WSP04095

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1987
• Author: USDOI
• Title: Quality of Water - Colorado River Basin - Progress Report No. 13 - January 1987
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

PART VII. COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY

CONTROL PROGRAM

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Title I of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, Public Law
93-320, authorized the Secretary of the Interior to proceed with a program of
works of improvement for the enhancement and protection of the quality of
water available in the Colorado River for use in the united States and the
RePUblic of Mexico. Title I enables the United States to comply with its
obligation under the agreement with Mexico of August 30, 1973 (Minute No. 242
of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico),
which was concluded pursuant to the Treaty of February 3, 1944 (TS 994).

Title II of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, Public Law
93-320, of June 24, 1974, as amended by Public Law 98-569 of October 30, 1984,
directs the Secretary of the Interior, commencing on January 1, 1975, and
every 2 years thereafter, to submit simultaneously to the President, the
Congress, and the Advisory Council, a report on the Colorado River Salinity
Control Program covering the progress of investigation, planning, and
construction of salinity control units for the 2 previous fiscal years.

The report is to include the effectiveness of the units, anticipated work
to be accomplished to meet the objectives of Title II with emphasis on the
needs during the 5 years immediately following the date of each report, and
any special problems that may be impeding progress in attaining an effective
salinity control program. Title II also provides that this report may be
included in the biennial Quality of Water, Colorado River Basin, Progress
Report.

Figure VII-1, on the following page, shows the location of the Title I
and Title II program study areas for both the Department of the Interior and
the Department of Agriculture.

A. Title I Program

Title I of the Colorado River Basin Control Act of 1974 (Public Law
93-320j provided the means to comply with the obligations of the United States
to Mexico which included as a major feature a desalting plant and brine
discharge canal. These facilities will enable the United States to deliver
water to Mexico having an average salinity no greater than 115 ppm + 30 ppm
(United States count) over the annual average salinity of the Colorado River
water at Imperial Dam.

1. Coachella Canal Lining (Reclamation)

To assist in meeting the salinity control objectives of Title I, the
Secretary of the Interior was authorized to construct a concrete-lined canal
or to line the unlined initial 49 miles of the Coachella Canal. The act
required that a repayment contract be executed with the Coachella Valley
Water District for partial repayment of the cost of the work.

VII-1