WSP13003

• File Number: 8282.500
• Description: Coordinated Long Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 3/29/2005
• Author: Federal Register
• Title: Long-Range Operating Criteria 6th Review Initiated 1/15/2002 Federal Register notice
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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Federal Register/Vol. 70, No. 59/Tuesday, March 29, 2005/Notices

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November 2002. In this experimental
flow sequence, one or more BHBFs may
be made outside of the established
BHBF triggering criteria. These
experimental flows are considered test
releases and will be made to advance
the scientific knowledge of physical and
biological process in the Grand Canyon
ecosystem. The long-term
implementation of BHBFs will continue
to be carried out consistent with the
Colorado River Storage Project Act,
Colorado River Basin Project Act, and
BHBF triggering criteria.

In November 2004, the first of these
experimental flows that utilized releases
greater than powerplant capacity was
conducted. In this high-flow test, 41,000
cubic feet per second was released from
Glen Canyon Dam for a period of 60
hours. The objective of the test was to
evaluate the conservation of fine
sediments that form beaches, riparian
plant substrate, and endangered fish
habitats. It will take approximately 18
months to fully evaluate the test.

Comment No. 13-(Letter No.4):
Under the Operation of Lake Mead, the
National Park Service thinks that the
Interim Surplus Criteria should replace
the language in Article III(3)(b) defining
"Surplus." At least for the next 15 years,
the Interim Surplus Criteria Record of
Decision defines the relevant factors
that the Secretary must consider in
determining whether water quantities
greater than "normal" are available for
pumping or release from Lake Mead.

Response: The Department does not
agree that Article III(3)(b) language
should be updated to reflect adoption of
the Interim Surplus Guidelines Record
of Decision by the Secretary. The
Department of the Interior specifically
considered, and sought public input on,
the concept of modifying Article III(3)(b)
of the Operating Criteria during the
process that led to adoption ofthe
Interim Surplus Guidelines. See 64 FR
27010 (May 18, 1999). After reviewing
the public comments received, the
Department announced its intention to
adopt "interim implementing criteria
pursuant to Article III(3) of the Long-
Range Operating Criteria" rather than
modifying the actual text of the
Operating Criteria. See 64 FR 68373
(December 7, 1999). This approach was
carried through and set forth in the
Record of Decision adopted by the
Secretary. See 66 FR 7772, 7780 at
section XI(5) ("These Guidelines, which
shall implement and be used for
determinations made pursuant to
Article III(3)(b) of the [Operating
Criteria] * * * are hereby adopted
* * *").

Comment No. 14-(Letters No.4 and
6): The Department should begin a
process for shortage determination.
Response: In the past year
Reclamation has provided data and
information regarding drought analysis
and reservoir operations to
representatives of the seven Colorado
River Basin States, the Western Area
Power Administration, and non-
governmental organizations that have
expressed an interest. Reclamation
continues to monitor reservoir storage
and basin hydrologic conditions and
anticipates beginning a process in
spring 2005 to evaluate alternatives
regarding the development of shortage
guidelines for the delivery of water to
the three Lower Division States
(Arizona, California, and Nevada).
Comment No. 15-(Letter No.6): As
noted in the January 15,2002, Federal
Register notice (67 FR 1986), the
Secretary's consultation responsibilities
have been specifically extended to
encompass the general public. We
recommend that this responsibility be
reflected in the Operating Criteria by
adding the phrase "and the public" to
the end of the second introductory
paragraph.
Response: The Department agrees that
section 1804 of the Grand Canyon
Protection Act specifically modifies
Federal law applicable to the Operating
Criteria, and by that Act, Congress
extended the consultation process to
encompass the general public. The
Department has included a modification
to reflect this responsibility.
Comment No. 16--(Letters No.6 and
17): The Grand Canyon Protection Act
(Pub. L. 102-575) charged the Secretary
with operating Glen Canyon Dam "in
such a manner as to protect, mitigate
impacts to, and improve the values for
which Grand Canyon National Park and
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
were established." We recommend that
the protection and enhancement of
these values be inserted as reservoir
uses that are considered in developing
the annual operating plan under Article
1(2) of the Operating Criteria by adding
the phrase "protection of cultural
resources" after "water quality control"
and before "recreation" and by adding
the phrase "protection and
enhancement of fish and wildlife"
before "and other environmental
factors."
Response: See response to Comment
No. 10.
Comment No. 17-(Letter No.6):
Although the phrase "recurrence of
critical periods of water supply" that is
included in Article H(l)(d) may have
been universally understood when the
Operating Criteria were originally

established, its meaning is unclear to us.
We recommend that either a definition
ofthis phrase be included in the
definitions section or that the entire
clause beginning with the word
"including" be deleted.
Response: The term "critical period"
is used twice in the Operating Criteria.
A "critical period" is a general concept
used in water supply planning
representing a sequence of drier than
average years with below normal runoff.
Water supply management must
account for these periods of below
normal runoff and their "recurrence" to
assure a consistent supply of water. As
used in the context of Colorado River
management, the phrase "recurrence of
critical periods" means: the frequency at
which critical periods (sequences of
years with below normal runoff) have
occurred in the past and are likely to
recur in the future. The Department
believes that the current language in the
Operating Criteria is relevant and
should remain in the Operating Criteria.
The Department does not agree that this
term requires a specific definition.
Comment No. 18-(Letter No.6): We
question whether the "Report of the
Committee on Probabilities and Test
Studies to the Task Force on Operating
Criteria for the Colorado River," dated
October 30,1969, which is referenced in
Article H(l)(e) ofthe Operating Criteria,
still has relevance in determiniug 602(a)
Storage. We request either that
Reclamation provide us with a copy of
that report or a summary of it, or that
Article H(l)(e) be deleted from the
Operating Criteria.
Response: As requested, a copy of the
"Report of the Committee on
Probabilities and Test Studies to the
Task Force on Operating Criteria for the
Colorado River" has been made
available on our Web site at http://
www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/1roc.
Comment No. 19-(Letters No.6 and
17): The Secretary and her agencies are
engaged in modification of river
operations in various parts of the basin
in order to meet their responsibilities
under the Endangered Species Act. In
order to reflect these changes, we
recommend that a new subsection be
added to Article II(1) that reads:
"Streamflow requirements of fish and
wildlife, and other environmental
values. "
Response: The Department notes that
Article H(l) of the Operating Criteria is
applicable to, and lists relevant factors
for, determination of 602(a) Storage. The
Operating Criteria are "administered
consistent with applicable Federal
laws" (which include the Endangered
Species Act). See introductory
paragraph of Operating Criteria. As with