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<br />---nDZTSS <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />improve the quality of water going to Mexico; 2) appoint a <br />special representative to find a "permanent, definitive and <br />just" solution to the salinity problem and report to him by <br />the end of the year; and 3) submit a U.S.-approved proposal <br />to President Echeverria for consideration and approval. The <br />IBWC was directed to draw up and sign a Minute containing <br />this program.4 <br /> <br />,., <br /> <br />In preparation for the Mexican President's visit, the Office <br />of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Departments of State <br />and the Interior, briefed President Nixon on possible <br />diplomatic courses of action and short- and long-term <br />measures to reduce salinity levels of water delivered to <br />Mexico. In the short run, bypassing some portion of return <br />flows and replacing it with better quality water from <br />another source seemed the only practical means. Long-term <br />solutions fell into four categories: 1) continuing to <br />bypass Wellton-Mohawk return flows and substitution from <br />other sources (including "new water" from weather <br />modification and other augmentation technologies then under <br />study); 2) eliminating salt loading by totally or partially <br />shutting down the project; 3) desalting all or part of the <br />return flows; and 4) regulating salinity according to water <br />quality standards, restricting irrigation or requ1r1ng more <br />efficient on-farm water management practices where <br />necessary. <br /> <br />Before the Echeverria visit, the simplest and least <br />expensive course of action appeared to be to continue to <br />bypass, and substitute better quality water for, some <br />portion of the return flows, while the issue of an <br />acceptable salinity level was resolved diplomatically. <br />After the Wellton-Mohawk project reached salt balance, the <br />U.S could undertake more costly or controversial measures to <br />permanently maintain the negotiated salinity level. This <br />approach had several advantages: It would give Mexico an <br /> <br />5 <br />