INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMISSION

COMISIÓN INTERNACIONAL DE LÍMITES Y AGUAS

Colorado River Joint Cooperative Proces

Presentation to

Urban Water InstituteAugust 23, 2012

Edward DrusinaU.S. Commissioner

International Boundary and Water Commission

IBWC History

1848 Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty – Mexican American War Ends

1853 Gadsden Purchase 1889 Convention – IBC Becomes

Permanent Agency of USFG 1906 Treaty – Rio Grande Allocations 1944 Treaty – Renames the IBC to the

IBWC Colorado River, Rio Grande & Tijuana River

U.S.-MEXICO JOINT DECLARATIONS

August 2007► Joint Declaration of U.S. and Mexico to Discuss Joint Cooperative Actions

Related to the Colorado River, signed by DOI Secretary Kempthorne and Mexican Ambassador Sarukhan

January 2009► Joint Declaration of DOI Secretary Salazar and Mexican Ambassador

Sarukhan December 2010

► DOI Secretary Salazar and SEMARNAT Secretary Elvira continue dialogues on drought conditions in the Colorado River, with meetings in Mexico City

Bridge over dry Colorado River near SIB

Water in Colorado River Limitrophe reach

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Formed in February 2011 Participation from the

IBWC and Reclamation Commissioners, Principal Engineers, BOR Regional Directors

2012 Established Seven Basin States & ConAgua join direct discussions

Feb. 23 Leadership Meeting in El Paso, Texas

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Reviewed structure for the Joint Cooperative Process

Reviewed and prioritized issues and projects 2011 process effective Key and Fundamental

Issues Clarified 2012 US & MX Water Stakeholders at the

table Current Project Focus – Incorporate Key and

Fundamental Issues

KEY FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES

Salinity Shortage Management Surplus Sharing Intentionally Created Mexican Allocation (ICMA) Exchange of Water Water for the Environment

SALINITY

Need to address salinity impacts of potential projects Technical analysis/modeling has been undertaken Legal and policy issues are being considered

Colorado River at NIB

SHORTAGE MANAGEMENT

Determined the conditions and means by which shortage would be addressed as part of a comprehensive framework of cooperative actions

Considered drought indicators, parameters not controlled by humans, rainfall, runoff, reservoir elevations, etc.

Lake Mead “bathtub ring” at Hoover Dam

SURPLUS SHARING

Determine the conditions and means by which this issue would be addressed

Surplus is being considered as part of the JCP.

High flow at SIB following April 2011 rainfall

I C M A

Intentionally Created Mexican Allocation (ICMA) – similar to Intentionally Created Surplus in the United States

Could give Mexico greater flexibility in how it manages its Colorado River allotment

Minute 318 Earthquake Relief Results: 2011 - 50,336 AF, 2012 - 132,228 AF(est.), 2013 –

77,435 AF(est.) Benefits Lake Mead levels

EXCHANGE OF WATER

Minute 318 Water could serve as an investment in the regions future.

As we develop projects such as for conservation or new water sources, are there ways to exchange water rather than physically move it great distances?

Morelos Dam diverts Colorado River water into Mexico’s irrigation canal

WATER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Identify a framework that identifies how water for the environment could be used when it becomes available, taking into consideration the sources of water and legal restrictions

Requires significant technical, legal, and policy analysis

Dry riverbed at SIB, Wellton-Mohawk Drain on left.

INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMISSION

COMISIÓN INTERNACIONAL DE LÍMITES Y AGUAS