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<br />-----~ c5~J - . <br /> <br />-~-----~------------ -- <br /> <br />Cover photograph: an aerial view of Imperial Dam. The view is looking upstream (north). <br />Imperial Dam is the last diversion point where Colorado River water is taken by water users in <br />the United States to be used both to the east (the right) in Arizona and to the west (the left) in <br />California. Water passing over Imperial Dam continues on to Mexico where the water is used <br />for agricultural, industrial, and municipal purposes in Mexico. This water which passes Imperial <br />Dam, plus additional water coming into the river as return flows below Imperial Dam and water <br />pumped across the border at San Luis, provide the quantity of water guaranteed to Mexico as <br />set forth in the treaty between the two countries. <br /> <br />Imperial Dam is the point at which water quality samples are taken to ensure that the numeric <br />criteria of water quality standards, adopted by the seven Colorado River Basin states for water <br />used in the United States, are being maintained. Imperial Dam is also used as the upstream <br />measuring point to determine water quality as provided for by the amended treaty with Mexico. <br />When the total dissolved solid values at Imperial Dam are subtracted from values at the <br />downstream measuring point at Morelos Dam, a differential is calculated. The differential, as <br />explained in this report, is the basis for the water quality agreement between the United States <br />and Mexico which led to an amendment to the treaty. <br />