Memorandum on Colorado Salinity Problem

Memorandum: From J.F. Friedkin, Commissioner, "Colorado Salinity Problem, Question: Would tile drains in the Wellton-Mohawk District provide a solution to the international problem?" August 23, 1964 (photocopy), page 1INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION UNITED STATES AND MEXICO 206 SANFRANCISCO STREET EL PASO. TEXAS 79950 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. BOX 1859 August 23, 1964 MEMORANDUM SUBJECT: Colorado Salinity Problem Question: Would tile draine in the Wellton-Mohawk District provide a solution to the international problem? Background Under instructions dated July 1, 1964, one of the alternatives proposed to Mexico for solution of the salinity problem was tile drainage in the Wellton-Mohawk District, regardless of resulting quality. The Mexican Commissioner advises that his Government would not object to tile drains. Mexico has consistently protested and held that Wellton-Mohawk pumped waters are not Colorado River waters, and are not direct return flows from irrigation; and for these reasons, are not acceptible as treaty waters. Tile drains would remove Mexico's grounds for protest, as nearly as it is practicable to do so. Therefore, it is understood that Mexico would have no legal recourse. There still remains, however, the question of whether tile drains would in fact resolve the international problem, even though the United States may be protected legally. Furthermore, the Congress before approving an estimated $20 million for tile drains, would certainly want to be assured that tile drains, if adopted, would resolve the problem. The technical conference in Denver, Aug 18-20, 1964, between ground water experts of the Geological Survey and Bureau of Reclamation in effort to resolve conflicting views on the probable quality of the effluent from tile drains, resulted in the following statement which both concurred in: The resulting salinity from tiles would initially be in the range of 4,000 to 5,000 parts per million, which would probably persist for about five years and during the next five years decrease by up to 200 p.p.m. per year, to ultimately reach a value of about 2,300 p.p.m. 2200Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 2,905,662 byte