1. Water Committee Tour of the Lower Colorado River David Roberts Co-Chair, Water Committee Manager, Water Rights & Contracts Department Salt River Project Arizona-Mexico Commission – Comision Sonora-Arizona November 2007

2. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona2 Objective Action Item from Summer Plenary  To pursue consensus-based solutions to the complex ecological and water management issues along the Colorado River, the Water Committee will conduct an executive binational tour of infrastructure and sensitive habitats in the delta region including the Ciénega de Santa Clara.

3. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona3 Lower Colorado River and Delta

4. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona4 Participants Arizona/Northwest Mexico Region  Government leaders, water managers, environmental leaders, tribal officials, and business executives.

5. Sponsors

6. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona6 Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Active Restoration Project  Removing Salt Cedar and other invasive plants

7. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona7 Yuma Desalting Plant Yuma Area Reclamation Office  Plant just completed trial run, exploring new operational models Area Manager Jim Cherry 007: Jack Simes

8. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona8 Yuma Desalting Plant Research into desalination  Yuma Desalting Plant home to research on water quality  making advances in desalination. Touring the research facility

9. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona9 The Desalting Plant Water Quality Improvement Center The pretreatment process Jack Simes explains the desalination process

10. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona10 North American Development Bank Funding border infrastructure projects  NADBank helping the Yuma Water Users Association line their canals.

11. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona11 Morelos Dam US delivers water to Mexico at Dam

12. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona12 Cocopah Nation  Nation lives on both sides of the Colorado River  River central part of their culture The seal of Cocopah shows the importance of the River Tribal elders use Colorado River plants

13. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona13 Cocopah Restoration Project The Cocopah are leading a restoration project  Invasive species and border-related crime make the restoration project difficult.

14. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona14 Km 27 Visited the CNA control facility  Discussed water sources and uses, as well as challenges in Sonora.

15. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona15 Importance of technology  Remote monitoring key to water management on both sides of the border. CNA Facility Yuma Desalting Plant

16. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona16 La Ciénaga de Santa Clara Visited the Wetlands  Water has created habitat and ecotourism site. Boating in the wetland Hearing the perspective of the residents of the Ejido

17. Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comision Sonora-Arizona17 Lower Colorado River Tour Summary  Tour provided foundation for Water Committee’s work.  Relationships  Common experiences and facts