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. N W o -.J COLORADO RIVER - MEXICAN WATER TREATY PROBLEMS by Myron B. Holburc, Chief Engineer Colorado River Board of California .'J'-.. , "lj'> "";,';'/1//" (?:~Jl ~"',.r Vl"DJ' "''I " "![ ! -::. '. 619)'3 ii', '~'-~rl:',) ''I c> ')I/;7D I appreciate the opportunity to address the California Water Commission on the issues involved in the salinity of Colorado River water delivered to Mexico pursuant to the Mexican Water Treaty of 1944. The historical background of the Treaty and the problems resulting from the salinity of the water delivered to Mexico was discussed in a speech I gave on August 11, 1972, to the California Water Resources Association. This speech was later inserted in the Congressional Record by Congressman Johnson of California and, because the material covered therein is essential to a full under- standing of the issues, it is attached hereto. As you will note, the earlier talk ended with reference to the responsibilities facing President Nixon's special representative, who was to "find a permanent, definitive, and just solution of this problem", and commented that the next few months would be very interesting in connection with the Treaty. That was certainly the case, and it started on August 16, 1972, with President Nixon's appointment of former Attorney General Herbert Brownell to be his special representative. A federal task force was assembled to assist him, and an intensive effort was launched to attempt to find a solution within the few months allowed by the President. Presented to the California Water Commission at its meeting in Palm Springs on March 2, 1973. ,!