United States and Mexico Chamber of Commerce Round Table

“Opportunities for Growth and Sustainability”May 12, 2011

MissionCommissionersAgency StructureHistory – Conventions and TreatiesMinutesStrategic GoalsMajor Transboundary Issues

Background

The International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, is responsible for applying

the boundary and water treatiesbetween the two countries

and settling differences that arise in their application.

USIBWC Mission

Edward Drusina, PEUnited States Commissioner

Commissioners

Dr. Roberto F. SalmonMexican Commissioner

IBWC StructureTreaty Officers

United States Section United States Commissioner Secretary Principal Engineers (two) Legal Adviser

Mexican Section Mexican Commissioner Secretary Principal Engineers (two)

Legal Adviser

Each Commissioner appointed by respective President

Status as an “International Organization”

Each Section employs own staff

Joint operation of international dams

“Minutes” are decisions of the Commission

The Commission

United States Section StructureUnited States

Commissioner

Executive OfficesForeign Affairs EEO & Internal AuditPublic Affairs Human CapitalLegal Affairs Washington DC Liaison

Administration DepartmentAcquisition Division

Budget DivisionFinance & Accounting Division

Information Management Division

Engineering DepartmentEngineering Services Division

Environmental Management DivisionMaster Planning Division

Operations DepartmentWater Accounting Division

Operations & Maintenance Division

San Diego Field Office

Yuma Field Office

Upper Rio Grande Field Office

Nogales Field Office

Presidio Field Office

Amistad Dam Field Office

Falcon Dam Field Office

Lower Rio Grande Field Office

USIBWC Field OfficesSan Diego Yuma Nogales

Upper Rio Grande Presidio Amistad Falcon

Lower Rio Grande

IBWC HistoryThe Beginning

Treaty of

February 2, 1848

Guadalupe Hidalgo

Peace TreatyEstablished

international boundary

United States

Mexico

IBWC History The Beginning

Treaty of

February 2, 1848

Guadalupe Hidalgo

Peace TreatyEstablished

international boundary

Treaty of

December 30, 1853

Gadsden Purchase/

TreatyRe-established southern

boundary of New Mexico and Arizona

UnitedStates

Mexico

Historical Progress

Conventions of 1849 and 1882

Established temporary Commissions to survey, map, and demarcate the

western (land) boundary

1st Expedition 1849 to 1857

Under U.S. Commissioners John B. Weller,

John Bartlett, & William Emory

2nd Expedition 1891 to 1894

Under U.S.Commissioner

John W. Barlow

Historical Progress

Conventions of 1849 and 1882

Established temporary Commissions to survey, map, and demarcate the

western (land) boundary

1st Expedition 1849 to 1857

Under U.S. Commissioners John B. Weller,

John Bartlett, & William Emory

2nd Expedition 1891 to 1894

Under U.S.Commissioner

John W. Barlow

Distribution of Rio Grande waters between Mexico and U.S. in El Paso-Juarez region

Convention of 1906

United States

Mexico

American Dam

Distribution of Rio Grande waters between Mexico and U.S. in El Paso-Juarez region

U.S. delivers 60,000 acre-feet of water per year

Convention of 1906

Rio Grande Gaging Station

Distribution of Rio Grande waters between Mexico and U.S. in El Paso-Juarez region

U.S. delivers 60,000 acre-feet of water per year

Water stored in Elephant Butte Dam, New Mexico

Convention of 1906

Elephant Butte Dam

Distribution of Rio Grande waters between Mexico and U.S. in El Paso-Juarez region

U.S. delivers 60,000 acre-feet of water per year

Water stored in Elephant Butte Dam, New Mexico

USIBWC/USBR work closely on water deliveries to Mexico

Convention of 1906

Rio Grande from El Paso to Little Box Canyon

Leveed floodway system provides flood protection

Convention of 1933

Straightened the channel and stabilized the boundary

Three international bridges

Water Treaty of February 3, 1944“1944 Water Treaty”

U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull signing the Treaty.

Water Treaty of February 3, 1944“1944 Water Treaty”

Article #3 of the Water Treaty empowers the IBWC to Address any sanitary measures or works mutually agreedUpon.

