The Secretary of the Interior - Washington - CO River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead

• Year: 2007
• Title: The Secretary of the Interior - Washington - CO River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead
• CWCB Section: Interstate & Federal
• Description: The Secretary of the Interior - Washington - CO River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

Interim Guidelines for the
Operation of Lake Powell
and Lake Mead
C. Conservation Before Shortage Alternative
The Conservation Before Shortage Alternative was developed by a consortium of
environmental NGOs, and includes voluntary, compensated reductions (shortages)
in water use to minimize involuntary shortages in the Lower Basin and to avoid risk
of curtailments of Colorado River water use in the Upper Basin. This alternative
includes voluntary shortages prior to involuntary shortages; coordinated operations
of Lake Powell and Lake Mead determined by specified reservoir conditions; an
expanded ICS mechanism for the creation, accounting, and delivery of conserved
system and non-system water, including water for environmental uses; and
modification and extension of the ISG through 2026. There are two aspects of the
Conservation Before Shortage proposal that are unique to the Conservation Before
Shortage Alternative: a funding mechanism for the voluntary conservation program,
and a recommendation that a portion of the conserved water be used to benefit the
environment. However, as noted in the Final EIS, the viability of the Conservation
Before Shortage program funding proposal is not known at this time. The
Department currently does not have the authority to implement all facets of this
proposal and additional legislation would be necessary to gain such authority.
D. Water Supply Alternative
The Water Supply Alternative maximizes water deliveries at the expense of
retaining water in storage in the reservoirs for future use. This alternative would
reduce water deliveries only when insufficient water to meet entitlements is
available in Lake Mead. When reservoir elevations are relatively low, Lake Powell
and Lake Mead would share water ("balance contents"). This alternative does not
include a mechanism for the creation, accounting, and delivery of conserved system
and non-system water in Lake Mead. The existing ISG would be extended through
2026.
E. Reservoir Storage Alternative
The Reservoir Storage Alternative voas developed in coordination with the
cooperating agencies and other stakeholders, primarily Western and the NPS. This
alternative would keep more water in storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead by
reducing water deliveries and by increasing shortages to retain more water in
storage and thereby, benefit power and recreational interests. This alternative
includes larger, more frequent shortages that serve to conserve reservoir storage;
coordinated operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead determined by specified
reservoir conditions (more water would be held in Lake Powell than under the Basin
States Alternative); and an expanded mechanism for the creation, accounting, and
delivery of conserved system and non-system water in Lake Mead. The existing
ISG would be terminated after 2007.
December 2007 ROD -Colorado River Interim Guidelines for
10 Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated
Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead