WSP12542 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

On2J16 I. EXECUT~SUMMARY The Colorado River Delta in Mexico was a world-class ecological resource until the river's flows were harnessed and depleted by a vast network of water facilities constructed to serve water and power needs in the United States and in Mexico. Historically, the Delta included wetlands and riparian vegetation along approximately 100 miles of the Colorado River corridor in Mexico and the inter-tidal area where the Colorado River meets the Gulf of California. Increased water demands on the Colorado River by the United States and Mexico, however, have deprived the Delta of water, causing loss of fish, wildlife, and plants whose habitats depend on the Delta's ecosystems. I Since 1983, additional waters, beyond Mexico's 1944 Treaty allotment, have occasionally flowed to the Delta. These additional flows have helped to re-establish some of the habitat that once flourished, and have rescued some areas and species from possible extinction. Such improvements illustrate the potential for recovering the ecosystems of the Colorado River Delta, and, they provide opportunities to detennine the effects of providing water to the Delta's ecosystems and to set realistic goals for sustaining and restoration. Under U.S. and Mexican laws governing the Colorado River, no explicit requirements exist to provide water to sustain ecosystems in Mexico; in addition, obligations under the various national environmental laws have not yet been detennined Until recendy, the importance of the Delta to Mexico and to the United States was not well recognized and neither government assumed any responsibility for the management of its ecological resources. That is now changing. During the last five years, water demands of the lower basin states have increased from the "normal" year supply of 7,500,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) to more than 8,200,000 AFY. California's 4,400,000 AFY apportionment has been exceeded for decades by at least 800,000 AFY and, under contracts with the United States, California may be legally required to reduce its water uses by this amount in 2002. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior, known as Interim Surplus Criteria (Isq, were issued in January 2001 to allow California more time to reduce its dependence on excess Colorado River water. The ISC allows greater and more frequent releases for use by the Lower Basin States than what previously occurred when ~y Corps flood releases were the primary basis for surplus releases. When combined with current below-normal ruiloff conditions, the ISC has the potential to reduce the likelihood of surplus flows reaching Mexico. These events have caused a heightened level of concern about the Delta on the part of scientists, non-governmental organizations and the governments of both countries. Recognizing the seriousness of these Delta ecological concerns, on December 12, 2000, the governments of the United States and Mexico executed Minute 306 to the 1944 Mexican Water Treaty. The two countries, among other measures, set up a technical task force that will. pursue studies of Delta restoration and cooperative projects concerning the Delta "to ensure use of water for ecological purposes." The ,Minute 306 process, however, is intended to pursue long-term solutions and it is not likely to resolve the more immediate needs of the Delta. This report explores options for securing immediate sources of water for the Delta. It . concludes that a variety of constructive actions should be taken by both governmental and non- governmental entities to provide an interim water supply for the Delta while needed research continues. 1