16e

• Board Meeting Date: 11/14/2007
• Description: CF Section - En-bloc Non-Reimbursable Investment Recommendations - Colorado River Compact and Mexican Treaty Issues
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

.lgenda Item 1(ic-
November 14-15. 2UU' C'WC R Meeting
Page 2 of 3
Subsequently, Minute 242 to the Treaty was adopted assuring Mexico that the quality of
Colorado River water received would he no more than 115 ppm, plus or minus i0 ppm, greater
than the salinity of the river at Imperial Dam. A waste water drain (bypass) from the Wellton-
Mohawk area of Arizona to the Santa Clara Slough and the Yuma Desalting Plant were
constructed for the purpose of assuring this water quality standard was met. I-lowevcr, given the
cKpense of operating the Dcsalter, the bypass drain has been the primary means of disposing of
highly saline returns from irrigation in the Yuma area, which bypasses are not counted as part of
the Treaty delivery. These untreated highly saline rctuml flows, however, have had positive
environmental effects on the Slough.
Un Nay 18, 2004 the L'.S. Secretary of hrterior and the Secretariat of Environment, Natural
Resources and hisheries of the United Mexican Stales entered into the, "JC)1:~`T L)EC'l.:1R.~lTIOA~
RF.7"W'EL;.'~' TNF_ UGF'ART,1•lF.,~`"l'OF THE 1:ti'7'F.R/OR (L)Ol) OF TIlE C:',ti'ITF.~ STA7T.S OF
;l 1•tF.RIC'A A,VC) THF_ SECRF.T.9RIAT OF E:'4'GYRO:'r','llF.,'~`T, :~ATL'RA1. RL•'SOt~RCF.SA,~'O
F/SNt:RIF..S (.SL•'af.AR:'~AP) OF TNF. (.~;4'I1'EI) ,blF.XICAa' STATES' TO F,:\'H~1r1~~C'G
C'OOPI:R.ATIO,'4'I:V THF. CY)LOlL4D0 RIVER nF.LTA" ("Joint Declaration"). 1-he .loint
Declaration was a commitment between the nvo countries to work together to find solutions that
would protect the natural em irunmcnt surrounding the Slough. The lntcrnational Boundary and
Water Commission (IBLVC) adopted Minute 306 to the'i'reaty with Mexico on December l2,
2000 to implement the Joint l~cclaration.
Project Obiectivc and Seopc
The overall purpose for this expenditure is to protect Colorado's compact apportionment. Staff
will monitor issues associated with the Mexican Treaty including the development of shortage
criteria for i~1exieo, Colorado River System augmentation opportunities and protections for the
Colorado River Della. C'uiTently, the IB~VC is engaging in discussions with Mexico and it may
become necessary' for Coloradn to become more deeply im~olvcd in those discussions in order to
protect our compact apportionment. This will he done in cooperation with the Departments of
Interior and State, the Bureau of Keclamation, the IBWC, the Colorado River Basin States and
major water and power users. The results of these discussions may potentially become a Minute
of the Treaty. The geographic locus of this efTort will include the entire Colorado River Eiasin
with the primary focus being on issues directly effecting Mexico's use of Colorado River water.
Staff Recommendation
"I'he Board will he asked to recommend to the General Assembly the expenditure of up to
5150,000 from the Construction Fund for staff im~olvement in activities related to the Colorado
River Compact and Mexican Treaty.