Progress and Perspectives in Mexico - US Join Cooperative Actions on the Colorado River, with Drought and Climate Change

Transcription

1 Navigating the Future of the Colorado River Progress and Perspectives in Mexico - US Join Cooperative Actions on the Colorado River, with Drought and Climate Change Ing. Mario López Pérez Comisión Nacional del Agua University of Colorado Law School Wolf Law Building Boulder, Colorado June 8-10, 2011

2 Colorado River has a length of 2,300 km. Ten dams control the flow regime and none lies in Mexico. Only one is international. 1.5 millions hectares are irrigated in USA and 170,000 hectares in México. After irrigation, evaporation is the second largest water consumer. 30 million people receive water supply from the Colorado river.

3 Water Allocation: Upper Basin: 9,251 hm 3 Lower Basin: 9,251 hm 3 Mexico: 1,850 hm 3 TOTAL 20,352 hm 3 Water Availability: 18,500 hm 3 The water is overallocated Mexico relies on US ability to store and manage water

4 International Treaty of 1944: Delivers to Mexico Establishes that: Of the Colorado River waters, whatever their source, there are assigned to Mexico a guaranteed volume of Mm 3 per year. In cases of extraordinary drought or serious accident to the irrigation systems in the USA, this volume is reduced in the same proportion of reductions in the U.S. When the water in the Colorado River is in excess of the needs of supply / consumption in the U.S., they are obligated to deliver to Mexico additional volumes of water from the Colorado River System for up to a total volume not exceeding Mm 3.

5 Colorado River Basin Status May 24, 2011 Current Storage Percent Full Content (Mm 3 ) Elevation (msnm) Lake Powell 56% 16, , Lake Mead 43% 13, Total System Contents 54% 39,877.94

6 Volume (hm 3 ) The historical deliveries from the United States in period show that every year these had been above the established volume and in six of them even over the maximum volume. Annual Volumes from 1995 to , ,543 3, , ,112 1,857 2,098 2,002 1,924 1,962 1,982 1,887 1,868 1,952 1,933 2, Time (years) Volumen Establecido en el Tratado de 1944 Volumen Excedente

7 Main Water Uses in Baja California 8.90% 7% 3.50% 80.60% Agriculture Urban Industrial Otros

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9 US-Mexico Cooperation Actions With the vision of managing the watershed integrally, within the IBWC it was formed in 2008 a core group and four working groups with representatives of federal, state and NGOs in Mexico and the US. Main Objectives of Mexico Meet current water needs, and future for urban uses, agriculture and environment in the US-Mexico border Assess current weather conditions, and future condition of scarcity. Developing new sources and increase storage capacity. Binational investment programs for water conservation and environmental improvement. Main Objectives of the US Addressing current needs of water quantity and quality and in the future for urban use, agriculture and environment of US and Mexico Implement procedures to better manage water scarcity. Evaluate potential water exchange US-Mexico of new sources produced by the development of infrastructure, improvements or other projects. 9 Assess potential impact of climate change on Colorado River.

10 Use of the US Infrastructure by Mexico to store exceeding volumes generated. Joint investments in conservation water projects. US receives water for a determined time in exchange of investment. Joint Desalination Projects. US receives water for a determined time in exchange of investment. Identified Projects by Binational Groups: Modernization of the Mexicali s Irrigation District. Improvement of the agricultural drainage system. Base flow downstream Morelos Dam. Environmental Restoration Projects. Mexico s water conveyance by All American Canal. Construction of Storage Dams in Mexico for different uses. Aquifer Recharge Projects. Aquifer Monitoring. Other Projects.

11 New Water Sources. Sites identification to build a Binational Desalination Plant at Rosarito, B.C. Conservation. Lining of 75 km of the main network of ID014 with a cost of 680 MDP, the recovery of water would be 46 hm 3 /year, that volume is not committed to the users. Environmental. Establishment of five priority areas for conservation and water needs map to the environment, considering the boundary and riparian area and the Colorado River Delta Operation. AAC Connection with PB-0 of the Colorado River Tijuana Aqueduct, Aquifer Monitoring, Modeling the Colorado River System.

12 Binational Desalination Plant in Rosarito, B.C. A feasibility Study for the Binational Desalination Plant in Rosarito, B.C. is being conducted. The capacity of the plant would be 1,905 l/s in a first stage and 2,190 l/s as final capacity. The volume of desalinated water would be shared between Mexico and US. The San Diego County Water Authority funded the first phase of the study. The activities in which we work are: Data collection Field visits to possible sites for the plant Tour through various routes for water delivery Energy requirements Water demand projections for Mexico and the US Requirements and Environmental Permitting

13 Conclusions of the first stage The project is feasible. The water demand of Mexico and USA is higher than expected, even higher than 2,190 l/s. There are potential sites to construct the Plant. There is enough energy available to the Plant. CFE would allow the use of its intake and its discharge for brine disposal. It is required to develop more alternatives to convey product water. Complicated Environmental Permitting. Potential Sites to construct the plant Coastal Route Inland Route Corridor 2000 Rosarito Beach Desalination Site Potential routes to convey product water

14 Further develop the information necessary to decide whether to continue with the project or not. Continue working within the Joint Cooperation Process. In 2011, CONAGUA scheduled 250,000 dollars to through Mexican section of IBWC conduct: Evaluate Alternative Conveyance Alignments of the Product Water. Analyze the impacts of the project in the Tijuana, B.C. - San Diego Ca. region From both studies the Terms of Reference are finished and it is expected to bid them shortly.

