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.

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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

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General Perspective

The Future of Water in the Mexico-United States Border Region

Challenges and Opportunities

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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.

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1950-1970

6.91

5.63

8.768.17

6.08

0.00

2.50

5.00

7.50

10.00

Ensenada Mexicali Tecate Tijuana San Luis RíoColorado

Nal: 3.24

Fuente: CONAPO, basado en los Censos de Población y Vivienda, 1950-2000.

* Tijuana incluye el municipio de Playas de Rosarito.

1970-1990

4.12 3.98

2.78

5.34

2.10

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

Ensenada Mexicali Tecate Tijuana San Luis RíoColorado

Nal: 2.63

•A good example of worldwide population growth, is the border region between Mexico and the United States.

5Fuente: CONAPO, basado en los Censos de Población y Vivienda, 1950-2000.

* Tijuana incluye el municipio de Playas de Rosarito.

1990-2000

3.644.23

5.52

2.772.44

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

Ensenada Mexicali Tecate Tijuana* San Luis RíoColorado

Nal: 1.85

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Population of Counties Bordering with México

Border CountiesPopulation Annual

Growth rate 1990-2000

Growth Percentage1990-2000

California 2,956,194 1.3 13.4

Arizona 1,159,908 2.6 28.7

New Mexico 205,630 2.6 28.9

Texas 1,961,542 2.6 29.2

Condados Fronterizos de USA 6,283,274 1.2 13.2

Source: California Center for Border and Regional Economic Studie

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Population of Mexican Municipalities Bordering with the USA

Municipios FronterizosPopulation Annual

Growth rate 1990-2000

Growth Percentage1990-2000

Baja California 2,054,578 4.65 46.49

Sonora 494,386 2.31 23.16

Chihuahua 1,294,909 0.86 8.65

Coahuila 286,483 3.39 33.87

Nuevo León 18,501 0.68 6.84

Tamaulipas 1,378,448 1.80 17.97

Total municipios fronterizos 5,527,305 2.28 22.83

Source: California Center for Border and Regional Economic Studies

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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. Costa 5.2 millions of residents

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• 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

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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)

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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,

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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,

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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.

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The Future of the Region and Water

The future of water in the Mexico-United States border region

Challenges and Opportunities

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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.

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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).

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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.

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Currently we jointly promote the projects of:

– Imperial Valley International Cargo Airport.

– Maglev Rail System.

– Silicon Border

– Nuevo Puerto Punta Colonet (Ensenada)

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• 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.

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The Great Challenge

The future of water in the Mexico-United States border region

Challenges and Opportunities

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WATER security and careWater is a finite resource

With a high social, economic and environmental

value, whose preservation in amount, quality and

maintenance is everyone’s responsibility.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Good Neighbor Policy

• We are neighbors, and we will be neighbors forever.

• We do not want to avoid it.

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Good Neighbor Policy

• We are joined at the hip, like Siamese twins.

• We can not separate ourselves.

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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,

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Always

At the end

• You -  we - and them - are all Americans

• We live - and will live - in the Americas

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Always

• We are all Californians

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Always

• And We drink the same water

• and of course we definitely are…

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• Padres®

Fans

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LA MEJOR MANERA DE ENFRETAR AL FUTURO

ES JUNTOS COMO REGIÓN

THE BEST WAY TO FACE THE FUTURE

IS TOGETHER AS A REGION!

Conclusion