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<br />Introduction
<br />
<br />
<br />Granite Reef Aqueduct.
<br />
<br />The operation of tha Colorado Alver Baaln
<br />during the past year and the projected
<br />operatIon for the current year reflect flood
<br />contro', domestic use, IrrigatIon, hydroelectric
<br />power generation I water quality control, fIsh
<br />and wildlife propagation, recreation, and
<br />Colorado River Compact requirements.
<br />
<br />Storage and release of water from the Upper
<br />Basin reservoirs are governed by all
<br />applicable laws and agreements concerning
<br />the Colorado Alver, Including the
<br />Impoundment and release of water In the
<br />Upper Basin required by Section 602(a) of
<br />Public Law 90-531, The operation of the
<br />Lower B8sln reservoirs reflects Mexican
<br />Treaty obligations and Lower BasIn
<br />contractual commitments.
<br />
<br />Nothing In this report Is Intended to Interpret
<br />the provisions of the Colorado River Compact
<br />(45 Stat. 1057), the Upper ColoradO Alver
<br />Basin Compact (63 Stat. 31), the Water Treaty
<br />of 1944 with the United Mexican States
<br />(Treaty Series 994, 59 Stat. 1219), the decree
<br />entered by the Supreme Court of the United
<br />States In Arizona v, California, et al.(376 U,S,
<br />340), the Boulder Canyon Project Act (45 Stat,
<br />1057), the Boulder Canyon Projecl
<br />~dJustm.n\ Act (54 Stat. 174; 43 U,S,C. 618a),
<br />:he Colorado River Storage Project Act (70
<br />,tat. 105; 43 U,S,C, 620), or the Colorado
<br />~Iver Basin Project Act (82 Stat. 885; 43
<br />),S,C, 1501).
<br />
<br />Authority for Report
<br />
<br />
<br /><\J"'A~A ,..
<br />"~0:,', !,~~.;", .~;~' '
<br />
<br />Taylor River above Blue Meaa Aelervolr.
<br />
<br />Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Project
<br />Act (Public Law 90-531) of 1968, I am pleased
<br />to present to the Congress, and to the
<br />Governors of the Colorado River Basin States,
<br />the twelfth annual report on the Operation of
<br />the Colorado River Basin.
<br />
<br />This report describes the actual operation of
<br />the reservoirs In the Colorado River draInage
<br />area constructed under the authority of the
<br />Colorado River Storage Project Act, the
<br />Boulder Canyon Project Act, and the Boulder
<br />Canyon Project Adjustment Act during water
<br />year 1982 and the projected operation at these
<br />reservoirs during water year 1983 under the
<br />"Criteria for CoordInated Long-Range
<br />OperatIon of Colorado River Reservoirs,"
<br />published In the Federal Register June 10,
<br />11110,
<br />
<br />James G. Watt, Secretary
<br />United States Department of the Interior
<br />
<br />Actual Operations Under
<br />Criteria-Water Year 1982
<br />
<br />
<br />The InItial plan of operation for .water year
<br />1982 was based on an objective minimum
<br />release of 8.23 million acre-feet from Lake
<br />Powell. With this releas6. and assuming
<br />average Inflow conditions. the prolected active
<br />storage at Lake Powell would have been less
<br />than the active storsge at Lake Mead by
<br />September 30, 1982:
<br />
<br />Beginning In April, however. the forecasted
<br />most probable Inflow to lake Powell was
<br />above average, and the scheduled release
<br />from lake Powell was Increased to 8.6 million
<br />acre~feet In order to equalize storage with
<br />Lake Mead by the end of the water year, This
<br />plan of operation remaIned In effect Until
<br />mld.Juna when the Inflow forecast was
<br />revised downward. The revised forecasted
<br />Inflow would have placed the projected active
<br />storage 0' Lake Powell below Lake Mead even
<br />wIth a minImum objective release of 8.23
<br />million acre-feet.
<br />
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