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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />habitats will be protected or the impact of implementing the project will be <br />minimi7.ed. <br />6. Emphasize Habitat Restoration - While implementing the proposed project, the <br />environmental organizations suggest that the IBWC incorporate restoration of <br />cottonwood-willow, wetland, oxbow and backwater habitats into the fina1 design <br />concept. <br /> <br />The organizations have requested that the American and Mexican Sections of IBWC <br />fonnally respond to the letter. A copy of the letter has been included in the handout <br />materials for your information. <br /> <br />In a related matter, Mr. Harris is attending and monitoring a workshop being hosted <br />by the Cocopah Indian Tribe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Arizona Game <br />and Fish Department, and several environmental organizations being held in Somerton, <br />Arizona on May 6, 2004. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss all of the various <br />species conservation and habitat restoration initiatives along the Lower Colorado River in <br />the United States and Mexico, with a particular emphasis on activities in the Y urna region <br />and the Limitrophe Division. <br /> <br />Basin Statesrrribes Discussions <br /> <br />Basin States Discussions <br /> <br />As has been reported at previous Board meetings, representatives from the <br />Colorado River Basin states have been meeting to discuss managing the Colorado River <br />System during times of low runoff conditions, especially focusing on the next 24 to 36 <br />months. The discussions have focused on three major topics: 1) the Interim Surplus <br />Guidelines agreements and operation of the reservoir system under those agreements, 2) <br />actions that could be carried out under drought management conditions, and 3) actions <br />that could be carried out under shortage management conditions. The intent is to identify <br />an array of potential projects and programs that could lessen the impact, or avoid the <br />affects, of drought and shortage declarations and to begin discussions related to those <br />potential opportunities. To date, an initial matrix of potential cooperative projects and <br />programs has been identified and Reclamation staff has been tasked with making a <br />computer run to show the range of potential impacts on the reservoir system as a result of <br />the past four years of low runoff and with the potential for more years of below normal <br />runoff conditions. The computer runs will be available in mid-May and a meeting has <br />been scheduled to discuss the results of the computer runs on May 17th. <br /> <br />Once the results from the computer runs become available, the technical <br />committee can begin to focus on the immediate actions that can be taken to lessen the <br />impact, or avoid the affects, of drought and shortage conditions as it concurrently looks at <br />shortage criteria and factors to be considered in detennining when a shortage condition <br />should be declared by the Secretary of the Interior. <br /> <br />4 <br />