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<br />~ . <br /> <br />. . <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />001994 <br /> <br />Pitt et al, August 2001. Replacing the Bypass Flow On The Colorado River <br /> <br />The combin~tion of increased salinity and decreased flows would have irreparably devastating <br />effects on. the Cienega de Santa Clara. The ecosystem will be destroyed as its water so~ce is <br />reduced by 75% and salinity increases dramatically. As previously discussed, the Cienega de <br />Santa Clara provides important habitat to significant bird populations, and harbors two <br />endangered species, the Ywna clapper rail, and the desert pupfish. Harm to the Cienega's <br />ecosystem will also impact local residents~ who hunt and fish as well as generating income by <br />leading tours through the wetland. <br /> <br />3. OFFSTREAM STORAGE OF COLORADO RIVER FLOOD FLOWS <br /> <br />, . <br />BOR has identified offstream storage of Colorado River water as another alternative for <br />replacing the bypass flow, and has discussed the idea with the Arizona Water Banking Authority <br />,(AWBA).54 BOR claims authority to store water under the existing U.S. - Central Arizona <br />Water, Conservation District (CA WCD) settlement. Arizona haS agreed to let BOR pay to store <br />unused Central Arizona Project (CAP) water in exchange for the right to use this water to replace <br />the bypass flow.55 At present, Arizona chooses not to store all unused CAP water off stream. <br />because costs outweigh the benefits. Because the terms of such an agreement between BOR and <br />A WBA/CA WCD are under negotiation, the economics of off stream storage are unknown. <br />However, a recent deal be~een Nevada and Arizona will likely establish a storage price of $200. <br />per acre-foot plus an additional fee to recover the water.56 , <br /> <br />Environmental Impacts of Offstream Storage <br />Any increase, in storage on the Colorado River will diminish the probability of flood control <br />releases from Glen Canyon Dam, and will consequently diminish flows to the Colorado River <br />delta. The BOR Record of Decision on the Interim Surplus Guidelines, signed January 1~, 2001, <br />will result in considerable reduction of flows to the delta in order to supply California with <br />"surplus" water. The Environmental Impact Statement for the Interim Surplus Guidelines was <br />flawed in its failure to analyze the impacts of reduced flows to the delta in Mexico. Nine <br />environmental organizations and more than 8,000 individuals submitted comments to BOR <br />objeCting to the environmental damage to the Colorado River delta expected upon. <br />implementation of the Interim Surplus Guidelines.57 <br /> <br />Off stream storage of Colorado River water will decrease the probability offlows to the Colorado <br />River delta, and will result in harm to the native riparian ecosystem on the River's mainstem.58 <br />The forests that line the banks of the Colorado River below Morelos Dam are comprised of <br />native cottonwood and willow trees that require periodic flooding. These forests are a critical <br />'link. for migrating songbirds in the Pacific flyway, including the Southwestern willow flycatcher <br /> <br />54 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, handout at Las Vegas briefmg 5/8/01. <br />55 John Redlinger, Deputy Area Manager, Boulder Canyon Operations Office, Bureau of Reclamation, personal <br />communication 8/1/01. <br />561d. <br /> <br />57 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Record of Decision, Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines Final <br />Environmental Impact Statement, January 16,2001. <br />58 For more info~tion about the Colorado River delta ecosystems, see Luecke et al., supra note 13. <br /> <br />13 <br />