WSP07975

• File Number: 8278.100
• Description: Title I - Yuma Desalting Plant
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 10/1/1987
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Yuma Desalting Plant Operations Study - Draft Special Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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Advantages:
"Increases total water supply in the Colorado River Basin.
"Increases frequency of excess water in the river with no water
right anticipated to be required.

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Disadvantages:
'Plan may encounter formidable environmental and substantial
institutional problems.
"Depending on the yield, the plan may
'Ownership and right to use new water

be only a partial
may be disputed.

solution.

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plan B-4A. Imclement Weath@r Modification. (With 116,000
acre-feet delivered to Mexico.)
Cost $0.9 million, TVS 965 points, Category II.

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If agreements could be arranged with the Basin States for Federal
use of the full 116,000 acre-feet per year needed to eliminate
operation of the YDP in exchange for full ~ederal financing of
the plan, the annual cost could be reduced to about $0.9 million.

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Advantages:
"Same as B-4, except eliminates need for YDP.

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Disadvantages:
"Same as 8-4.

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Plan B-5. Manaaement of Watershed.
Cost $22.4 million, TVS 1032 points, Category III.

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By managing small portions of the watershed vegetation cover to
enhance habitat and improve water yield at the headwater of the
Colorado River and its tributaries, a yield of 250,000 to 500,000
acre-feet per year of additional runoff could be obtained. This
would allow substituting new water for poor quality drainage
water discharged through the By-Fass Drain. Yields of this
magnitude would completely eliminate the need for operating the
YDP. Ownership of the water produced by this plan could be a
major institutional issue.

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Advantages:
"Increases total water supply in Colorado River Basin which is
available for other uses.
"Increases the frequency of excess flow in the river.
Disadvantages:
"May be only a partial solution to be used in conjunction with
other plans.
"May pose potential environmental problems.

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