WSP06020

• File Number: 8271.300
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - General Information and Publications-Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/3000
• Author: Sidney McFarland
• Title: Water Quality and the Law of the River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Congress authorized negotiation of a treaty with Hexico with

respect to the waters of the Colorado River and negotiations were,
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~accordinglY attempted in 1930, but without success. The negotia-
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~ions which ultimately led to the consummation of the Treaty on
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febrUary 3, 1944 (59 Stat. 1219), were initiated in 1941 and con-

tinued through 1942 and 1943. Under the' treaty, Hexico is allotted
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t"5 million acre-feet of water annually which'is twice as much as
1as anticipated by the Colorado Basin States prior to the negotia-
ions. It was further provided that in times of sUrplus~the

States would endeavor to deliver up to 1.7 million acre-

water and, in the event of extraordinary drought, the 1.5

.illion acre-feet would be reduced in proportion to the reduction

f consumptive uses in the United States. Fulfillment of the

nited States obligation under the Hexican Water Treaty ,(Treaty

erie's 994 (59 Stat.12l9) from the water suppll:' of the Colorado

,iver system adds to a water shortage of the, Colorado River which

viII frustrate the interstate apportionment made by Congress in the

~928 Boulder Canyon Project Act, as ..:ell as the inter-basin appor-

~ionment made by the Colorado River Compact. In answer to this

~roblem, the Colorado River Basin Project Act (82 Stat. 885)

feclares that the satisfaction of the l.lexican Nater Treaty from

the Colorado River constitutes a National obligation which shall

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be the first obligation of any ..,ater augmentation project author-
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1zed by the Congress pursuant to that Act. This matter is presently
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being studied by the Secretary as a part of the Westwide l1ater

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Plai'.

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