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COLORADO RIVER DELTA BI-NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS ENGLISH 22 While volume and distribution of waters is facilities along the Mexicali wastewater system. described in the '44 Treaty, more details are Minute 288 is the long-term recovery plan for needed to address specific projects or problems. the river. Minute 294, signed in 1995, allocates Consequently, to cover these issues, there are IBWC resources to facility planning projects for minutes added as an addendum to the treaty. the Mexicali wastewater systems, as well as to The minutes development process is divided the construction of a pumping station, a force into three stages: technical identification of the main and a treatment plant. project and the way it is to develop (including Minute 306, signed in 2000, pertains to the the problem and solutions); a consulting and ecology of the Colorado River Delta. A work negotiation stage; and once consensus for a group, established under this minute, has project has been achieved, formalization through coordinated activities between the two countries minutes signed by Commissioners from each including information sharing, flow modeling, side of the border and approved by both govern- and pilot restoration projects. It is important to ments. note that Minute 306 involve participation from There area number of water projects con- ~;,cademic ~on-gO~ntal. g~oups. ~ nected to the Colorado River and to make - . t~ alterations to any of them will affect other MARY BRANDT t~~ elements of the hydraulic cycle (including dams, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE: r drainage systems, groundwater, disposal areas, Ms. Brandt addressed two main themes: the etc.). Different IBWC international agreements relationship of the Department of State to the are related to these elements. There are a number U.S. section of the IBWC and the international of minutes related to the Morelos Dam involving agreement process in the U.S. and how that its location, design, construction and operation, relates to the adoption and entry into force of as well as complementary works. Likewise, IBWC minutes. minutes exist for issues of salinity, including The IBWC applies and exercises the rights of Minute 242 which established a permanent the United States and Mexico under the 1944 salinity level for waters delivered by the U.S. Water Treaty and settles any disputes that arise and construction of the Mohawk drain which thereunder. It is composed of two sections: U.S. V keeps the Cienega de Santa Clara slough with and Mexico. The U.S. Section is not technically (t-. water. ~inllte 248 focuses specifically on opera- under the Department of State but, in accor- #On of that dr..ain. dance with the' 44 Treaty, operates under its Mi 291 deals with the accumulation of foreign policy guidance. It receives its funding r silt affecting the delivery of wa to through the Department of State's budget. In Mexico. essence, th~ll.S. Secti'?!l, although an indepen- Minute 287 allowed for the delivery of d~nt fede;al agency, is c~nsidered to be part o!- e1l1.:;gency water from the ColoradOIDver using th.e forei&n affairs fa~~e DepaJ!.~e~2f a ueducts in southern California to the city Ol State plays an oversight role with respect to the ~.c. ....inute ~s on ajomt stu~ development and approval of IBWC Minutes ~ ~tween the two countrips to explore alterna- si~~ most IBWC Minutes constitute legally .,. ~~elivering water fro~he Colora<16' binding agreements between the United States ~r to San Diego and TijmlTItI. and Mexico. These agreements are governed by There are a number of minutes that deal with international law. the New River. Minute 264, signed in 1960, ~ accepte~tomary int~ establishes water quality standards for the New tionalla 0 aties' embodied in the 70 River when it crosses the international bound- Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties. This ary. Minute 274, assists with updating pumping t~y the United States, but never