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<br />, . r~..l:h~c-cUUl THU U2:22 PM UPPER CO RIVER CONN <br />G0l959~ <br /> <br />~? <br /> <br />...-- <br /> <br />FAX NO. 8015319705 <br />e <br /> <br />P. 01 <br /> <br />f)RAFT - Not for release or attribution ~- DRAFT <br /> <br />Report on Sources of Immediately Available Water to Sustain <br />Colorado River Delta Ecosystems <br /> <br />Prepared for to the David and Lucille Packard Foundation by <br /> <br />I':. <br /> <br />Jo Clark <br />Michael Clinton <br />Paul Cunningham <br />David H. Getches <br />Malissa Hathaway McKeith <br />Luis Octavio Morales <br />Carlos Valdes-Casillas <br />Luis Lopezgamez <br />Alberto Szekeley <br /> <br />FE8 222001 <br />COlorado Water Con .. <br />S$(va/klq , <br />COlorflcio 111 I./3fJaro <br />ater Con <br />servatio <br />n Boaro <br /> <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />The Colorado River Delta in Mexico was a world-class ecological treasure until <br />the river's flows were harnessed and depleted by a vast network of water <br />facilities that was constructed to serve water and power needs. Increased water <br />demands on the Colorado River by the United States and Mexico have deprived <br />the Delta of water. causing loss of fish. wildlife, and plants whose habitats <br />depend on the wetlands and riparian corridors along approximately 100 miles of <br />the Colorado River in Mexico and the inter-tidal area where the Colorado River <br />meets the Gulf of California. <br /> <br />Since 1983, additional waters, beyond Mexico's 1944 Treaty allotment, have <br />flowed to the Delta. These waters have helped to re-establish some of the <br />habitat that previously flourished and has rescued some areas and species from <br />extinction, The ecological improvements illustrated the potential for recovering <br />ecosystems of the Colorado River Delta. It also has provided opportunities to <br />study and determine the effects of providing water to the Delta's ecosystems and <br />to set realistic goals for restoration.' <br /> <br />It is reasonable to expect that today's Delta will again be placed in jeopardy and <br />that immediate measures are necessary to preserve the ecological progress that <br />was made. Demands for water in the United States and Mexico are not likely to <br />decline and river operations will not be substantialJy different unless measures <br />are taken to provide water to the Delta. Under the laws governing the river there <br />are no explicit requirements for providing water to sustain ecosystems in Mexico. <br />Obligations under the environmental laws have not yet been determined. <br />Meanwhile, regulations of the US Department of the Interior known as Interim <br /> <br />1 A well-documented report explains the history and nature of the problem. See Environmental <br />Defense Fund, A Delta Once More, June, 1999. <br /> <br />Post-~Fax Note , I 7671_t~~o <br /> <br />Ita~ij5" <br />_.d , <br /> <br />~ <br />