Letter Discussing International Boundary and Water Commission

Letter: From Jack H. Vaughn, to Stewart Udall, April 14, 1965 (carbon copy), page 1APR 14 1965 Dear Mr. Secretary: Early last year both you and Commissioner Dominy confirmed an interest in a continuing exchange with Mexican officials of information about water programs. Mr. Mann expressed his appreciation for your efforts in this direction in his letter to you of January 17, 1964. According to the Mexican Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, three test wells were recently drilled within 60 feet of the international boundary about 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 miles east of San Luis, Sonora. They vary in depth from 203 to 328 feet, the depth of pump is 101 to 112 feet, and the pump tests indicate the capacity of each well to be in the range of 4 to 6 cubic feet per second. There is no irrigation development in Mexico in the immediate vicinity of these wells, and they have not been operated except for testing. Mexico does not now have plans for their development. Even if the wells were operating, they would apparently not be prejudicial to our interests. They would pump water that is now flowing to Mexico, and which would do so without the pumps. Commissioner Friedkin has pointed out to the Mexican Commissioner, however, that the obligation to consult in advance of construction should be regarded as reciprocal. Our Commissioner expressed the hope that in the future both Governments can maintain through the Commission the close and continual discussion of water programs of mutual interest that the relationship of the two countries and their association in the Commission seem to call for. The Honorable Stewart L. Udall, Secretary of the Interior.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 2,934,113 byte