WSP01603

• File Number: 8271.400
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - news articles
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/29/1961
• Title: News Articles - Press Releases -- 1961 - 1993
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: News Article/Press Release

,>:-,,','

N
o
CD
0)

'Public Law 93-320 recognizes that replacement of the reject stream
and of Wellton-Mohawk drainage water bypassed to the Santa Clara Slough,
except when surplus water exists in the Colorado River, is a national
obligation. Studies to provide replacement water will be completed
by Jtille 30, 1980. In the meantime, about 132,000 acre-feet per year
can be salvaged by constructing a new concrete-lined canal to replace
the first 49 miles of the Coachella Canal. This water will be used
to replace the reject drain and the Wellton-Mohawk waters bypassed
around Morelos until such time as it is needed to meet water deliveries
to California.

Just south of the Arizona-Sonora. boundary, Mexico has installed a
system of pumps and pipelines which is now pumping 160,000 acre-feet
per year. Prior to negotiation of Minute 242, Mexico was planning to
enlarge the system by.an additional 160,000 acre-feet per year. The
Minute was successful in getting Mexico to agree to limit punlping
within 5 miles of the border to 160,000 acre-feet per year. In rettu'n
the United States agreed to a siinilar restriction on our side of the
border. Mexico also agreed to continue to accept about 140,000 acre-
feet per year on the land boundary at San Luis and in the river below
Morelos. Most of this water has come either from surface drains or is
,pumped from percolating water. Pumping by Mexico has already begun to
dry up the drains and in time would greatly reduce the amount of water
which can be delivered from existing facilities. Consequently, P.L. 93-320
authorizes the Secretary to construct, operate, and maintain, consistent
with Minute 242, well fields capable of furniShing approximately 160,000 acre-
feet of water per year for use in-the United States and for delivery to
Mexico in satisfaction of the 1944 Mexican Water Treaty.

y

, ~

<;

';1

T
, ::~

Total estimated cost for the meastu'es authorized by Title I of
P.L. 93-320 is $155.5 million, based on April 1973 prices. The breakdown
of these costs are:

~:
~

Desalting Plant
Bypass Drain
Siphon
Reduction of Wellton-Mohawk Drain Flows
Control of Gila River Floods
Replacement Water Studies
Replace 49 miles of Coachella Canal
Protective Pumping
Total

.$Million
62.1
15.3
3.1
12.5
5.0
2.0
21.5
34.0
$155.5

~

Project Activities to Date

<~

Since last ,year when it became apparent that a desalting solution would be
selected to enable the United States to meet the obligations of Minute 242, the
Btu'eau of Recla.ma.tion and the Office of Saline Water (now the Office of Water

';;
;:~

,
1
3
1
~
:'}

4

:._,^,. ,-~'""" - ',~