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<br />nJ.. '')'8 <br />U' ~\J't <br /> <br />INTRODUCTJO~ <br /> <br />Authority <br /> <br />This 2005 Annual Operating Plan (AOP) was developed in accordance with Section 602 of the <br />Colorado River Basin Project Act (Public Law 90-537) and the Criteria for Coordinated Long- <br />Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Project Act of <br />September 30, 1968 (Operating Criteria), promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) <br />pursuant thereto. In accordance with the Colorado River Basin Project Act and the Operating <br />Criteria, the AOP must be developed and administered consistent with applicable Federal laws, the <br />Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, Treaty Between the <br />United States of America and Mexico, signed February 3,1944 (1944 United States-Mexico Water <br />Treaty), interstate compacts, court decrees, Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines (Interim <br />Surplus Guidelines) (66 Federal Register 7772, January 25,2001), Colorado River Water Delivery <br />Agreement (69 Federal Register 12202, March 15,2004), Interim 602(a) Storage Guideline (69 <br />Federal Register 28945, May 19, 2004), and other documents relating to the use of the waters ofthe <br />Colorado River, which are commonly and collectively known as "The Law of the River," <br /> <br />The Operating Criteria and Section 602 of the Colorado River Basin Project Act mandate <br />consultation with representatives ofthe Governors ofthe seven Basin States and such other parties as <br />the Secretary may deem appropriate in preparing the annual plan for operation of the Colorado River <br />reservoirs. In addition, the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 (Title XVIII of Public Law 102- <br />575) requires consultation to include the general public and others. Accordingly, the 2005 AOP was <br />prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation in consultation with the seven Basin States Governors' <br />representatives; the Upper Colorado River Commission; Native American tribes; appropriate Federal <br />agencies; representatives ofthe academic and scientific communities, environmental organizations, <br />and the recreation industry; water delivery contractors; contractors for the purchase of Federal <br />power; others interested in Colorado River operations; and the general public, through the Colorado <br />River Management Work Group (CRMWG). <br /> <br />Purpose <br /> <br />The purposes of the AOP are to determine: (1) the projected operation of the Colorado River <br />reservoirs to satisfy project purposes under varying hydrologic and climatic conditions; (2) the <br />quantity of water considered necessary to be in storage in the Upper Basin reservoirs as of September <br />30,2005, pursuant to Section 602(a) ofthe Colorado River Basin Project Act; (3) water available for <br />delivery pursuant to the 1944 United States-Mexico Water Treaty and Minute No. 242 of the <br />International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico (IBWC); (4) whether the <br />reasonable consumptive use requirements of mainstream users in the Lower Division States will be <br />met under a "Normal," "Surplus," or "Shortage" condition as outlined in Article III ofthe Operating <br />Criteria and as implemented by the Interim Surplus Guidelines; and (5) whether water apportioned <br /> <br />1 <br />