Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />1. Formal Interim Surplus Guidelines (ISGs) for the operation of Lake Mead: The <br />amount of available surplus is tied to storage level triggers in Mead. The ISGs were <br />signed by Secretary Babbit in 2000, but suspended by Secretary Norton in late 2002 <br />because California was not makeing sufficient progress on the 4.4 plan. <br /> <br />2. Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA): Which quantifies the amount of water <br />Imperial Irrigation District and Coachella Valley Irrigation District can take under <br />their senior rights. The QSA is needed to implement agricultural transfers from nD <br />to San Diego. <br /> <br />3. A California 4.4 Plan: This plan is a road map on how Metropolitan Water District <br />will firm up its Colorado River supplies. It primarily does this through agricultural <br />transfers and land fallowing including yhr agreement between Imperial Irrigation <br />District and San Diego. <br /> <br />Shortage Criteria for the Operation of Hoover Dam <br /> <br />On October 16, 2003, Secretary Norton joined basin water officials at Hoover Dam to <br />celebrate the completion ofthe 4.4. plan. The plan contemplated that California would have about <br />16 years to "ramp down" and the EIS on the Interim Surplus Guidelines suggested that there was <br />better than a 50% chance that California and Nevada would have access to surplus water for at least <br />the next decade.l44 Nature however, didn't read the plan or the EIS. The Upper Basin was already <br />four years into a drought period, one that continues today. 145 <br /> <br />By 2004, hydrology, caution and decent water supplies available from the California State <br />Water Proj ect would result in a decision by the California agencies to reduce their take of mainstem <br />water to 4.4 maf. By this time, the Basin States and federal agencies all realized that shortage criteria <br />were needed, and possibly soon. <br /> <br />Further, the criteria needed to look at different management strategies for Lake Powell and <br />Lake Mead. The Shortage Criteria EIS examines different alternatives and a no-action alternative. <br />The four action alternatives are:146 <br /> <br />1. Seven Basin States Alternative: This alternative was developed by the Basin States. <br />It would include shortages of 400K, 500K and 600K triggered by storage elevations <br />in Lake Mead. It includes a number of conservation and management strategies, the <br />conjunctive management proposal shown on Figure V -8 and contemplates the use of <br />Lake mead to store intentionally created surplus (ISC) water. <br /> <br />2. Conservation Before Shortage Alternative: This alternative was developed by a <br />consortium of environmental groups. It is similar to the States' proposal, but triggers <br /> <br />I44USDOI, Interim Surplus Guidelines FEIS, December 2000, Table 3.4.3. <br /> <br />145The March 15th forecast for April-July inflow to Lake Powell is 59%. 2007 is shaping up to be another below average year. Since <br />2000, only 2005 has been an above average year. <br /> <br />146See Footnote #2. <br /> <br />Page -62- <br />