25d ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

-28-
http://u~ww.crwua.org/index.cfm?actionconference (See Attachment 25D-21)
COLORADO RIVER ISSUES AND UPDATES:
7-Basin State Meetings -The 7-Colorado River Basin States met in Phoenix on October 4-5 and
again in Salt Lake City on October 9 in further attempts to address Arizona's post 7-State
Agreement concerns with equalization and balancing rules for the proposed conjunctive
operations of Lakes Powell and Mead. Arizona's letters are attached and their actions, in light of
the recent signing of the 7-State Agreement, are disingenuous. The 7-States could not reach
resolution on Arizona's concerns and the final determination of how best to address Arizona's
concerns was left to Interior and Reclamation. While the discussions were unsuccessful, they did
significantly narrow the issues and impacts of those differences on actual reservoir operations.
(See Attachment 25D-13)
Final Environmental Impact Statement on Lower Colorado River Basin Shortage
Guidelines and Coordinated Operations of Lakes Powell and Mead Released - On November
2, 2007 Commissioner of Reclamation Robert Johnson announced that the Bureau of
Reclamation has issued a final Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed adoption of
specific Colorado River Lower Basin shortage guidelines and coordinated reservoir management
strategies to address operation of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, particularly under low reservoir
conditions. The proposed operational guidelines will provide Colorado River water users and
managers in the U.S. a greater degree of certainty about how the two large resetti~oirs on the
Colorado River will be operated under low water conditions, and when - and by how much -
water deliveries will be reduced in the Lower Basin in drought or other low reservoir conditions.
The guidelines are expected to be adopted by the Secretary of the Interior in December, and take
effect in January 2008. They would then be used each year through 2026 to develop the Annual
Operating Plan for Colorado River reservoirs. The entire press release is attached hereto. The
Final EIS is available for viewing and copying at Reclamation's project website,
http://wtivw.usbr.gov/lc/regionlprograms!strategies.html. This topic is explored further in the
"Federal and Interstate"section of this report this report. (See Attachment 25D-16)
2008 Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) - On September 27th, Reclamation held
its third and final consultation meeting for development of the 2008 AOP. The 2008 AOP
provides for the minimum objective release of 8.23 MAF from Lake Powell and for normal
releases from Lake Mead of approximately 9.3 MAF of which 1.5 MAF would go to Mexico.
The 2008 AOP will also provide for amid-year review in order to implement the anticipated
Record of Decision on Guidelines for the Detertnination of Lower Basin Shortages and the
Coordinated Operations of Lakes Powell and Mead under Low Reservoir Conditions. We expect
the Secretary of Interior to approve the AOP by the end of the year.
Status Report on U.S.-MEXICO Water Initiative -Part of the Lower Basin Shortage
Guidelines contemplated discussions with Mexico on reduced deliveries to Mexico during
shortage conditions as well as discussions on conservation and augmentation options. Recently
the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, San Diego County Water District and
Southern Nevada Water Authority hosted a VIP tour for Mexican water officials from Mexico
City. The concept of a bi-national water initiative addressing a broad range of Colorado River
water issues between the two countries was discussed. The concept of a ground up approach
involving local water officials from each country in an information exchange and a discussion of
new ideas and possible solutions to various water issues was initiated. Carlos Marin and the
IBWC are drafting a concept paper and plan to accomplish this initiative. More information will
be provided when available, probably in late fall or early winter.
Flood Protection • Water Project Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection • Conservation Plarming