The IBWC has the powers to carry on investigations, develop plans and construct works for domestic and municipal purposes, agricultural and stock raising, electric power, navigation, fishing and hunting and anyother beneficial use which may be determined bythe Commission.

U.S. annual delivery to Mexico = 1.5 million acre-feet of water

1944 Water TreatyColorado River

Colorado River

U.S. annual delivery to Mexico = 1.5 million acre-feet of water

Surplus waters: U.S. annual delivery to Mexico up to 1.7 million

1944 Water TreatyColorado River

Morelos Dam

U.S. annual delivery to Mexico = 1.5 million acre-feet of water

Surplus waters: U.S. annual delivery to Mexico up to 1.7 million

Extraordinary drought: Mexico allotment “reduced in same proportion” to U.S. allotment

1944 Water TreatyColorado River

Lake Mead

Between Fort Quitman & the Gulf

1944 Water TreatyRio Grande

Rio Grande boundary fromFort Quitman to Gulf of Mexico

Between Fort Quitman & the Gulf

Mexico 5-year allotment to U.S. = 1.75 million acre-feet of water

1944 Water TreatyRio Grande

Rio Conchos - the main Mexican tributary contributing to U.S. allotment

Between Fort Quitman & the Gulf

Mexico 5-year allotment to U.S. = 1.75 million acre-feet of water

Extraordinary drought: Shortages in U.S. allotment to be made up in next 5-year cycle.

1944 Water TreatyRio Grande

Dry Rio Grande channel at Big Bend National Park

(Photo courtesy of NPS)

Between Fort Quitman & the Gulf

Mexico 5-year allotment to U.S. = 1.75 million acre-feet of water

Extraordinary drought: Shortages in U.S. allotment to be made up in next 5-year cycle

If U.S. storage capacities are filled at Falcon & Amistad Reservoirs -

5-year cycle terminatedAll debts become fully paidNew 5-year cycle begins

1944 Water TreatyRio Grande

Amistad International Reservoir filled to conservation capacity

Resolved a century-old dispute of the Rio Grande boundary in El Paso-Juarez

Convention of 1963

Signing of the Chamizal Convention in Mexico City, Mexico on August 29, 1963

Resolved a century-old dispute of the Rio Grande boundary in El Paso-Juarez

Resulted in the transfer of territory and relocation of Rio Grande channel

Convention of 1963

Territory returned to Mexico by northward relocation of the Rio Grande relocation.

Convention of 1963

Bridge of the Americas (“Cordova International Bridge”)

Resolved a century-old dispute of the Rio Grande boundary in El Paso-Juarez

Resulted in the transfer of territory and relocation of Rio Grande channel

New International Bridge

1970 Boundary Treaty

Relocated Rio Grande channel

Defined boundary as middle of channel of greatest width

Established procedures to rectify/restore river channel

Prohibits works obstructing or deflecting normal or flood flows

Requires repair or compensation if works cause damage in other country

IBWC Minutes

Formalize IBWC agreements

Legally binding

Take effect upon approval by both governments

318 Minutes In Place

IBWC Minute

USIBWC Strategic Goals

BoundaryPreservation

InternationalBoundary

and Water

Commission

WaterConveyance

Water QualityManagement

Resource and Asset Management

Preserve the U.S. – Mexico boundary, through binational cooperation, in accordance with international agreements.

USIBWC Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal 1 - Boundary Preservation

Preserve the U.S. – Mexico boundary, through binational cooperation, in accordance with international agreements.

USIBWC Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal 1 - Boundary Preservation

Boundary marker near San Luis Boundary demarcation posts

Provide flood protection…and ensure the efficient conveyance, utilization, and accurate accounting of boundary and transboundary river waters through…flood control structures, dams, reservoirs, power plants, and gaging stations…

USIBWC Strategic GoalsStrategic Goal 2 - Water Conveyance

Provide flood protection…and ensure the efficient conveyance, utilization, and accurate accounting of boundary and transboundary river waters through…flood control structures, dams, reservoirs, power plants, and gaging stations…

USIBWC Strategic GoalsStrategic Goal 2 - Water Conveyance

Rio Grande gaging station at

Presidio/Ojinagua

Levee construction near McCallen

Improve the quality of boundary and transboundary waters, in concert with Mexico, to address salinity and border sanitation problems pursuant to international agreements and applicable U.S. Law.

