WSP04002

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1974
• Author: USDOI
• Title: Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program - Status Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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"The conferees unaminously agreed, and I concur,
that the basin-wide salinity control program described
by the Department of the Interior in its report,
'Colorado River Quality Improvement Program
February 1972: appears to offer the best prospect for
arresting or reducing the salinity increases in the river.
This Agency endorses your program for achieving
resolution of this salinity problem in furtherance of
our mutual goal of water quality improvement. We are
prepared to assist to the extent of our available
resources.

Sincerely yours,

Sgd/Robert Fri

for William D. Ruckelshaus
Administrator"

Following the conference and in accord with the
recommenpations, the Bureau of Reclamation began
the investigations relating to salinity control.

RELATED MATTERS

The enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-5001 and the
conclusion of negotiations with Mexico regarding the
control of salinity in waters delivered to Mexico
highlight the salinity problems on the river,

AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO

In keeping with President Nixon'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 Minute 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. Participation of the Basin States was sought by
Mr. Brownell and representatives 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
Biver 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 (1,677,545,000 cubic
meters) delivered to Mexico upstream of Morelos
Dam, have an annual average salinity of no more
than 115 ppm plus or minus 30 ppm United
States count (121 ppm plus or minus 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 computing this salinity.

b. The United States will continue to deliver to
Mexico on the land boundary at San Luis and in
the Iimitrophe section of the Colorado River
downstream from Morelos Dam approximately
140,000 acre-feet (172,689,000 cubic meters)
annually with a salinity substantially the same as
that of the waters customarily delivered there.

c. Any decrease in deliveries under point 1(b)
will be made up by an equal increase in deliveries
under point 1(a).

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

e. Implementation of the measures referred to in
point 1(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 provisions of point
1 (a) become effective, the United States shall
discharge to the Colorado River downstream from
Morelos Dam volumes of drainage waters from the
Wellton-Mohawk District at the annual rate of
118,000 acre-feet (145,551,000 cubic meters) and
substitute therefor an equal volume of other waters
to be discharged to the Colorado River above
Morelos Dam; and, pursuant to the decision of
President Echeverria expressed in the Joint
Communique of June 17, 1972, the United States
shall discharge to the Colorado River downstream
from Morelos Dam the drainage waters of the
Wellton-Mohawk District that do not form a part of
the volumes of drainage waters referred to above,
with the understanding that this remaining volume
will not be replaced by substitution waters. The
Commission shall continue to account for the

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