16e

• Board Meeting Date: 11/14/2007
• Description: CF Section - En-bloc Non-Reimbursable Investment Recommendations - Colorado River Compact and Mexican Treaty Issues
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board ,EQ(tttisFX
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Hill Kiuer. Jr.
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To: Colorado ~4'ater Conservation Board Members oat ~}`~~( rrr
:\ct:n g (~ W'CH Dut>ctor
From: Kandy Scaholm
Chief 1~Vater Supply Protection
Date: \ovember 4, 2007
Subject: :lgenda Item 16e, November 14-1 S, 2007 Board lieeting, Water Supply
Planning and Finance Section, En-bloc Nan-Reimbursable Investment
Recommendations, Colorado River Compact and 'Mexican "I'reah' Issues
Backt?round
Dcveloprnent of Lower Colorado Kiver Basin Shortage Guidelines and improvements to th(:
coordinated operations of Lakes Powell and Mead has envisioned a need to develop criteria
under which Mexico would share in these shortages as well. These discussions will caRainly
ad(lress other Coloracta Kiver Basin issues of interest to bicxico, such as basinwide augmentation
and the long-standing issue of water far the Delta.
.Augmentation: The Seven Colorado Kiver Basin States' (7-States) provided Reclamation a
letter on February 3, 2006 that included a consensus preliminary proposal regarding Colorado
River Interim Operations. In that correspon(iencc, the States infomted Keclamation that they
would move forward on a parallel track with a package of other actions including along-term
augmentation study. The ?-States authorized the Colorado Kiver 1'1%ater Consultants to complete
a technical evaluation of options for both short-temt and long-term augmentation of the Colorado
Rig cr System. "1 oat study is nearly complete and 7-States are considering recommendations on
how to move forward. One significant topic of discussion will be a desalination project in
~lcxico.
Colorado River Delta: The 7-States have been slowly working H ith federal agencies to address
issues associated with the Colorado Kiver Uclta in Mexico and related wetland issues. Briefly,
the 1944 Mexican 1~~'ater Treaty (Treaty) obligates the L'.S. to deliver 1.5 maf of water to Mexico
annually, except during declared surplus or shortage conditions. The Treaty also provides that
!vtexico shall aryuirc nn right beyond that provided by the -treaty to the use of waters from the
Colorado River system.

R'~ter tiupply Prnroction • Flood Protection • titmm & Like Pratrcllan • \5'ater tiupplc PI^nning & Finance
\4iler (bnsenratfon & Oroughl PlsnninQ • InlnStale Naler ~1>tm Qemrnt 3 Derrlopmrnt