WSP08458

• File Number: 8282.751
• Description: Colorado River Operations
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2002
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Draft Environmental Impact Statement Vol 1 Implementation Agreement, Inadvertent Overrun and Payback Policy and Related Federal Actions
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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Executive Summary

. There would be no consensual agreement between CVWD, lID, and MWD to forego use
of water to permit the Secretary to satisfy the water demands of holders of
Miscellaneous and Federal PPRs not within the Priorities contained in the Seven Party
Agreement, up to the amount of each PPR, whereby satisfaction of PPRs would
otherwise reduce the amount of water available to the lowest priority user (which, in a
normal year, would be MWD); and,

. In the event that California contractors have not executed the QSA by December 31,
2002, the Interim Surplus determinations identified in the Interim Surplus Guidelines
(ISG) Record of Decision (ROD) will be suspended and surplus determinations will be
based upon the 70R Strategy, until such time California completes all actions and
complies with reductions in water use identified in Section 5(c) of the ISG ROD, Section
5(c) establishes benchmark quantities and dates for reductions in California agricultural
usage, and states that in the event California has not reduced its use to meet the
benchmark quantities, the Interim Surplus determinations identified in the ISG ROD
will be suspended and determinations will be based on the 70R strategy, Section 5(c)
also provides conditions regarding reinstatement of ISG surplus determinations if
missed benchmarks are later met.

No Action for Inadvertent Overrun Policy

Under the No-Action Alternative, the lOP would not be adopted, and the Secretary would
enforce the obligations under the Decree to ensure that no Colorado River water user exceeds
its entitlement amoUnt. Diversions of Colorado River water are reported monthly for most
water users, and Reclamation releases a monthly tabulation of the cumulative years diversions
and return flows as discussed in Section 1.2.3, Under the No-Action Alternative, Reclamation
would enforce its obligations under the Decree, which may include reducing deliveries for
those water users that would overrun based on diversions to date and projected diversions for
the remainder of the year, and/or stopping deliveries for water users that are at their
entitlement amotUlt. However, due to the nature of measurement, reporting, and accounting
practices, there would continue to be some level of inadvertent overruns, The Secretary may
determine at a future date that there is a need for a policy to assure these are addressed in a
consistent fashion.

No Action for Biological Conservation Measures

Under the No-Action Alternative, the applicable biological conservation measures identified in
the 60 would not be implemented, Reconsultation with FWS would be required to effectuate
any additional water transfers,

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND SCOPING PROCESS

On January 18, 2001, Reclamation published a Federal Register Notice of Public Comment
Period on a proposed policy that would identify inadvertent overruns, and define subsequent
payback requirements to the Colorado River mainstream, On March 9, 2001, a second Federal
Register notice was published, extending the public comment period to April 10,2001. Sixteen
letters of comment were received by Reclamation on the proposed lOP. Also on March 9, 2001,
Reclamation published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS and

LA, TOP, and Related Federal Actions EIS

ES-7

DEIS -January 2002

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