15 Conservation Background In the ID014 two operative situations are presented: The variation of volumes at NIB impact the water deliveries; also affect the operational levels and the efficiency of conduction of the hydraulic network. Due the operation of the canal network of the ID014, a delay in the irrigation dates is presented and as a result an increase of demands programmed. Proposal To construct a storage dam to conserve volumes from the ID014 Program, when the demand of water is low because different causes

16 Description The storage capacity would be 700,000 m 3. The average volume usable in a year is 4 Mm 3. The surplus volumes could be diverted to the Alamo Canal. The Executive Project cost would be 510,000 pesos. Both delegations agreed to equally fund the executive project in From the results it would be analyze the possibility to build the works. It is expected that the stored water can be used for environmental purposes in that region. CONAGUA is working in the Terms of Reference. The bidding will be this year through Mexican Section IBWC.

17 Pilot Restoration Project in the Colorado River Delta Focused on restoring Cottonwood-willow in association with Mezquite acres Inside the levees Physical Viability Soil Topography Salinity Existent vegetation Land Tenure (concession) Access to irrigation water Social considerations Synergies Considerations 50 acres 2,100 trees per acre Cottonwood - Willow Flood irrigation 10 af per acre 2 year of monitoring and maintenance after planting Cost per acre $6,510

18 Potential Sites Miguel Alemán El Chauce Laguna Grande El Chauce Laguna Grande Miguel Alemán Miguel Alemán Located in the limitrophe section in B.C. Binational Restoration Initiative Restoration design and water rights available Work to request concession in progress

19 The project will cost 698,000 dollars, from which 372,500 were already invested by the Government of Mexico The 325,500 remaining will be invested by US in 2011 Finalize baseline studies and share with the USBOR; complete restoration design. Continue with process to bring trees from US nurseries (USBOR donation). Finalize plan to deliver water rights to the site. Prepare temporary employment program.

20 Conveyance of Mexican Water through the AAC Mexico proposed connect the AAC with the PB-0 of the Colorado River - Tijuana Aqueduct, through a pipe with 5.6 m 3 /s of capacity, the project cost is estimated in 59.4 million pesos and would be paid by Mexico. On April 12, a field trip was conducted at AAC with staff of IBWC both sections, USBOR, CEA, IID and CONAGUA to show to the USBOR the site where CEA suggest to construct the emergency connection. During the field trip an old gate was found, the USBOR will explore if is a historic gate. The topography of the zone is being conducted to determine whether a pumping station is required or not. The USBOR is analyzing the amount of water available

21 It was proposed to work in Mexicali Imperial Valley and Yuma San Luis Río Colorado Aquifers models Mexico operates a monitoring net; the main line of piezometers consists of 12 observation wells distributed along the Mesa de Andrade In 2010, the information of the piezometers and its interpretation in the northeastern zone of the Mexicali Valley aquifer were updated. The study concludes that the impacts from the AAC lining in terms of lowering of the level are shown in Mexico since late 2008 The analysis of the information from September 2008 to January 2010 shows that the piezometric levels are lowering at a rate from 1.43 to 1.93 m/year average. In 2011, CONAGUA will conduct the first stage of a numerical groundwater flow model for assessing the effects of the AAC lining at the northeast zone in the Mexicali Valley Aquifer

22 A Management Model of the Colorado River Basin is being developed from Lake Mead to the south. The information of the Colorado River was taken from CRSS model developed and approved in US. The model already incorporates the information on elevation, storage and evaporation in the dams, inflows to the basin and volumes required by users. The model considers as users to Mexicali, Tijuana, Tecate, Ensenada, San Luis Río Colorado, el ARCT, ID modules, rural population and environmental requirements. Water sources are the same in the entire Colorado River Basin. Six scenarios are been simulating, taking into account flows to the Delta, savings by modernization to environmental uses, storage in dams and aquifers.

23 CONAGUA is updating the information of the piezometric monitoring network at the northeast Mexicali Valley Aquifer. It will be completed this month The effects of the AAC lining will be quantify in terms of the evolution of the static levels. The modeling scenarios will be agreed with the US to deliver final results. Ensure that both governments use the same weather information. Agree operating system policies to deliver water to Mexico The reduce of water to Mexico due shortage must be defined. Give information to the other three working groups that allow them to have elements for decision-making that benefit both countries

24 Inefficient water use in agriculture and in water supply Climate change or climate shift New water sources development without solvable environment deterioration and uncontrolled social impact Open minded basin water management Change People s water culture and education linked to almost permanent water scarcity scenario Usage of water for environmental purposes

25 Use the US system to store Mexico s water, flexibilize its operation and be prepared to face continuous shortage conditions. Generate new sources of water that increases the water supply and reduces pressure on the present hydrological system. Explore US investments scheme in infrastructure in exchange of water for a determined time, that would be interesting and benefit for both countries. Use part of the volumes conserved or generated for environmental purposes.

26 Final Message Mexico is committed to: Cooperate with the US to strengthen policies for sustainable water management; Develop common opportunities and initiatives on priority water issues (projects). Share water surplus and shortage conditions (1944 Treaty) Divulge this process and the results as an international example of good practice in terms of integrated water management at the basin level in an climate change scenario

27 Thanks!!