More on the Liquid Gold of the Future
I had no idea that the Colorado supplied Mexicali and Tijuana. It's amazing that poor river still has a drop in it. Considering the water wars that
have been developing between San Diego and the Imperial Vallery, I can't imagine the U.S. sharing an aqueduct or an extra drop of the Colorodo's water
with Mexico, but we'll see. Article from San Diego Tribune below. - Stephanie
Baja moves to expand size of its aqueduct
A binational project 'is no longer an alternative'
By Sandra Dibble
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 25, 2003
TIJUANA ? Baja California has set aside hopes of collaborating with San Diego on a binational aqueduct and is proceeding with its own plan for moving
Colorado River water to its thirsty coastal cities.
The state has decided to expand the capacity of its aqueduct by about one-third. The move guarantees supply through 2011, state officials say, and
buys them time to plan a second aqueduct for the region's longer-term needs.
For more than a decade, proponents on both sides of the border have viewed a shared pipeline as a way of saving money while building a model for
binational collaboration. But with Tijuana's water needs far more pressing than San Diego's, Baja California has found itself forced to move ahead
independently.
"The binational aqueduct is no longer an alternative," Baja California Gov. Eugenio Elorduy Walther said earlier this month. The timing of San Diego
County's needs "does not even closely match the needs we have on the coast of Baja California."
Demand in the rapidly growing Tijuana region is expected to exceed supply by 2007, and state planners want to double the current supply of Colorado
River water. Expanding the aqueduct is only a short-term solution.
Leonel Vizcarra, director of Baja California's State Water Commission, said the state next year will begin a $120 million expansion project and
complete it by summer 2006. The project would increase the capacity of the current aqueduct from 4.0 cubic meters to 5.3 cubic meters per second.
Costs will be divided between the state of Baja California and Mexico's federal government. The 102-mile aqueduct runs from the west side of the
Mexicali Valley to the Carrizo Dam east of Tijuana.
Though the binational waterway has been ruled out for the immediate future, Baja California believes the proposal could be revived.
"We still believe that the definitive solution for the region is binational," Vizcarra said. "But for this to happen, the timing has to coincide."
Tijuana gets most of its water from the Colorado River through a treaty signed by Mexico and the United States in 1944. Most of Baja California's
allotment has gone to farms in the Mexicali Valley, but now the Tijuana region is demanding a greater share of that allotment.
San Diego, which also gets most of its water from the Colorado, is looking at agricultural regions to the east for an additional supply. Last year,
the San Diego County Water Authority negotiated a water transfer with the Imperial Irrigation District for 200,000 acre-feet per year. The transfer is
now caught in a governmental quagmire and is still being hashed out. San Diego water officials say it is premature to talk about building a pipeline ?
with or without Mexico.
"We're still working on the water transfer. That's the water that would go in the pipeline," said Ken Weinberg, director of water resources for the
county water authority. "Baja California clearly has a more urgent need for water, and we recognize that."
Critics in the United States have long argued that sharing a pipeline with Mexico would be impractical and unsafe. Proponents see the binational
aqueduct as an opportunity to link the region.
"We have gas lines that cross the border for different reasons. Why can't we think of water the same way?" said Mark Watton, who represents the Otay
Water District on the San Diego County Water Authority. "It's kind of foolish for people to say, 'Gee, we can't deal with Mexico.' We need to be
looking for opportunities to do joint projects."
A $3 million study by the water authority last year showed 10 potential routes that a binational aqueduct might take, some primarily north of the
border, others primarily south, others on both sides. The Water Authority is conducting supplemental studies.
"Our board did not have enough information to determine whether the project is feasible," Weinberg said.
But Watton, a former Water Authority chairman, said, "It's a study of nothing. . . . I don't think there's the leadership nor the will in the water
authority to get involved in this."
Baja California officials say they have three years to develop a long-term plan to supply the coastal region and will consider public and private
financing.
One proposal is a private project by La Jolla-based General Power and Mexicali-based Emetec. The partners want to build a $1.2 billion aqueduct along
a gas pipeline right-of-way owned by Sempra Energy International. They say it could begin operating by 2008 or 2009.
Francisco Molina of Emetec said within two months the partners will present Baja California with proposed rates for moving the water across the state.
San Diego water districts would be invited to sign up for space.
Vizcarra, of Baja California's State Water Commission, said he hopes San Diego will come around to the idea of a binational aqueduct. "If San Diego
resolves its problems, we probably could take up the project again."
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