18

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

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Colorado River Reservoir Operation:

Development of Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated
Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead!
[Posted on Project Web Site: June 15,2007)

Description of Preferred Alternative to be Considered in the
Final EnvironmentallmpKt Statement

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Council on
Envirorunental Quality's regulations for implementing the Procedural provisions of NEP A, the
Department of dte Interior (Department) published in the Federal Register (FR) a Notice of Intent on
September 30, 2005 (70 FR 57322), issued a Seoping Summmy Report on March 31, 2006 (71 FR
16341), and issued a Draft EIS on February 28, 2007 (72 FR 9026) for Colorado River Interim Guidelines
for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The Draft EIS
is available at hltD:llwww.usbr.l!ovnc/regjOnlDrol!TamslstrategjesldraftEIS/index.hbnl.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), acting at the direction of and on behalf of the Secretary of the
Interior (SecretaIy), proposes to take action to adopt interim Lower Colorado River Basin shortage
guidelines and coordinated reservoir management strategies to address operations of Lake Powell and
Lake Mead, particularly under low reservoir conditions. The Department anticipates dtat the operational
guidelines will be implemented through 2026 and that the elements of the proposed action will include:

· Adoption of guidelines that will identifY those circumstances under which the Secretary would
reduce the annual amount of water available for consumptive use from Lake Mead to the Colorado
River Lower Division states (Arizona, California, and Nevada) below 7.5 million acre-feet (a
"Shortage") pursuant to Article II(B)(3) of the Consolidated Decree entered by the United States
Supreme Court in the case of Arizona v. California;

· Adoption of guidelines for the coordinated operation of Lake Powell and Lake Mead to provide
improved operation of the two reservoirs, particularly under low reselVoir conditions;

· Adoption of guidelines to allow for the storage and delivery, pursuant to applicable federal law, of
conserved Colorado River system and non-system water in Lake Mead to increase the flexibility of
meeting water use needs from Lake Mead, particularly under drought and low reservoir conditions;
and

· Modification of the substance of the existing Interim Surplus Guidelines (ISG), published in the FR
on January 25, 2001 (66 FR 7772), and the term of the ISG from 2016 to 2026.

I Publication of this description of the Preferred Alternative is intended to facilitate public infonnation regarding this
ongoing NEPA proces.c;. Reclamation intends to utilize this Preferred Alternative as it,> proposed action as it
prepares appropriate environmental compliance document,>. However, further refinement of the infonnation
presented in this description will occur as Reclamation prepares a Final RIS (which is anticipated to be published in
September, 2(07) and other appropriate documentation.