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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />releases represent those needed to meet downstream water requirements including those <br />caused by reduced operation of Senator Wash Reservoir. <br /> <br />The fina1 April 15, 2003, observed April through July 2004 unregulated inflow <br />into Lake Powell was 4.000 maf, which is 50 percent of the 30-year average for the <br />period 1961-1990. The final April IS, 2003, projected unregulated inflow into Lake <br />Powell for the 2003-04 water year was 6.655 maf, or 55 percent of the 30-year average. <br /> <br />As of April 28th, taking into account both measured and unmeasured return flows, <br />the Lower Division States' consumptive use of Colorado River water for calendar year <br />2004, as forecasted by Reclamation, totals 7.338 maf and is described as follows: <br />Arizona, 2.728 maf; California, 4.309 maf; and Nevada, 0.301 maf. The Central Arizona <br />Project (CAP) will divert 1.525 maf, of which 0.308 mar are planned to be delivered to <br />the Arizona Water Bank. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California <br />(MWD) will use about 0.499 maf, which is 0.185 maf less than its actual use of <br />mainstream water in 2003. <br /> <br />The preliminary end-of-year estimate by the Board staff for 2004 California <br />agricultural consumptive use of Colorado River water under the first three priorities and <br />the sixth priority of the 1931 California Seven Party Agreement is 3.733 maf. This <br />estimate by the Board staff is based on the collective use, through March 2004, by the <br />Palo Verde Irrigation District, the Yuma Project-Reservation Division (YPRD), the <br />Imperial Irrigation District, and the Coachella Valley Water District. Figure I, found at <br />the end of this report, depicts the historic projected end-of-year agricultural use for the <br />year. <br /> <br />Colorado River Operations <br /> <br />Yuma Desalting Plant <br /> <br />On April 2, 2004, the Arizona Republic published an article that described the <br />concerns of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CA WCD) regarding the <br />current position of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and potential operation of the <br />Yuma Desalting Plant. The article indicated that, at this juncture, the Governor is not <br />inclined to ask the federal government to start up and operate the Yuma Desalting Plant. <br />CA WCD, which operates the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct, is very concerned that <br />by continuing to not operate the Desalting Plant, that the reservoir system, and <br />specifically Lake Mead, is continuing to be drawn down and increasing the shortage risk <br />to CA WCD and other water users in Arizona. The Governor recently requested the <br />Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to remove language associated with <br />the Desalting Plant from testimony being prepared for congressional budget committees. <br />ADWR Director Herb Guenther indicated that Governor Napolitano is engaged on water <br />issues and is still forming her administration's position on operating the Yuma Desalting <br />Plant. <br /> <br />, 2 <br />