Laserfiche WebLink
<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />t <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />, . <br />0003H <br /> <br />rule), In addition, this decrease would affect flood control releases only during this same time and <br />would have only a very minimal effect on projected surplus flow in years beyond 2015. <br /> <br />These projections are based on analysis completed by Reclamation using the Colorado <br />River Simulation Model, which is used to project long,term conditions relating to water supply on <br />the Colorado River from Lake Mead to Mexico. The analysis used historical virgin runoff data <br />from 1906-1995 and water use or demand schedules that have been provided by the Colorado <br />River Basin States for the simulated future period 1999,2015. In addition the model includes <br />requirements in the long-range operating criteria for the Colorado River. <br /> <br />Environmental Concerns <br /> <br />Comment: Efficiency improvements in river management and the storage of Colorado <br />River water in underground aquifers means less water is available for environmental purposes, <br />such as the riparian and aquatic ecosystems of the river, including the river and delta region in <br />Mexico. <br /> <br />Response: Offstream storage of Colorado River water under Storage and Interstate <br />Release Agreements should not have a measurable effect on riparian and/or aquatic ecosystems of <br />the river or the delta region of Mexico. During the next few years, releases from Hoover Dam are <br />expected to continue to be about 10 rnaf7year for downstream use in the United States and <br />Mexico, In addition, flood control releases are projected to average 788 kaf/year during the <br />period 1999-2015. Offstream storage could decrease flood control releases reaching Mexico by <br />an average of23 kaf/year. <br /> <br />At present, Reclamation has no authority or discretion over the type of use or location of <br />use of Colorado River water once it reaches Mexico. The Mexican Water Treaty of 1944 and the <br />Opinion and Decree control and limit Reclamation's releases from Hoover Dam to amounts that <br />meet the conditions within each. Water delivered to meet Treaty requirements is diverted at <br />Morelos Dam where Mexican law governs how it is put to use. In times of flood control <br />operations, Colorado River water entering Mexico in excess of treaty requirements is under <br />Mexico's jurisdiction. Once flows reach the Republic of Mexico, any uses for environmental <br />purposes would have to be authorized by Mexico. <br /> <br />It is possible that implementation of this final rule may create additional flexibility to <br />potentially make water available for fish and wildlife purposes as part of the ongoing Lower <br />Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP). Under this concept, water stored <br />offstream one year could potentially be used to meet fish and wildlife purposes in a later year. <br /> <br />Comment: The level of environmental compliance proposed by Reclamation is inadequate <br />and Reclamation should complete a full environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposed <br />rule as well as the entire operation of the Colorado River. <br /> <br />12 <br />