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<br />000310 <br /> <br />The YDP Workgroup recognized that it is prudent to re-evaluate the opportunities <br />available to meet Minute 242 obligations and the national obligation of replacing the <br />bypass flow in light of changed conditions that have taken place over the past thirty <br />years. Several of the key factors are listed below. <br /> <br />A. Colorado River management and reservoir conditions <br /> <br />After many years of abundant water supply and nearly full reservoirs, a <br />serious multi-year drought has occurred in the Colorado River Basin. As a result <br />of the drought, storage in the two primary reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake <br />Powell, is currently only about 50% of maximum capacity. Where just a few <br />years ago interim surplus <br />guidelines were adopted <br />,~ to allow for additional <br />water consumption in the <br />Lower Basin until the <br />year 2016, current <br />discussions are focused <br />on adopting guidelines for <br />shortage declarations. <br />The drought has raised the <br />level of concern over <br />opportunities to conserve <br />and salvage water - <br />including the potential to <br />salvage the Wellton- <br />Mohawk drainage water <br />by activating the YDP. <br /> <br />Under current <br />practice, the WMIDD <br />drainage flow that is <br />bypassed to the Cienega <br />de Santa Clara is treated <br />as if the return flows were beneficially used. This means that, from an accounting <br />sense, return flow credits are issued to the State of Arizona, and thus no Arizona <br />water users are directly impacted by the bypass. However, to make up for the <br />bypass water, additional releases from Lake Mead storage are required. This has <br />the effect of gradually depleting the water reserves, which lowers Lake Mead <br />levels. The lower level in Lake Mead first will impact potential beneficiaries of <br />interim surplus guidelines water. If dry conditions continue long enough, Lake <br />Mead depletions could reach the point that shortages must be declared in the <br />Lower Basin. Under terms of the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968, most <br />of the initial burden ofa shortage declaration will be borne by water users of the <br />Central Arizona Project. Furthermore, under terms of the Mexican Water Treaty <br />of 1944, Mexico bears a proportional share of shortages under extraordinary <br />drought conditions. <br /> <br /> <br />Recommendations of the YDP/Cienega Workgroup <br /> <br />3 <br />