05-01-01
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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V. OPTIONS FOR MEETING DELTA WATER NEEDS

A wide variety of possible sources of water to augment flows needed to sustain the Delta's
ecosystems have been identified. Some of them include: .

· Purchase and transfer of agricultural water rights with or without retiring agricultural
lands from irrigation districts, tribes, or other water rights holders in the United
States;

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· Purchase and transfer of agricultural water rights from water rights holders within
Mexico;

· Dedication and delivery to the wetlands in Mexico of US operational over-deliveries
of Colorado River water that exceed Treaty delivery requirements. These flows are
not guaranteed but are the results of unscheduled operational events;

· Scheduling of larger releases of water from US dams to the Delta for perennial and
periodic flows; larger flows to re-establish areas of native vegetation and to flush
salts and other constituents into the Gulf of California;

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· Fallowing of the least product;ive irrigated lands in Mexico or the US and dedication
of the water to the Delta;

. Allocating to Delta ecological uses a specific portion of any surpluses declared by the
US;

. Allocating to Delta use a part of the current flow in the Bypass Drain now delivered
to the Cienaga;

. Encouraging the conservation of water through projects that create increased
irrigation efficiency in Mexico and dedication of conserved water to the Delta;

. Diversion and transport to the Delta of water from the New River;

. Diversion and transport to the Delta of treated wastewater from the planned
Mexicali II Wastewater Treatment Plant or other wastewater treatment projects in
. Mexico;

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. Pumping and delivery to the Delta of brackish groundwater;

. Pumping and delivery to the Delta of groundwater in the area of the Limitrophe
Section;

. Collection and delivery to the Delta of wastewater from the Community of San Luis
Rio Colorado;

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