USIBWC Strategic GoalsStrategic Goal 3 - Water Quality Management

Improve the quality of boundary and transboundary waters, in concert with Mexico, to address salinity and border sanitation problems pursuant to international agreements and applicable U.S. Law.

USIBWC Strategic GoalsStrategic Goal 3 - Water Quality Management

Rio Grande water quality

sampling

Nogales IWTP clarifiers

Maximize organizational effectiveness through innovative management & accountability of human, physical, & fiscal resources.

USIBWC Strategic GoalsStrategic Goal 4 - Resource and Asset Management

Maximize organizational effectiveness through innovative management & accountability of human, physical, & fiscal resources.

USIBWC Strategic GoalsStrategic Goal 4 - Resource and Asset Management

USIBWC field office and headquarters personnel

Sanitation

Water Conveyance

International Dams & Reservoirs

Border Storm Water

Major Transboundary Issues

Sanitation

Three International Wastewater Treatment

Plants

San Diego County

South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant

San Diego, California

TijuanaSan Diego

Sanitation

Three International Wastewater Treatment

Plants

San Diego County

South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant

San Diego, California

Sanitation

Three International Wastewater Treatment

Plants

San Diego County Santa Cruz County

Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant

Nogales (Rio Rico), Arizona

Sanitation

Three International Wastewater Treatment

Plants

San Diego County Santa Cruz County

Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant

Nogales (Rio Rico), Arizona

Sanitation

Three International Wastewater Treatment

Plants

San Diego County Santa Cruz County Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Nuevo Laredo International

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas

Sanitation

Three International Wastewater Treatment

Plants

San Diego County Santa Cruz County Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas

Rio Grande at Laredo/Nuevo Laredo

Water Conveyance

Canalization

106 river miles in New Mexico and Texas bounded by 130 miles of levee system.

Water Conveyance

Canalization Rectification

91 river miles, paralleled by levee, from El Paso, Texas to below Fort Quitman

Water Conveyance

Canalization Rectification Presidio Flood Control

15 river miles paralled by levee

at Presidio, Texas

Water Conveyance

CanalizationRectificationPresidio Flood ControlLower Rio Grande Flood Control

158 river miles and 120 interior floodway miles, bounded by 270 miles of levee.

Water Conveyance

Canalization Rectification Presidio Flood Control Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Tijuana River Flood Control

- 5.3 miles of river channel crossing at international boundary

- Designed for maximum flood of 135,000 cfs

Water Conveyance

Canalization Rectification Presidio Flood Control Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Tijuana River Flood Control ARRA Levee Rehabilitation American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -

a $220 million dollar investment for the USIBWC

International Dams & Reservoirs

Amistad Dam Del Rio, Texas

5,535,000 acre feet

Flood Control Recreation Hydroelectric Power Water Storage

Amistad Dam Del Rio, Texas

Flood Control Recreation Hydroelectric Power Water Storage

International Dams & Reservoirs

Amistad Dam Del Rio, Texas

Falcon Dam Falcon Heights, Texas

3,978,000 acre feet

Flood Control Recreation Hydroelectric Power Water Storage

International Dams & Reservoirs

Amistad Dam Del Rio, Texas

Falcon Dam Falcon Heights, Texas

Turbines inside powerhouse

Flood Control Recreation Hydroelectric Power Water Storage

International Dams & Reservoirs

Border Storm Water

Imperial Beach, California

Water quality monitoring program (influent, effluent, ocean)

Border Storm Water

Water quality monitoring program (influent, effluent, ocean)

Ongoing effort to address solid waste

Example of solid waste collection

Border Storm Water

Smugglers Gulch diversion structure

Water quality monitoring program (influent, effluent, ocean)

Ongoing effort to address solid waste

Canyon collectors divert renegade wastewater flows for treatment at SBIWTP –

Goat Canyon Smugglers Gulch

What’s Next?

USIBWC Headquarters

www.ibwc.gov

4171 N. Mesa Street C-100

El Paso, Texas 79902

915-832-4100/ 915-832-4175