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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />ranges are coupled with specific uses of surplus water in such a way that, if Lake Mead's surface <br />elevation were to decline, the alOOunt of surplus water would be reduced. The surplus <br />determination elevations under the preferred ahernative consist of three tiered Lake Mead water <br />surface elevations, each of which is associated with certain designations on the purposes for which <br />surplus water could be used. When a flood control surplus is determined, surplus water would be <br />made avaihble for all established uses by contractors fur surplus water in the Lower Division <br />States. When Lake Mead water levels are below the lowest surplus triggcr elevation, surplus <br />water would not be made available. <br /> <br />3. Flood Control Alternative: Under the Flood Control Alternative, a surplus condition is <br />determined to exist when flood control releases from Lake Mead are occurring or projected to <br />occur in the subsequent year. The method of determining need for flood control releases is based <br />on flood control regulations published by the Los Angeles District of the Corps of Engineers <br />(Corps) and the Fiel:l Working Agreerrent between the Corps and Rechmation. Under the flood <br />control strategy, a surplus isdeternlined wl-en the Corps flood control regulations require releascs <br />from Lake Mead in excess of downstream demand. If flood control releases or space building <br />releases are required, surplus conditions are deternlined to be in effect. The average Lake Mead <br />water surface elevation that would trigger t100d control releases f; approxinlately 1211 feet msl. <br />In practice, flood control releases are not based on the average trigger elevation, but would be <br />determined each month by following the Corps regulations. When a flood control surplus is <br />deternlined, surplus water woul:l be made available for all established uses by contractors fOr <br />surplus water in the Lower Division States. <br /> <br />4. Six States Alternative: The Six States Ahernative specifies ranges of Lake Mead water <br />surface elevations to be used through 20\5 for determining the availability ofsurph1s water <br />through 2016. The elevation ranges are coupled with specifx:: uses of surplus water in such a way <br />that, if Lake Mead's surface elevation were to dec line, the amount of surplus water would be <br />reduced. The surplus determination elevations under the Six States Alternative consist of three <br />tiered Lake Mead water surface elevations, each of which is associated with certain designations <br />on the purposes for which surplus water could be used. When flood control releases are nXlde, <br />any am all benefx::ial uses would be n-et, including unlimited off-stream storage. When Lake <br />Mead water levels are below the lowest surplus trigger elevation, surplus water would not be <br />made available. <br /> <br />5. California Alternative: The California Alternative specifes Lake Mead water surface <br />elevations to be used forthe interim period through 2015 for detemlining the availability of <br />surplus water through 2016. The elevation ranges are coupled with specific uses of surplus water <br />in such a way tha~ if Lake Mead's surface elcvation declines, the amount ofsurplus water would <br />be reduced. The Lake Mead elevations at which surplus cond~ions would be detem1ined under <br />the California Alternative are expressed as three tiered, upward sloping trigger lines that rise <br />gradually year by year to 2016, in recognition of the gradually increasing water demand of the <br />Upper Division states from the present to 2016. Each tier woul:l be coupled w~h linlitations on <br />the amount of surplus water available at that tier. Each tier under the California Alternative <br /> <br />6 <br />