20b ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 1/23/2008
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River - Mexican Treaty Updates
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denser, Colorado 80203
Phone: (30 ~) 866-3441
Fax: [phone]
wuu*. c~scb. state. co. us
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Gosemor
Harris D. Sherman
DNR Executive Director
Jennifer L. Gimbel
CWCB Director
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
D:ui McAuliffe
FROM: Randy Seaholm cwcB Deputy Director
Ted Kowalski
DATE: January 15, 2008
SUBJECT: Agenda Item 20b, January 22-23, 2008 Board Meeting -
Water Supply Protection -Colorado River Mexican Treaty Update
Within the context of the Colorado River 7-basin states negotiations on Lower Basin Shortage Criteria and
the Coordinated Operations of Lakes Powell and Mead, the states recognized that Mexico, while not at the table,
was impacted by the criteria and operations and needed to be consulted with and that they may also be able to help
provide some win-win solutions related to water development and water management. As a result, the states
requested that the State Department and the International Boundary and Water Commission ("IBWC"), in
consultation with Interior and Reclamation, initiate a dialogue wiflr Mexico regarding Colorado River water
management issues. While this dialogue would have to be led by the national representatives, representatives of the
seven basin states' and the corresponding Mexican states' representatives would be instrumental in these
discussions.
In August 2007, the U.S. representatives met with Mexican representatives and agreed to discuss joint
cooperative actions related to the Colorado River. The outcome of the meeting recognized that the IBWC, atreaty-
based organization with representatives from both Mexico and the United States, should lead these discussions. The
issues that were put on the table include: 1) the needs of both nations for water for urban, agriculture, and
environmental purposes especially in the context of the ongoing historic drought and the potential impacts of climate
change; 2) environmental priorities including the Colorado River Delta habitat protection and enhancement; 3)
opportunities for water conservation, storage and water supply augmentation; 4) potential opportunities to increase
efficiencies as they relate to water deliveries to Mexico.
Since then, Mexican and U.S. representatives from the IBWC have met several times to explore these
matters. In addition, the representatives from the Colorado River basin states and other stakeholders have met with
the U.S. office of the IBWC. As a result of those meetings, the IBWC has established a smaller core group for
continuing the dialogue, which may result in a minute to the U.S.-Mexico treaty of 1944. A bst of specific topics
and potential projects is being developed. Don Ostler, Upper Colorado River Commission Executive Director, is
representing the Upper Basin States in the core group discussions and Ted Kowalski (Colorado) and Tanya Trujillo
(New Mexico) as designated alternates. Over the next several months (and per$aps years) we will keep you
informed about flee status of flrese discussions.
Water Supply Protection • Watershed Protection & Flood Mitigation • Stream & Lake Protection • Water Supply Planning & Finance
Water Conservation & Drought Planning • Intrastate Water Management & Development