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GQ3~3J Chronology Re: Colorado River Basin States Discussions on Long-Term Issues Page 5 20 Apr 95 12 May 95 7 Jun 95 midSep 95 29 Sep 95 18 Oct 95 Seven Basin State Meeting with the Lower Basin Technical Committee held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Technical Committee presented a summary of their report entitled "Alternative Operating Strategies for Determining Surplus and Shortage Conditions for the Lower Colorado River Reservoirs." This report had the effect of narrowing the alternative strategies that were on the table prior to the conduct of this study (CRSSez, a simplified, monthly-time step version of CRSS that runs on a personal computer was used). No consensus was reached by the Lower Basin States about which of the fewer alternatives should be recommended for inclusion in the AOP, however. Secretary of the Interior Babbitt met with the Lower Basin States' principal water resource officials and others to discuss Lower Basin issues that had halted the Technical Committee's (TC) progress. It was determined that the TC was not the appropriate entity to address several of the unresolved issues and further discussions would be held at the principals' level. Lower Colorado Regional Office of the Bureau of Reclamation transmits copy of fourth progress report by the Lower Colorado River Basin Technical Committee (TC). Report notes that it is intended to summarize the activities since the March 22nd meeting of the Seven States/Ten Tribes Partnership. The TC had held four meetings since the March 22nd meeting. In light of the conclusions reached at the May 12th meeting among Secretary Babbitt and the Lower Basin States' principals, this fourth progress report was stated to represent the "concluding" report of the TC. The report contained a summary of the discussions held by the TC, presented potential elements of a regional solution to Colorado River water needs in the Lower Basin, and identified some of the issues which the principals may wish to address in their discussions. Lower Colorado Basin States' principals meet in San Diego, California. Lower Colorado Regional Office of the Bureau of Reclamation, as an entity represented on the River Management Subcommittee of the Lower Colorado Basin Technical Committee, transmits a discussion paper setting forth Reclamation's preferred position on the issues of shortage, surplus and unused apportionment. The paper is entitled "Recommended Reservoir Management Criteria for lower Colorado River in the Lower Division States - USBR-Lower Colorado Region - 9/27/95." Reclamation advised that "this paper outlines the general management strategies Reclamation is likely to follow until a lower basin consensus on these issues is established." Reclamation recommends that shortage be determined to protect Lake Mead elevation 1050 feet with 80 percent assurance and that surplus be determined with 80 percent assurance of not triggering a shortage. Reclamation further recommends that the distribution of surplus and shortage (as presented in the TC's Progress Report No.4) be such that surplus volumes would be limited to the amount needed to satisfy total Lower Division demand, unless the surplus is determined on the basins on avoiding flood control releases. Surpluses are allocated based on the formula provided in Arizona v. California: CA-50% / AZ-46 % / NV-4%. If a state cannot use its surplus apportionment then it should be allocated as an unused apportionment. The Arizona Department of Water Resources sends to the Arizona Legislature a discussion paper entitled "Discussion Paper - A Proposal to Increase the Use of Colorado River Water in the State of Arizona." The paper suggests the Arizona Legislature should enact a program in 1996 to increase diversions and use of Colorado River water through the Central Arizona Project (CAP). The program would provide the mechanisms and funding necessary to store currently unused Colorado River water underground for future use time during times of CAP water shortage and to replace some existing uses of groundwater by central Arizona agricultural entities with CAP water. The paper suggests that the proposed program might also provide a mechanism by which California and Nevada could store additional amounts of-Arizona's unused Colorado River water in central Arizona, underground, to be exchanged in the future by those states for limited amounts of Colorado River water diverted out of the mainstream for use by those states in addition to their established apportionments (referred to as the "Arizona State Water Bank" in the paper).