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<br />12 <br /> <br />(~} <br /> <br />~ <br />~ (2) Is the water usable? <br />~ <br /> <br />With respect to the return flow issue, the history of the <br />negotiations, the legislative history leading to ratification <br />and the Treaty language itself make it clear that return flows <br />delivered to Mexico are to be counted in meeting the 1.5 maf/yr. <br />obligation to Mexico. Return flows have been included since <br />operations commenced under the Treaty in 1945. Had return flows and <br />other miscellaneous waters not been included, United States nego- <br />tiators could not have agreed to a guaranteed quantity of more <br />than twice the water which Mexico used prior to construction of <br />storage reservoirs in the United States. <br /> <br />With respect to the usability issue, deliveries under the <br /> <br /> <br />equivalent-salt-balance concept will result in Mexico receiving <br /> <br /> <br />water with an average salinity of 1140 ppm during the ensuing <br /> <br />year. That Mexico has used and now does use waters with a higher <br /> <br />salinity to grow crops is indicated by the following items: <br />1. Up until July 14, 1972, when Minute 241 became <br /> <br />effective, the Mexicans, based on their own scientific studies, <br /> <br />accepted Wellton-Mohawk drainage water along with other water <br /> <br /> <br />to the extent that it did not result in overall salinities <br /> <br />in excess of 1230 ppm. <br />2. The approximately 140,000 acre-feet per year of <br /> <br />Colorado River drainage water delivered to Mexico at the <br /> <br /> <br />southerly international boundary near San Luis in the <br /> <br />State of Sonora averages between 1400 to 1500 ppm, and <br />