US, Mexico rewrite rules on sharing Colorado River
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The United States and Mexico are rewriting rules on how to share water from the Colorado River, capping a five-year effort to form a united front against future drought.
A far-reaching agreement to be signed Tuesday near San Diego gives Mexico rights to put water in Lake Mead, giving it badly needed storage capacity. Mexico will forfeit some of its share of the river in times of shortage, bringing itself in line with western U.S. states that already have agreed how much they will surrender in years when waters recede.
The agreement comes in the final days of the administration of Mexican President Felipe Calderon. It is a major amendment to a 1944 treaty that is considered sacred by many south of the border.