WSP00860

• File Number: 8278.400
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - Mexican Treaty - Development and History
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/26/1946
• Title: Light on the Mexican Water Treaty from the Ratification Proceedings in Mexico - A Report to the Colorado River Water Users Association
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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MEXICAN WATER TREATY ,

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The assumptions oj .the Mexican negotiators.-Now for one (If th\:l
Mexican negotiators, lng, Adolfo Orive Alba, Ohairman of the Na-
tional Irrigation Commission, corresponding to our Commissioner of-
Rec]amation(with the difference that our Oommissioner Bashore.
testified that he was not consulted until after the treaty was signed).
lng. Orive A]ba said, in a formal statement printed August 1, 1945:

Now then, before negotiating the treaty a precise estimate was ID.ade of the
net area in Mexican territory irrigable with water from the Colora.do River
under economically practicable conditions, Accordingly, this estim,ate foUnd
that there was an area of 200,000 net irrigable hectares (4-94,200 acres): equivalent 0 ,
to a Qros8 area of 800,000 hectares. This gross area of 300,000 hectares (741,300
acres) is less than that estimated as irrigable by our engineers during the inter-
national conferences. of 1929 to which we referred at the beginning of this report.
The difference between these two estimates is that in the latter, great areas, con-
sidered in the estimate of 1929, are eliminated as being useless for agricultural
operations due to the large amount of salts that the lands contain. FOT.example,
the basin of. the Laguna Salada and the lands adjacent to the Gulf were elimina.ted.
There were also eliminated some other areas of Jands of poor quality where heavy
pumping would be required. [Italics supplied.]
Oomparison oj the American and Mexican assum:('tionsas to irrigable
acreage.-From the foregoing official testimony, It is clear that the
American negotiators were completely misinformed as to the area of
irrigab]e land in Mexico. The Americans thought Mexico had at
least 800,000 acres; the Mexicans knew that their net irrigable area
was 494,200 acres.. This discrepancy as to potential uses should be
borne in'mind in considering the next and similar misunderstanding
as to past uses.

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2. AS TO THE LAND AND WATER ALREADY PUT TO USE IN MEXICO

The assumptions oj the AmeriCan negotiators.-Mr. Lowry, one of
the State Department witnesses, said succinctly what some of his
associates said in more detail (hearings, pt. 1, pp. 241, 242): '
Let me make one more statement, please, Mexico's use in .recent years has'
ap~roximated 1,800,000 acre-feet. annually, and tnat is increasing. * * *
* * Another ,thing I want to point out about this chart is that as, the
United States expands it will be allowed under this trerty to cut into the 8upply
now being used by Mexico to the extent of 300,000 acre-feet, cutting Mexico back to
1,600,000 acre-feet. That is the ultimate figure. [Emphasis supplied.]
The Foreign Relations Committee of the United States 'Senate
accepted tbese representations. Its report (Ex. Rept.2, 79th Cong.,
1st sess., February 26, 1945) said (p. 4):
Mexico, on the other hand, is. now using apprpximately 1,8QO,000 acre-feet 8:
year, and in the meantime some 8,000,000 or 9,000,000 acre-feet of water flows
through Mexican territory and wastes unused into the Gulf of Califorpia. The
testimony is that it will be many years hence before this water can all' be put to
beneficial use in the United States. If and when that time arrives, present Mexi-
can UBes must be curtailed. Thus, by placing for all time ,8 limit, measurably
below pres.ent Mexican diversions, upon the obligation of the United States., to
supply Colorado River water to. Mexico, the treaty provides. needed assurance
to American agencies and communities in planning future develop~ents.
The assumptions oj the Mexican negotiators.-Butlng, AdolfoOrive
Alba, whom we have previously introduced, reporting to the Mexican
Senate, compared the amount of water Mexico was previously using,
and the amount she would use under the treaty as follows: .
-By means of' the treaty the critically fortuitous' condition of the crops of
120,000 hectares. (296,500 acres) farmed at present is eliminated (area 'timea
1..1 feet=1,215,6/JO acre-feet present annual use; se.e explanation infra).

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