WSP05341

• File Number: 8278.100
• Description: Title I - Yuma Desalting Plant
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 12/23/1992
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Yuma Desalting Plant - Alternatives for the Interim Period
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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On August 30, 1973, Presidents Nixon and Echeverria approved Brownell's
recommended solution to the salinity problem in the form of
Minute No. 242. The minute contains the following major provisions:

. The average annual salinity of Colorado River water
delivered upstream from Morelos Dam (approximately
1,360,000 af) would not exceed the average annual
salinity of water arriving at Imperial Dam by more
than 115 ppm plus or minus 30 ppm (United States
count). This value is referred to as the salinity
differential.

. In partial satisfaction of Mexico's 1.5 million af
entitlement, the United States would continue to deliver
about 140,000 af of water annually to Mexico across the
Southerly International Boundary near San Luis, Arizona, and
in the Limitrophe Division of the Colorado River (that
section of the Colorado River located between the Northerly
and Southerly International Boundaries). The salinity of
this delivery would be substantially the same as the waters
customarily delivered there.

. The United States would build a Bypass Drain extending the
MODE to carry the Desalting Plant reject stream and bypassed
water to the Southerly International Boundary and would pay
Mexico to build an additional extension through Mexico to
the Slough, upstream from the Gulf of California.

. The United States and Mexico each agreed to limit ground-
water pumping in each country's territory within 5 miles of
the Southerly International Boundary near San Luis to
160,000 af annually.

. The United States and Mexico also agreed that both countries
would consult each other before developing surface or
ground-water resources in the border area that might
adversely affect the other country.

. Measures required to implement this resolution would be
undertaken and completed as soon as practicable, and the
United States would seek prompt funding for construction of
the works needed to fulfill the agreement.

DESCRIPTION

Major facilities and activities authorized under Title I of th~ 1974 Act
include: (1) the Yuma Desalting Plant, the major feature of the project
which will treat poor quality drainage water for delivery to Mexico; (2)
the WMIDD irrigation drainage reduction program, which was designed to
reduce the quantity of poor quality drainage water to be treated by the
Desalting Plant and thereby reduce the cost of construction and

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