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<br />January 7,2004 18 <br />The Secretary is currently considering information submitted to the Department ofthe Interior by <br />the Colorado River Basin States (65 Federal Register 48537, August 8, 2000) whereby 602(a) <br />storage requirements determined in accordance with Article II (I) of the Operating Criteria would <br />utilize a value o.fnot less than 14.85 maf (elevation 3,630 feet) for Lake Powell through the year <br />2016. Reclamation is currently conducting a NEPA process to determine the effects of the Basin <br />States proposed 602(a) storage. A draft Environmental Assessment titled "Adoption of an Interim <br />602(a) Storage Guideline" was released in September 2003. <br /> <br />Lake Mead <br /> <br />In accordance with Article III(3)(a) of the Operating Criteria, Article II(B)(I) of the Decree, and <br />Section 5(B) of the Interim Surplus Guidelines, the criterion governing the operation of Lake Mead <br />was the Normal condition from January I, 2003, through October 9, 2003. The Full Domestic <br />Surplus condition governed the operation of Lake Mead from October 10,2003 through December <br />31,2003, in accordance with Article III(3)(b) of the Operating Criteria, Article II(B)(2) of the <br />Decree, and Section 2(B)(2) of the Interim Surplus Guidelines. A volume of 1.5 maf(1,850 mcm) of <br />. water was scheduled for delivery to Mexico in accordance with Article 15 of the 1944 U.S.-Mexico <br />Treaty and Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission. <br /> <br />Lake Mead began water year 2003 at elevation 1,155.42 feet (352 meters), with 17.1 maf(21,093 <br />mcm) in storage, 66 percent of the conservation capacity of25.877 maf(31,919 mcm). During the <br />year, Lake Mead steadily declined and reached its minimum elevation of 1141.93 feet (348 meters) <br />at the end of July 2003, with 15.6 maf (19,243) in storage, 60 percent of capacity. <br /> <br />The total release from Lake Mead through Hoover Dam during water year 2003 was 9.46 maf <br />(11,669 mcm). Calendar year 2003 total release is projected to be 9.39 maf (11,582 mcm). <br />Consumptive use from Lake Mead during calendar year 2003 by the Robert Griffith Water Project is <br />projected to be 0.280 maf (345 mcm). <br /> <br />Under the most probable inflow conditions during water year 2004, Lake Mead will be at its <br />maximum elevation of 1141.22 feet (348 meters) at the end of October 2003 and will decline during <br />the water year to reach its minimum elevation of 1127.74 feet (344 meters) at the end of July 2004. <br />Releases from Lake Mead for water year 2004 are projected to be 9.53 maf(11,755 mcm). Forthe <br />2004 calendar year, total releases are projected to be 9.65 maf(11,903 mcm). For the purpose of <br />projections, estimated releases are based on the Partial Domestic Surplus condition as the criterion <br />governing the operation of Lake Mead. No tlood control releases would be required during water <br />year 2004 under any of the three intlow scenarios. <br /> <br />The Interim Surplus Guidelines Record of Decision included ESA conservation measures. One such <br />conservation measure specified in Article X(4)(1) includes provisions for spawning razorback <br />suckers in Lake Mead. Reclamation continues to provide funding and support for the ongoing Lake <br />Mead Razorback Sucker study. The focus of the study has been on locating populations of <br />razorbacks in Lake Mead, documenting use and availability of spawning areas at various water <br />elevations, continuing ageing studies, and confirming recruitment events. No changes in operations <br />were made in water year 2003 to provide rising spring water surface elevations for spawning <br /> <br />