WSP12636

• File Number: 8282.300
• Description: Colorado River Operations and Accounting - Lower Basin Administrative Procedures
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 8/1/1996
• Author: DOI-BOR
• Title: Description and Assessment of Operations-Maintenance and Sensitive Species of the Lower Colorado River - Volume II - Appendices-Etc - 08-01-96
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

002516

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. OVERVIEW ............................................. 1

A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1

B. Background ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5

C. Biological Assessment Content, Scope, and Public Process ............ 6
1. Request for Formal Consultation . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6

2. Content and Scope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6

a. Action.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6

b. Area... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7

c. Species and Critical Habitat Description ............... 9
d. Effects of the Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12
e. Relevant Reports .............".............. 13
f. Other Relevant Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13
3. Public Process and Consultation Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13

II. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION .................................. 15

A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15

B. The Secretary's Discretionary Management Activities .' . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19

1. Flood Control ....................'.............. 20

2. The Role of the Secretary as Watermaster ................. 21
3. Declaration of Surplus ............................. 26
4. Delivery to Mexico at the Northerly International Boundary ...... 27
5. Water Delivery to Mexico at the Land Boundary ............. 28
6. Power Operations ................................ 29
7. Channel Maintenance and Levee System .................. 34
8. Yuma Desalting Plant and 5-Mile Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34
9. Endangered Species Conservation Activities ................ 35
C. Lower Colorado River Operation and Maintenance Procedures . . . . . . . .. 35
1. Flood Control .................................. 35
2. Annual Operating Plan ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38
3. Operation of the Colorado River Below Davis and Parker Dams . . .. 42
4. Water Delivery Requirements to Mexico in Accordance with the Mexican
Water Treaty of 1944 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 49
5. Process for Daily Water Requirements and Hourly Release Schedule . 49
a. Parker Dam to Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 50
b. Parker Dam to Davis Dam ...................... 50
c. Davis Dam to Hoover Dam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 52
d. Seasonal Release Patterns .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 56

6. River Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 56

7. Yuma Desalting Plant and 5-Mile Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 60
D. Endangered Species Conservation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 60

1. 'Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 60

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