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<br />000859 <br /> <br />AUTHORITY: (identify existing or new) <br />COST: <br />FUNDING SOURCE: <br />ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT: (categorical excIusionlEIS/other) <br />ENVIRONMENTAL OR ESA ISSUES: <br />NEED FOR RULES AND REGULATIONS: <br /> <br />· Increase the use of Yuma groundwater and drainage water to meet Mexican <br />Water Treaty delivery obligations to preserve reservoir storage. This includes <br />the increased use ofthe Minute No. 242 well field. The Minute No. 242 well field <br />would be used to a greater extent to meet the United States delivery obligation at <br />the Southerly international boundary, while Yuma area groundwater and drainage <br />flow would be moved north to meet the United States delivery obligation at the <br />Northerly international boundary. Together this use of groundwater and drainage <br />water provides for better use of the available resources and reduces the possibility <br />that the Basin States and Mexico will experience water shortages. In accordance <br />with the 1944 Mexican Water Treaty, Mexico is to share in shortages in the same <br />proportion as consumptive uses in the United States. <br /> <br />Reclamation has completed preliminary analyses of increased groundwater <br />pumping scenarios and the transport of that water to the Drain Pump Outlet <br />Channel and/or the Yuma Mesa Conduit to determine river system conservation <br />and impacts on the International Boundary and Water Commission Minute No. <br />242 salinity differential requirement. This includes the coordinated use of a <br />reduced Yuma Desalting Plant operation. These analyses indicate that up to about <br />50,000 acre-feet per year could be conserved but that the salinity differential <br />requirement would be exceeded slightly. <br /> <br />AUTHORITY: (identify existing or new) <br />COST: <br />FUNDING SOURCE: <br />ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT: (categorical exclusionlEIS/other) <br />ENVIRONMENTAL OR ESA ISSUES: <br />NEED FOR RULES AND REGULATIONS: <br /> <br />· Operate Yuma Desalting Plant at some reduced level including a ramp up <br />(1/4 to 1/3, etc.) This would help preserve reservoir storage and help meet the <br />salinity differential between Imperial Dam and Morelos Dam under Minute No. <br />242, especially if more groundwater and drainage water are used to meet the <br />Treaty delivery obligation. An initial analysis has been made by Reclamation. The <br />preliminary findings were that the plant, with resolution of design deficiencies, <br />could be operating in 24 to 30 months or 7 to 12 months with waivers of <br />environmental and contracting regulations. <br /> <br />-4- <br />