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<br />the active water stored in Lake Powell and Lake Mead (for so long as Upper Basin 10- <br />year water delivery obligations are satisfied). <br /> <br />Response: Under the Operating Criteria, Lake Powell storage drops below Lake Mead <br />storage during periods of drought. When there is a return to average or above average <br />inflow, Lake Powell storage recovers faster than storage recovers in Lake Mead. The <br />602(a) Storage requirement allows water storage in Lake Powell to be greater than water <br />storage in Lake Mead in the period following a drought. Maintaining storage equal in <br />Lake Powell and Lake Mead as an operating strategy would be counter to the 602(a) <br />Storage requirement and could put the Upper Basin at risk of not having enough water in <br />storage for future droughts. The Department will continue to address low reservoir <br />storage caused by drought in the Annual Operating Plan consultation process. In <br />addition, see response to Comments No. 34 and 38. <br /> <br />Comment No. 43 - (Letter No. 20): The Operating Criteria of Glen Canyon Dam need to <br />be revisited. When.all needs are considered, it would be better to treat Lakes Mead and <br />Powell more similarly, or better yet, to apply your normal system Operating Criteria to <br />the operation of Glen Canyon Dam. <br /> <br />Response: See response to Comments No. 34,38, and 42. <br /> <br />Comment No. 44 - (Letter No. 21): The technical changes proposed in the current <br />Operating Criteria review seem to make sense in order to keep the document current with <br />regards to updated legislation and rules. <br /> <br />Response: Comment noted. <br /> <br />Comment No. 45 - (Letter No. 21): With the current drought and the ongoing discussions <br />by the seven Colorado River Basin States as to how to cope with low storage levels in the <br />system, it would be appropriate for this review of the Operating Criteria to serve as the <br />current review for at least the next five years. During this time, the seven Basin States <br />will be working together to provide additional guidelines dealing with shortages. . Similar <br />to the Interim Surplus Guidelines process, if and when shortage guidelines are agreed to <br />and given time to develop operational experience, it would be appropriate to again review <br />the Operating Criteria. <br /> <br />Response: See response to Comment No. 35. <br /> <br />Comment No. 46 - (Letter No. 22): Page Electric Utility strongly believes that the water <br />level of Lake Powell should be maintained at or above elevation 3,490 feet to maintain <br />the minimum power pool. <br /> <br />Response: See response to Comments No. 34 and 39. <br /> <br />26 <br /> <br />