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<br />I <br />-I <br />I <br />'I <br />I <br />t <br />1\ <br />I' <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />.1 <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />,I <br />I <br />,I <br /> <br />002345 <br /> <br />Colorado River regula~on from Glen Canyon Dam to the border with Mexico. <br /> <br />Due to the amount of vacant storage in the Colorado River reservoirs, no flood control <br />releases are anticipated in 1996. For purposes of providing insight into annual flood and <br />drought cycles on the lower Colorado River, Figures 6 and 7 provide an historical summary <br />of annual flows at Lees Ferry and below the Hoover Dam site, for the pre- and <br />post-construction periOds of Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams. For the same purpose, the <br />yearly high and low ~ater elevations for Lake Mead are illustrated in Figure 8. <br /> <br />Annual water deliveries may be reduced if a drought on the Colorado River system occurs. <br />If a surplus year is d~lared on the Colorado River system, flows will be adjusted to meet <br />water entitlement holders' demands and to drain system storage. <br /> <br />2. Anqual Operating Plan <br /> <br />Each year, Reclamation consults with the lower basin States, the Indian Tribes, and <br />Colorado River water: users regarding water conservation and the use of Colorado River <br />water. Reclamation's: authority for such activities is found in section 602 of the Colorado <br />River Basin Project A~t of September 30, 1968. Reclamation also may review specific uses <br />under 43 CFR 417 which provides the authority for Reclamation to conduct consultations <br />with each public or pnvate organization that is entitled to Colorado River water. Water <br />users are contacted b)\ Reclamation to discuss water needs and are requested to furnish <br />monthly estimates forithe upcoming year. The purposes of the consultations are to make <br />annual recommendatiqns relating to water conservation measures and operating practices in <br />the use of Colorado I9-ver water and to determine if estimated water requirements for the <br />next year will exceed !reasonable beneficial use. <br /> <br />All of the informatio~ gathered is used to develop an Annual Operating Plan (AOP) as <br />required by the Colorado River Basin Project Act, after taking into cQnsideration probable <br />runoff, depletions, an~ consumptive uses. The AOP is formulated for the upcoming year <br />under a variety of possible conditions. The plan is develOped based on projected <br />requirements, existing storage conditions, and probable inflows. It is prepared by <br />Reclamation, acting on behalf of the Secretary, in cooperation with the seven basin States, <br />other Federal agencie~, Indian Tribes, State and local agencies, and the general public, <br />including environmental interests. <br /> <br />The AOP is designed: to govern the general operation of the river system on a' seasonal and <br />annual basis and spec~fies, as an objective, the minimum amount of water to be released <br />from Lake Powell th~ough Glen Canyon Dam for the year. For the lower basin, the AOP <br />determines whether d~mands will be met according to shortage, surplus, or normal water <br />year supply conditions. A forecast of water supply, reported water use to date, and projected <br />water use for the year is produced monthly as the information becomes available to <br />Reclamation. The 24-month study, discussed later in this section, provides the monthly <br />updates and projected: reservoir conditions throughout the lower basin for the following <br />2 years. . <br /> <br />38 <br />