BOARDJAN01

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2001
• Description: Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines Final Environmental Impact Statement
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Other

. would be subject to adjustment during the interim period based on changes in Upper Basin
dcmand projcctions. When flood control releases are madc, any and all beneficial uses would be
met, including unlimited oft:stream storage. When Lake Mead water levels are below the lowest
surplus trigger elevation, surplus water would not be made available

6. Shortage Protection Ahernativc: The Shortage Protection Alternative is based on
maintaining an alTDunt of water in Lake Mead necessary to provile a normal annual supply of
7.5 mal' for the Lower Division, 1.5 mal' fur Mexico and storage necessary to provide an 80
percent probability of avoiding future shortages. The surplus triggers under this alternative rangc
from an approximate Lake Mead initial elevation of 1126 feet msl to an elevation of 1155 feet msl
at the end of the interim period. At Lake Mead ecvations above the surplus trigger, surplus
conditions would be detennined to be in effect and surplus water would be available for use in thc
Lower Division states. Below the surplus trigger elevation, surplus water would not bc n-ade
available.

V. Basis For Decision

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Reclamation selected the Basin States Alternative as its preferred alternative based on
Reclamation's determination that it best meets all aspects of the purpose and necd for the action,
including the need: to remain in place fOr the entire period of the interim guidelines; to garner
support among the Basin States that win enhance the Secretary's ability to manage the Colorado
River reservoirs in a manner that balances all existing needs fur these precious water supplies;
and, to assist in the Secretary's efforts to insure that California water users reduce their over
reliance on surplus Colorado River water. Reclamation notes the important role of the Basin
States in the statutory framework for administration of Colorado River Basin entitlements and the
signiflcance that a seven-state consensus represents on thE issue. With respect to the infonmtion
within the scope of the proposed action, Reclamation found the Basin States Alternative to be a
reasonable alternative and fully analyzed the environmental effects of this alternative in the FEIS.
The ilcntified envirornnental effects of the Basin States Ahernative are well within the range of
anticipated effects of the alternatives presented in the DEIS and do not affect the environment in a
manner not already considered in the DE 15. Thus, based on all available information, this
altcrnative is the most reasonable and feasible ahernative.

VI. Public Response To Final Environmental Statement

Following the Federal Register Notice of Availabitity for the FEIS on December 15,2000, and as
of Friday at 7:00 PM (EST), on January 12,2001, Reclamation had received one letter supporting,
the preferred alternative in the FEIS, one letter from the Ten Tribes Partnership, one letter from a
Non-governmental Organization and four letters and approximately 7,517 ernail comments
entitled "Stop Damagc to the Colorado River Delta" comQ:enting on the FEIS. The email fornl
letter appears to be based upon information made available by Environmental Defense as posted

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