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<br />002443
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<br />Powell,was 3.000 mar, which is 38 percent of the 30-year average for the period 1961-1990, The
<br />preliminary April 3, 2002, projected unregulated inflow into Lake Powell for the 2001-02 water year was
<br />5.440 mar, or 45 percent of the 30-year average,
<br />
<br />The Lower Division States' estimated conswnptive use of Colorado River water for calendar year
<br />2002, as estimated by Board staff, totals 7.961 maf and is projected as follows: Arizona, 2,492 maf;
<br />California, 5,175 maf; and Nevada, 0.293 mat: Estimated additional unmeasured return flow credits of
<br />0.249 mafwould reduce the total amount to 7,712 maf, For calendar year 2002, it is estimated that the
<br />Central Arizona Project (CAP) will divert 1.050 maf, of which 0,351 mafis to be credited to the Arizona
<br />Water Bank. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) will divert 1.244 maf
<br />through the Colorado River Aqueduct,
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<br />The preliminary April 4, 2002, estimate of end-of-year California agricultural conswnptive use of
<br />Colorado River water under the first three priorities as well as the sixth priority of the 1931 California
<br />Seven Party Agreement is 3,979 mat: This estimate is based on the collective use through February 2002
<br />by the Palo Verde Irrigation District (PVID), the Yuma Project Reservation Division (YPRD), the Imperial
<br />Irrigation District (liD), and the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD). Figure 1, found at the end of
<br />this report, depicts the historic projected end-of-year agricultural use for 2002,
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<br />Colorado River Ooerations
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<br />Water Use on Yuma Island
<br />
<br />As has been previously discussed, Reclamation has formed an Independent Panel (Panel) to look
<br />at the Yuma Island issue and make a determination concerning which lands are eligible to receive Priority
<br />2 water per California's Seven Party Agreement. In order to enhance the Panel's understanding ofthe
<br />issues, the Panel participated in a reconnaissance-level tour of Yuma Island, Additionally, Reclamation has
<br />requested that the States of Arizona and California provide any factual information to help the Independent
<br />Panel in making its decision. Due to current on-going activities associated with implementing California's
<br />Colorado River Water Use Plan, I have requested Reclamation, by a letter dated March 4,2002, to extend
<br />the comment period an additional 120 days.
<br />
<br />Included in the Board folder are two response letters to both California and Arizona from
<br />Reclamation, in which Reclamation has granted the Board's requested extension, The initial written
<br />comment to the panel members has been deferred to August S, 2002, Reclamation has also agreed to
<br />reschedule the Yuma Island tour for interested stockholders and to hold it on April 17, 2002, Also, an
<br />informal hearing will be held by Reclamation on October 10,2002, in Yuma, Arizona, to solicit the views
<br />and statements ofthe interested water districts, other local, state, federal agencies and Indian Tribes, This
<br />informational hearing provides stakeholders an opportunity to appear before the panel members to present
<br />views or data in support of their position regarding the issues. It is anticipated that Reclamation will
<br />provide details on the time and location ofthis hearing in later correspondence.
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