WSP12637

• 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 I - Report - 08-01-96
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

A. Introductiqn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1

B. Backgrountl ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5

C. Biological iAssessment Content, Scope, and Public Process ............ 6
1. Re<iuest for Formal Consultation .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6

2. Con.tent and Scope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6

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

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

c. Species and Critical Habitat Description ............... 9
d. Effects of the Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12
Ie. Relevant Reports ............................ 13
If. Other Relevant Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13
3. Public Process and Consultation Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13
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II. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION ................................. 15

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

B. The Secretary's Discretionary Management Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19
1. Fl~ Control .................................. 20
2. Th~ Role of the Secretary as Watermaster ................. 21
3. D~laration of Surplus ............................. 26
4. DeFvery to Mexico at the Northerly International Boundary ...... 27
5. WCiter Delivery to Mexico at the Land Boundary ............. 28

6. Power Operations ................................ 29

7. Chknel Maintenance and Levee System .................. 34
8. Yu~a Desalting Plant and 5-Mile Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34
9. Endangered Species Conservation Activities ................ 35
C. Lower Colorado River Operation and Maintenance Procedures . . . . . . . .. 35
1. Flqod Control .................................. 35
2. Anpual Operating Plan ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38
3. ~ration of the Colorado River Below Davis and Parker Dams. . .. 42
4. W~ter Delivery Requirements to Mexico in Accordance with the Mexican
i 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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