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<br /> <br />...-- <br /> <br /> <br />THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR <br /> <br />WASHINGTON <br /> <br />DEe I 5 1995 <br /> <br />Honorable Gary E. Johnson <br />Governor of New Mexico <br />Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503 <br /> <br />Dear Governor Johnson: <br /> <br />The Bureau of Reclamation, after consultation at a meeting on July 18, 1995, with <br />representatives of the Colorado River Basin States, the Upper Colorado River Commission, <br />appropriate Federal agencies, Indian tribes, and others interested in Colorado River <br />operations, established the Annual Operating Plan, (AOP) (copy enclosed) for the Colorado <br />River reservoirs for 1996. The plan of operation reflects uses of the reservoirs for all <br />purposes consistent with the "Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of the <br />Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Project Act of <br />September 30, 1968" (Operating Criteria). <br /> <br />Pursuant to required Secretarial determinations, the minimum objective release of 10,150 <br />million cubic meters (MCM), equivalent to 8.230 million acre-feet (MAF), will be released <br />from Glen Canyon Dam during water year 1996 in accordance with Article II(2) of the <br />Operating Criteria unless the equalization criterion in article II(3) is controlling_ If the <br />equalization criterion is controlling, Glen Canyon Dam will be operated to release sufficient <br />water during water year 1996 to equalize, as nearly as practicable, the active reservoir <br />contents of Lakes Powell and Mead on September 30, 1996. <br /> <br />Taking into account (1) the beneficial consumptive use requirements of Colorado River <br />mainstream users in the Lower Division States are expected to be less than 9,250 MCM <br />(7.500 MAF), (2) the existing water supply conditions in the basin, and (3) the predicted <br />water supply conditions in the basin, the normal condition is the criterion governing the <br />operation of Lake Mead for calendar year 1996 in accordance with Article 1II(3)(a) of the <br />Operating Criteria and Article II(B)( 1) of the decree in Arizona v. Cali fomia. All beneficial <br />consumptive needs of Colorado River mainstream users will be met in calendar year 1996, <br />and 1,850 MCM (1.500 MAF) of water will be delivered to Mexico during calendar year <br />1996 in accordance with Article 15 of the 1944 Mexican Water Treaty and Minute No. 242 <br />of the International Boundary and Water Commission. <br /> <br />California or any Lower Division State will be allowed to use water apportioned to, but <br />unused by, another Lower Division State in accordance with Article II(B)(6) of the decree <br />in Arizona v. California. <br /> <br />If the final Supreme Court decree accounting data for calendar year 1996 indicates that <br />more than 9,250 MCM (7.500 MAF) were consumed in the Lower Division States, <br />compensation for overuse of such water will be required from any State exceeding its <br /> <br />. <br />