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<br />[HH1864 <br /> <br />AUTHORITY: (identify existing or new) <br />COST: <br />FUNDING SOURCE: <br />ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT: (categorical exclusionlEIS/other) <br />ENVIRONMENTAL OR ESA ISSUES: <br />NEED FOR RULES AND REGULATIONS: <br /> <br />· Evaluate Basin reservoir storage locations and operations that would <br />minimize evaporation losses and, as appropriate, make changes in annual <br />operating plans (AOP) to help reduce system losses. Reservoir evaporation <br />losses are about 1 mafi'yr in the lower Basin and 0.5 mafi'yr in the Upper Basin. <br />Evaporation from Lake Mead is about 0.8 mafi'yr with an average evaporation rate <br />of6.38 ft/yr and evaporation from Lake Powell is about 0.46 mafi'year with an <br />average evaporation rate of about 3.91 ft/yr. This evaluation could be undertaken <br />by Reclamation and the Basin states. <br /> <br />AUTHORITY: (identify existing or new) <br />COST: <br />FUNDING SOURCE: <br />ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT: (categorical exclusionlEIS/other) <br />ENVIRONMENTAL OR ESA ISSUES: <br />NEED FOR RULES AND REGULATIONS: <br /> <br />· Develop Colorado River Basin system management options for intrastate and <br />interstate water pool/banking in conjunction with water use forbearances <br />and coordinated use of non-Colorado River supplies. This includes Colorado <br />River intrastate and interstate on-river water pool/banking storage credits for <br />intentionally created unused entitlements/apportionments through water use <br />forbearances (e.g. land fallowing programs and coordinated use of non-Colorado <br />River sources of supply). Such credits would enhance reservoir system storage to <br />help maintain various water use purposes. The stored water could also be <br />available for others for the same or subsequent years' use to help reduce/avoid <br />shortages. The potential system management options also include direct intrastate <br />and interstate participation in water use forbearance programs, leases, supply <br />options, and storage credit loans, sales and paybacks. Those forbearing could call <br />upon storage credits after system reservoir storage has recovered sufficiently. <br />These options would be undertaken cooperatively by Reclamation, the Basin <br />States, and water agencies within the States. This would include the expedited <br />development and promulgation of any necessary special rules and regulations. <br /> <br />AUTHORITY: (identify existing or new) <br />COST: <br />FUNDING SOURCE: <br />ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT: (categorical exclusionlEIS/other) <br />ENVIRONMENTAL OR ESA ISSUES: <br />NEED FOR RULES AND REGULATIONS: <br /> <br />-8- <br />