WSP01114

• File Number: 8278.10
• Description: Title I - Yuma Desalting Plant
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1996
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Marketing Water From the Yuma Desalting Plant - Notification Document 1996
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

r:€C-0S-1996 15:52

CRBSCF - Btu:
.

'1

unal,

. controllinc drainage pumpiI1l bdow Imperial
Dam,

. taking advantace of recent floods on the Gila and
Colondo Rivas that naturally freshened the
groundwuer dninare returns.

Ill. 1993, the Cammission~ of RecLam.auon $olidted
feedback from the basin $tates. Mako, and other
slakeholdcn about YDP bc:inc maintained in re.ady
reserve=: dUriac tbe: interim period or until it Wall
necrled for swniry centrol

" The: basin SUtes han lenenUy $upponc:d not
OPe.r.ltini the YOP, as lone as it can be rataned
within one yean' notice should u.linity conrrol for
Mexico be=: required, or should (he interim period
terminate and recovery o{WMIDD dninaa:e VI'ater
for reuse and consuvation of system stonge be:
_required.

Since the YDP i$ not currmdy beinc operuc:d to
meet s3.linity require=:ments or the Basin State3' Wiler
apponionment, Reclamation hasn't requC::Sted
appropriations for operation through fisc:al year 1997.
Ho.....ever, Rc:c:larrn.tion is required to matl.age the
salinity program, maintain the salinity canal system,
and maintain the YOP as necessary to hold it in
rud)' rocrve status. The total annual appropriatcrl
funds re.quired for these activities are approximately
_$~ million.

Need for Future Operation
of the YDP

Surplus flov.'s in the Bill Williams, the Gila., and the
Colorado Ri\'CI'S during tbe 80s and 90s lowered the
salinity of drainage returns below Imperial O:un to
less than what oc:cuncd in the 70s, But, the salinity
of the drainage returns is expected to evcnrually
teturn to levels that will require Reclamation to take
additional measures to meet the required salinity
differential. These me:1sures mllY involve operating
lhe YDP or finding alternative sources o(wuer to
dilute delive.rio made to Mexico 10 acceptable
salinity levels. After the interim period ends, the
YOP will either have to be operated to reduce
repJacemer.r obligations, or altunate sources of ""'ater
10 repl3.ce water not treated by the YOP will h3.ve to
be found. Purcha.3ing water (rom entiI1ement holders
i.s one wa)' ofob(aining an ",lu:rrul.te Source of....."'(er.

,

P.El6

.

While salinity l:vels in the Colorado River system
arc rili"" apated irlcrea.sed flows in the s~tc:m
wiU eOUQfc.n.el lome ofthil.cffect dun", the nexl
few yean.~lam.ation forecasts makioz- surplw 1
fE".lwes a~rin~ the nat five years) which would
[mean that the YDP may not be needed to meet tbe
turns of M..inule No. 242 for several yean--assuming
Mexico will be allowed tor~dv;;';ome of the ;u";Plus
....flows. P""'- ..
.
Oneoinl discussions between the United SUZUJ
and Merica

Currently, the United States and Mexico are
diSCUSSing salinity conditions at both the South~ly
and !'\ortherly International Boundaries. Depending
on the outcome of [hesc discussions and contnry to
."{inute 242, which sets no water quality Itandard at
SIB, ReclaII14rion could be required [0 oper.ue the
YDP to control salinity at the SIB in addition to the
NIB. In yean Reclamation would need to run YOP
to control s3.1inity at one or both boundaries, th.::
acru.a..l amount of plant capacity R.eclaffi:ltion would
need to reserve to satisfy the Minute would depend
on the salinilY offlo""'s arriving at Imperial. Dam. the
salinity oE return flows below the dam, and the level
of ulinity acceptable to Mexico at the SIB.

Currently. v..e ha,re dete.rm.ined thar retaining two-
thirds of the YOP ~pacit)' will allow tbe U.S. to
meet salinity requirements of :,,1.ako at the NIB and
SJB,le.aving onc-third capacity of the YOP that
could be tn3.Ikete.d.. This ooc-third capacity is based
on m~tinc the terms of Minute No. 242 and
supp1rini water of 1200 plm at SIB.

Proposal to Market Product
Water from the YDP

The Lower Colorado Region of the Bureau of
Red3..ma{ion proposc:s marketing YDP produel water
to non-Fede:,al sources. This would make bendieial
use ofWM.IOD drain w3.ter which olhU'\l.'ise flows to
Mexico, unused.

Marketinr YDP ""'ater reprc:sents a supplem~tal
pUt"pOSe in the USe of the fadlit). :u described. in
Article 101(a) ofth.:: Act. Treating .and marketing
water ....ill not impact Redam:nion's ability to satisfy
the requirements oftbe .\\exican Water Treaty of
1944,.\1.inute No. 242. and potential requi~ments to
pro....ide SIB with be Iter qU3.lir)' water.

M~Jun,oIl ylo....2 DQ~I::"1 Pl.2~1 :.:"":6_/996