Basin States' Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement, CO River Interim guidelines for Lower Basin Shrotages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead

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demands, the Secretary may release ICS available in that Contractor's ICS Account at the request of the Contractor. c. The Secretary shall release ICS as described in Section 5. C. Allocation of Colorado River Water and Forbearance Arrangements Under these Guidelines, Colorado River water will continue to be allocated for use among the Lower Division States in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Consolidated Decree. It is expected that Lower Division States and individual Contractors for Colorado River water have or will adopt arrangements that will affect utilization of Colorado River water during the Interim Period. It is expected that water orders from Colorado River Contractors will be submitted to reflect forbearance arrangements by Lower Division States and individual Contractors. The Secretary will deliver Colorado River water to Contractors in a manner consistent with these arrangements. Surplus water will be delivered only to entities with contracts that are eligible to receive surplus water. ICS will be delivered pursuant to Section 5.D.6. D. Shortage Conditions Reductions in deliveries to the Lower Division States during declared shortages shall be implemented in the following manner: a. Step One reduction: In Years when Lake Mead content is projected on January 1 to be at or below elevation 1075 feet and at or above 1050 feet, a quantity of 333,000 acre-feet shall not be released or delivered in the Lower Division States. b. Step Two reduction: In Years when Lake Mead content is projected on January 1 to be below elevation 1050 feet and at or above 1025 feet, a quantity of 417,000 acre-feet shall not be released or delivered in the Lower Division States. c. Step Three reduction: In Years when Lake Mead content is projected on January 1 to be below 1025 feet, a quantity of 500,000 acre-feet shall not be released or delivered in the Lower Division States. 2. In the event projections included in any Bureau of Reclamation monthly 24-Month Study indicate Lake Mead elevations may approach an elevation that would t!-igger shortages in deliveries of water from Lake Mead in the United States, the Secretary shall consult with the Basin States on how the United States shall reduce the quantity of water allotted to Mexico. Whenever Lake Mead is below elevation 1025 feet, the Secretary shall consult with the Basin States annually to determine whether Colorado River hydrologic conditions, together with the anticipated delivery of water to the Lower Division States and Mexico, will cause the elevation of Lake 9