WSP03614

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1981
• Author: USDOI
• Title: Quality of Water - Colorado River Basin - Progress Report No. 10 - January 1981 -- Part 1 of 2 -- Title Page through Part IX - page 98
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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HISTORY OF WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (continued)

Minute No. 242

In keeping with President Nixon I s objective to find a permanent,
definitive, and just solution to the salinity problem with Mexico, accord
was reached on August 30, 1973, with the execution of !oIinute 242 of the
International Boundary and Water Commission. The Minute was developed
following an intensive study of the problem by former Attorney General
Herbert Brownell and a federal Task Force appointed to assist him. Par-
ticipation of the Basin States was sought by Mr. Brownell and representa-
tives of the Governors (identified as the Committee of Fourteen), assisted
in defining the solution. The key elements of the agreement were:

"1. Referring to the annual volume of the Colorado River waters
guaranteed to Mexico under the Treaty of 1944, of 1,500,000
acre-feet (1,850,234,000 cubic meters):

"a. The United States shall adopt measures to assure that
not earlier than January 1, 1974, and no later than July 1,
1974, the approximately 1,360,000 acre-feet delivered to
Mexico upstream of Marelos Dam, have an annual average
salinity of no more than 115 ppm + 30 ppm United States
count (121 ppm + 30 ppm Mexican count) over the annual
average salinity -of Colorado River waters which arrive at
Imperial Dam, with the understanding that any waters that
may be delivered to Mexico under the Treaty of 1944 by means
of the All-American Canal shall be considered as having been
delivered upstream of Morelos Dam for the purpose of comput-
ing this salinity.

lib. The United States will continue to deliver to 'Mexico on
the land boundary at San Luis and in the limitrophe section
of the Colorado River downstream from Morelos Dam approxi-
mately 140,000 acre-feet annually with a salinity substan-
tially the same as that of the waters customarily delivered
there.

lie.
made
1(a) .

Any decrease in
up by an equal

deliveries under point l(b) will be
increase in deliveries under point

"d. Any other substantial changes in the aforementioned
volumes of water at the stated locations must be agreed to
by the Commission.

lie. Implementation of the measures referred to in point
I(a) above is subject to the requirement in point 10 of the
authorization of the necessary works.

"2. The life of Minute 241 shall be terminated upon approval of
the present Minute. From September 1, 1973, until the pro-
visions of point 1(a) become effective, the United States shall

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