18

• Board Meeting Date: 7/11/2007
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Updates
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

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Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of N aturaI Resources
1313 Shennan Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]i4
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Russell George
Executive Director

FROM:

Randy Seaholm,
Chief, Water Supply Protection

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

DA TE: June 30, 2007

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 18, July 11-12, 2007 Board Meeting-
Colorado River Updates

Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shorta2es and Coordinated Operations for
Lakes Powell and Mead DEIS

On June 15,2007 the US Bureau of Reclamation released the description of the "Preferred Alternative"
(PA) they will consider in the DEIS. The PA is essentially the 7 Colorado River Basin State proposal
with a couple of deviations. First, it does not specify any shortages to Mexico, but rather will identify a
range of shortages that may be assessed to Mexico. The modeling done to date for the DEIS has assumed
that Mexico will be shorted 16.77 % or their proportionate share of water deliveries out of Lake Mead for
use in the Lower Basin and Mexico. Additional modeling will be done to provide for a range of potential
shortages to Mexico. The shortages to Mexico remain a significant area of discussion between the Upper
Basis and Lower Basin and within the Federal Government and Mexico and this approach keeps the
options open for future discussions with Mexico. Shortages to Mexico and related drought issues are the
next major issue for the Basin States to address with Interior, State, Reclamation, and the International
Boundary and Water Commission.

Secondly, and perhaps more significant, is the provision that the Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS)
storage accounts in Lake Mead provided for in the 7 State proposal will be allowed an opportunity to
expand up to 4.2 MAF. This is double the 2.1 MAF proposed by the 7 States. This expansion would be
subject to all of the condi tions and limitations that are presently proposed for the ICS accounts. It is
important to note that this expansion leaves the doors open to both Mexico and environmental interests to
participate in the ICS program. The rcs program, as currently proposed, generally serves to keep Lake
Mead higher, thus lessening the potential for shortages to the Lower Basin and reducing the potential for
and amount of equalization between Powell and Mead. ICS accounts are a benefit to the Upper Basin as
long as the annual amounts released and the rates of release are limited.

We have attached the P A as released by Reclamation hereto.
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Flood Protection · Water Supply Planning ilnd Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning