Our Yuma office is located at 1940 South 3rd Avenue, Ste. A, Yuma, AZ 85364. The Colorado River, which runs from north to south, forms the international boundary between the United States and Mexico for 24 miles in the vicinity of Yuma, Arizona and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora. The 1944 Water Treaty between the two countries includes a requirement that the U.S. deliver to Mexico a specified quantity of water from the Colorado River every year. Ensuring delivery of this water is a key responsibility of the Yuma office.

The 1944 Water Treaty states that 1.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water be allotted to Mexico annually with an additional 200,000 allotted during years of surplus. Water allotment reduced in the event of extraordinary drought or serious accident to the U.S. irrigation system. The main accounting station for the 1.5 million acre feet diverted at the dam is the Northerly International Boundary (NIB) gaging station.

The treaty also provide for construction of the Morelos Dam to divert water for Mexican use and Davis Dam and Reservoir to assist the U.S. in delivering water to Mexico. The treaty also authorizes construction of flood control works - structures are maintained by the Commission to this day.

Other Responsibilities include:

To manage, plan, and administer the operation and maintenance of an extensive system of river gages and facilities in the Colorado River and canal systems for the purpose of securing water accounting, water quality, and salinity data required to meet treaty and domestic requirements;
In coordination with Mexico, to assure the safe and proper operation and maintenance of a flood control system on the Colorado River and of the Morelos Diversion Dam in Mexico;
In coordination with counterpart representatives of the Mexican government, to monitor the water quality in the New River and in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, through observation and the collection of samples;
To monitor the condition of the Wellton-Mohawk Bypass Drain in Mexico, and to coordinate the maintenance of the system with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Mexico;
To compute and verify water quantity and quality data in preparation for publication in the Western Boundary Water Bulletin; and
Collection of samples and calculation of monthly and annual salinity differentials between Imperial Dam in the United States and the Morelos Dam in Mexico to assure compliance with treaty requirements.
Hydrographic sites: Fourteen (14) locations with major function to collect data for water accounting per the 1944 Water Treaty. Other functions are to collect data stipulated in Minute 197/242 etc.
Staff: Five (5) FTE’s, currently. Project Manager; Administrative Service Clerk; Senior Hydro. Tech.; and two Hydro Techs.

Links to Other Field Offices


Field Offices VIsit the launching page to all of our other field offices located throughout the border area.	Colorado River Projects This brochure describes Colorado River Projects conducted by our Yuma Field Office and contact information.
Tijuana Flood Control Project (TFCP) View background information about the ongoing TFCP.	Operations & Maintenance View the O&M page that gives information about all O&M projects of the U.S. IBWC.