WSP01908

• File Number: 8278.300
• Description: Title I - Merxican Deliveries
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 2/1/1963
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Special Studies - Delivery of Water to Mexico
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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development Of Imperial Valley. This canpany found it necessary to
form a Mexican corporation to acquire rights-of-way and hold lands
in Mexico vhich vere essential for their purposes. By contractual
arrangements the California Development Company delivered water to
its Mexican counterpart and in turn received it, less Mexican
deliveries and losses, at the international boundary in California.
In 1904, after a failure in its efforts to secure satisfactory
water rights from the United States Congress, the California
Development Company, through its Mexican corporation, secured a
concession from President Diaz, which was ratified by the Mexican
Congress. This concession for carriage of 10,000 cfs through Mexico,
was secured with the provision that sufficient water, not exceeding
one-half the total volume, should be delivered to Mexico by gravity
for lands susceptible to irrigation.
In August 1905, during the highest flood stage of record, the
control at the canal heading failed and the total flow of the
Colorado River was diverted down canal into the Salton Sink. Efforts
to --I"etunJ.--tbe-r-! 'rer-to-i ts- na tur~l-COUl'Se-W6l".e--i'ut1J.e-4m.t11

February 1907, vhen the Southern Pacific Railroad was successful in

closing the breaks.

Vith control of the river assured, arrangements vere made to

rehabilitate the Alemo Canal in Mexico and the main distribution

system in the Imperial Valley. In 1909 and 1910 the closure dikes
were nearly breached by the Colorado River during flood stages.
In 1910 the United States Congress appropriated one million dollars
for protection of land and property in Imperial Valley and in Mexico,

where proper.

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