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<br />~ <br /> <br />are unconvinced of IIQ' s commitment to conserYa.tllm. The reason is illustrated by the ~ <br />attached chart. lID's water use has not diminished des ite etro olitan's substantial ..,J. ~ <br />a me ts t 0 Os. We do agree, , ~ <br />however, that until th~ Salton Sea reclamation QJ1estion is settled, and state and federal <br />policies on fully protected and endangered species relative to the transfer are fIxed either <br />through legislative or financial means, it will be difficult to execute a QSA that meets the <br />expectations of the Department of the Interior and the other Basin States. Absent an <br />alternative and a more certain plan to reduce our reliance on Colorado River water, the <br />Interim Surplus Guidelines are likely to remain suspended. <br /> <br />5. While we are seeking to make an informed and balanced business decision on the QSA, <br />we also are evaluating water supply availability. The attached graphs, illustrating <br />Metropolitan's projected 2003 water supplies under conservative and expected <br />conditions, reflect our current thinking. The availability of supplies over the next two <br />years demonstrate our diverse investments in conservation and alternative resources, that <br />would enable us to aveI:! a water crisi~ withrmt thf> i1]1mp.c1illtp. p.:l(p.cntinv of the QSA. We <br />have the necessary time to carefully consider our business decisions on water supplies. <br />This water supply perspective can be best understood when considering our basic <br />operating philosophy. Please consider: <br /> <br />a. Metropolitan's State Water Project (SWP) annual entitlement is 2 million-<!X,re <br />feet. Our Colorado River annual water supply "oal..is..illJ.oJJ1 ] 2 million-acre <br />feet (the total amount we can physically move through our Colorado River <br />Aqueduct). Our basic Colorado River water supply allcu:;ro:ion.is.j50.00Q....acre <br />feet. <br /> <br />b. Our Integrated Resources Plan recognizes that we are not likely to receive our <br />full SWP supply or meet our Colorado River water supply goal every year. In <br />multiple dry years, we may receive substantially less. <br /> <br />c. Our plans are therefore founded on several simple objectives: <br /> <br />1. Water conservation, recycling, groundwater clean-up and storage, <br />seawater desalination and local supplies programs with our member <br />agencies that can reliably reduce the need for more imported water <br />supplies. <br /> <br />11. Develop the s~age and drY-year transfer ca~a.Qili!Y to import as <br />much as possible within our SWP and Colorado River contract <br />entitlements in wet years when the water is available with the least <br />environmental impact. We must be prepared to significantly reduce <br />imports in dry years when the SWP and Colorado River water <br />system may be under stress. <br /> <br />111. Aggressively develop treatment options and complementary water <br />transfer and exchange programs that provide more flexibility in <br />meeting current and future water quality standards. <br /> <br />-4- <br />