1. 1 Border Legislative Conference Eleventh Legislative Forum August 25 to 27 of 2005 Tijuana, B.C. The Future of Water in the Mexico-United States Border Region Challenges and Opportunities

2. 2 General Perspective The Future of Water in the Mexico-United States Border Region Challenges and Opportunities

3. 3 The rapid growth of the worldwide economy forces us to face new challenges. The lack of planning policies and futuristic vision, have forced many cities and states, to take unplanned measures to mitigate the globalization impacts. Rapid population growth, a forced industrial and commercial develpment, forces them to execute actions to tend to the immediate demands of a growing population. It is a short-term vision, without perspective to face the challenges of a future that has reached them faster than what was expected.

4. 4 Nal: 3.24 Fuente: CONAPO, basado en los Censos de Población y Vivienda, 1950-2000. * Tijuana incluye el municipio de Playas de Rosarito. Nal: 2.63 A good example of worldwide population growth, is the border region between Mexico and the United States.

5. 5 Fuente: CONAPO, basado en los Censos de Población y Vivienda, 1950-2000. * Tijuana incluye el municipio de Playas de Rosarito. Nal: 1.85

6. 6 Population of Counties Bordering with México Border Counties PopulationAnnual Growth rate 1990-2000 Growth Percentage 1990-2000 California2,956,1941.313.4 Arizona1,159,9082.628.7 New Mexico205,6302.628.9 Texas1,961,5422.629.2 Condados Fronterizos de USA6,283,2741.213.2 Source: California Center for Border and Regional Economic Studie

7. 7 Population of Mexican Municipalities Bordering with the USA Municipios Fronterizos PopulationAnnual Growth rate 1990-2000 Growth Percentage 1990-2000 Baja California2,054,5784.6546.49 Sonora494,3862.3123.16 Chihuahua1,294,9090.868.65 Coahuila286,4833.3933.87 Nuevo León18,5010.686.84 Tamaulipas1,378,4481.8017.97 Total municipios fronterizos5,527,3052.2822.83 Source: California Center for Border and Regional Economic Studies

8. 8 Cal. and B. C. make up a great population California 35.5 millions of residents (2003) Baja California 2.5 millions of residents (2000) Region Total 38.0 millions of residents SD. County 2.9 millions of residents (2003) Tij. Ros. Ens. Tkt 2.3 millions of residents (2005) Total Metropolitan Zone Z. Costa5.2 millions of residents

9. 9 C.D.E.M, from a regional integration perspective, has promoted the creation of a metropolitan region between the Imperial and Coachella, Ca. Valleys with the Mexicali Valley. An emerging Economic Region

10. 10 Emerging Metropolitan Zone Imperial Coachella & Yuma Counties Mexicali & SLRC Total Valley Metropolitan Zone 1.697 million residents 0.657 million residents (2003) 1.040 million residents (2005)

11. 11 On November 1st. of 2001, the TRI – VALLEY Alliance was formed. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING CREATING THE “THE TRI-VALLEY ALLIANCE” WITH MEXICALI¨S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE IMPERIAL VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THE COACHELLA VALLEY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP. WHEREAS, the people of Mexicali, Baja California, México; Imperial and Coachella Valleys, California, United States of America, have a common interest in the economic development of the entire Region and have been working cooperatively to promote our respective areas for many years; and,

12. 12 WHEREAS, the growth of Mexicali, Imperial and Coachella Valleys require that all three communities work together for the long term development, marketing and promotion of the entire Region; and, WHEREAS, there is a need to formally recognize the relationship that exists among our three Valleys adopting a Memorandum of Understanding; and,

13. 13 Three Valleys, two countries, one region. The alliance established as a general objective: Ensure the economic stability, well-being and quality of life of the Tri – Valley residents, actively promoting commercial, industrial and urban development.

14. 14 The Future of the Region and Water The future of water in the Mexico-United States border region Challenges and Opportunities

15. 15 Why a Region  The Coachella, Imperial and Mexicali Valleys, have many things in common, regardless of the fence that separates the two countries. »High dependency between the three Valleys »We share family roots. »Strong social and commercial relationship We share: »One same atmospherical basin. »One same water basin. »The same desire to improve the life quality of our valleys’ residents.

16. 16  We have jointly worked on projects of: Improvement of entrances and speeding-up of border crossings. Joint actions to attract investments. We have executed educational agreements for the exchange of teachers and students. Executed support programs for health attention to the elderly. (P. Nurses).

17. 17  We have jointly worked on proyects of: Development and promotion of vanguard technologies. (Hydrogen as an Alternative fuel). A line of direct communication has been established with Cal-EPA, to promote and develop joint environmental programs. (Automobile verification, environment training to teachers and 42 hectares Urban Forest project in Mexicali.

18. 18 Currently we jointly promote the projects of: –Imperial Valley International Cargo Airport. –Maglev Rail System. –Silicon Border –Nuevo Puerto Punta Colonet (Ensenada)

19. 19 The success of the future of this new emerging metropolitan zone, will depend on several elements, emphasizing: Generating and supply of electric energy. Continuous improvement in internal security. Bilateral cooperation and understanding programs (environment, economic) Water Security.

20. 20 The Great Challenge The future of water in the Mexico-United States border region Challenges and Opportunities

21. 21 WATER security and care Water is a finite resource With a high social, economic and environmental value, whose preservation in amount, quality and maintenance is everyone’s responsibility.

22. 22 Legislators and Society We must promote works for its conservation without harming third parties. Avoid with these works, negative social, economic and environmental impacts. Promote the technological development of equipment with low operation costs for the desalination of water. Develop schemes for dissemination and information about water, education and development of a new water culture.

23. 23 The Challenge for the Legislators Good neighbor policy and reciprocity. The trust and honesty in actions and laws they promote for the development of the region. Encourage a regional ambience of harmony, avoiding policies from governments, that in many cases stop the good intentions of working as a team. Support the actions of the Alliance in the aforementioned projects and others.

24. 24 25 Years from now Envision a canal from the Sea of Cortez to Salton Sea, solving this ecological problem in a binational, and more so, a Bi-regional manner. Tremendous real estate development and economic boom for this region

25. 25 Good Neighbor Policy We are neighbors, and we will be neighbors forever. We do not want to avoid it.

26. 26 Good Neighbor Policy We are joined at the hip, like Siamese twins. We can not separate ourselves.

27. 27 Will the Social, Economic, and Political orders become a Firm Foundation for Continuing Existence? Lets help each other, Let us nourish and promote what we have in common,

28. 28 Always At the end You - we - and them - are all Americans We live - and will live - in the Americas

29. 29 Always We are all Californians

30. 30 Always And We drink the same water and of course we definitely are…

31. 31 Padres® Fans

32. 32 LA MEJOR MANERA DE ENFRETAR AL FUTURO ES JUNTOS COMO REGIÓN THE BEST WAY TO FACE THE FUTURE IS TOGETHER AS A REGION! Conclusion