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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR WASHINGTON DEe I 4 sm Honorable Kenny Guinn Govemor of Nevada Carson City, Nevada 89701 Dear Governor Guinn: The Bureau of Reclamation, after consultation atameeting on August 10, 1999, with representatives of the Colorado River Basin States, the Upper Colorado River Commission, appropriate Federal agencies. Indian tribes, and other interested panies in Colorado River operations, established the 2000 Annual Operating Plan (AOP) which is contained in the CDClosed 29* Annual Report and 2000. Annual Operating Plan for Colomdo River System Reservoits. The plan of operation reflects use of the reservoirs for all pwposes consistent with the "Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of the Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 30. 1968" (Operating Criteria). Pursuant to required Secretarial determinations, storage eqml1i~tion and the avoidance of spills will control the annual releases from Glen Canyon Dam in accordance with Article II(3) of the Opemting Criteria unless the minimum objective release criterion in Article II(2) is controlling. If the equalization criterion is controlling, Glen Canyon Dam will be operated to release sufficient water during water year 2000 to equalize, as nearly as practicable, the active resewoir contents of Lake Powell and Lake Mead by September 30, 2000. Taking into account (I) the existing water supply conditions in the basin, (2) the most probable near- term water supply conditions in the basin, and (3) that the beneficial consumptive use requirementsof Colorado Rivermaiustrcarn users in the Lower Division States are expected to be more than 9,250 MCM (7.5 MAF), the smpJus condition is the criterion governing the operation ofLakc Mead for calendar year 2000 in accordance with Article ill(3)(b) oftbe Operating Criteria and Article U(B)(2) of the decree in Arizona v. California. This detennination is warranted based on the current and projected hydrologic conditions in the Colorado River Basin and water needs in the Lower Division States, utili7.ing an analysis of future reservoir conditions, Lake Powell releases. and flood control releases. A volume of2,097 MCM (1.7 MAF) ofwaterwill be allowed to be scheduled for delivery to Mexico during calendar year 2000 in accordance with Article 15 of the 1944 Mexican Tremy and Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission.