BOARD01156

• Board Meeting Date: 9/24/2001
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Report on the Colorado River Delta Symposium in Mexicali
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

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Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
lNWW.cwcb.state.co.us

Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director
Rod Kuharich
ewes Director
Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

MEMORANDUM

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

FROM:

Randy Seaholma:41k
Chief, Water Supply Protection

DATE: September 14, 2001

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 8f, September 24-25, 2001, Board Meeting-
Colorado River Basin Issues -
Report on the Colorado River Delta SymposiuTll in MexicaIi

Back2round

This symposium was part of the implementation of Minute 306 to the 1944 Treaty
with Mexico. The International Boundary and Water Commission (mwC) adopted
Minute 306 on December 12, 2000. The purpose of the symposium was to educate and
inform stakeholders and decision makers about legal and institutional issues, water
conveyance and distribution systems, and ecological and scientific issues, related to the
Colorado River Delta. The Symposium also sought to start the discussion on
identification of Colorado River Delta needs and obstacles to meeting them. The
speakers included representatives from both the U.S. and Mexico.

Prior to the Symposium, the seven Colorado River Basin States met with the
Department of Interior and the International Boundary and Water Commission in San
Diego. Topics included possible actions to consider following the Symposium, progress
on California's 4.4 plan and the need to pass H.R. 2764, alternatives to operating the
Yuma Desalter, and an update on the Defenders of Wildlife litigation.

Discussion

mwc Commissioners Solis and Ramirez opened the Symposium and set forth
the ground rules as identified above. They hope to publish proceedings of the
Symposium by the end of the year.
Bennett Raley indicated that Interior was committed to the process and to finding
cooperative solutions. He put forth five principles to be followed:
. A bi-national approach must be taken,
. Solutions must be based on sound science,
. Solutions must fit within the legal and institutional framework,
. There must be a free and open exchange of information,
. Any solution should be a positive for all stakeholders.

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning