Laserfiche WebLink
<br />OCT-16-98 FR:I <br />. . <br /> <br />11:02 UPPER COLORADO R:IVER COMM <br />000223 <br /> <br />P.02 <br /> <br />Six State Proposal <br />Straw Man Draft <br />October 13, 1998 <br /> <br />Proposal for Interim Lake Mead Reservoir Operation Guidelines Related to Surplus, <br />Normal, and Shortage Year Declarations <br /> <br />Prepared by Representatives of the States of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, <br />Utah, and Wyoming in Response to the Draft California 4.4 Plnn <br /> <br />October 26, 1998 <br /> <br />I. Introduction <br /> <br />The States of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming ("Six <br /> <br />States") are encouraged by the progress presently being made by the Colorado River water users <br /> <br />within the State of California, which are endeavoring to formulate a defined, enforceable <br /> <br />program to reduce California's dependence on Colorado River water over its basic entitle~ent. . ~ (~'to,gfJ <br /> <br />~f\- .Jl'-~ '"Q <br />The formulation of California's plan to gradually step-down from its historic use of over 5.2 {lcf_;... <br /> <br />million acre-feet ("mar') of Colorado River water to its basic apportiorunent amount of 4.4 maf - <br /> <br />over a ten.to.fifteen year period is a significant accomplishment. <br /> <br />The California 4.4 Plan, however, is greatly dependent upon using Colorado River water <br /> <br />made available frO~liberal surplus declarations on the Colorado as a way to ease the <br /> <br />State's transition to living within its basic apportiomnent. The other Colorado River Basin States <br />~ # A9w:s <br />. <br />have been, up to now, Wlwilling to enter into discussions on operating criteria that would <br />1\ <br />accommodate California's plan. The reason for this reticence is obvious...new reservoir <br /> <br />operating criteria on the Colorado River must only be temporary as California steps down its <br /> <br />Colorado River water use. The new criteria cannot be viewed as a means to continue <br /> <br />California's e Colorado River water above its basic entitlement. Therefore, the Six <br />'1 <br />