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<br />January 7, 2004 <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Authority <br /> <br />This 2004 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 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty), <br />interstate compacts, court decrees, the Record of Decision, Colorado River Interim Surplus <br />Guidelines Final Environmental Impact Statement (Interim Surplus Guidelines) (66 FR 7772), and <br />other documents relating to the use of the waters of the Colorado River, which are commonly and <br />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 of the Governors of the seven Basin States and such other parties <br />as the Secretary may deem appropriate in preparing the annual plan for operation of the Colorado <br />River reservoirs. In addition, The Grand Canyon Protection Act of 199 2 (Title XVIII of Public Law <br />102-575) requires consultation to include the general public and others. Accordingly, the 2004 AOP <br />was prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in consultation with the seven Basin <br />States Governors= representatives; the Upper Colorado River Commission; Native American Tribes; <br />appropriate Federal agencies; representatives of the academic and scientific communities, <br />environmental organizations, and the recreation industry; water delivery contractors; contractors for <br />the purchase of Federal power; others interested in Colorado River operations; and the general <br />public, through the Colorado 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 as of September 30,2004, to be in storage in the Upper Basin <br />reservoirs as required by Section 602(a) of The Colorado River Basin Project Act; (3) water <br />available for delivery pursuant to the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty and Minute No. 242 ofthe <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 ANormal,@ ASurplus,@ or AShortage@ condition as outlined in Article III of the <br />Operating Criteria; and (5) whether water apportioned to, but unused by one or more Lower Division <br />States exists and can be used to satisfy beneficial consumptive use requests of mainstream users in <br />other Lower Division States as provided in the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court Decree in Arizona v. <br />California (Decree), and the Interim Surplus Guidelines. <br />