9416

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9416
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Annual Operating Plan for Colorado River Reservoirs 1997.
• USFW Year: 1997.
• USFW - Doc Type: Washington, D.C.
• Copyright Material: NO

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While there is no agreed-upon. surplus strategy, the most conservative strategy investigated in
preparing the 1997 AOP concerned the utilization of additional water in reservoir storage resulting
in the avoidance oftlood control releases at the 30 percent exceedance probability of inflow to Lake
Powell. This and other strategies seek to decrease the risk of flood control releases from Hoover
Dam, which allows increased beneficial use ofwater in the United States. Possible impacts of a 1997
surplus detennination were evaluated in tenns of effects on reservoir elevations and releases and
increased risk of future shortages. This analysis showed that the 1997 surplus determination will
cause neither significant effects on reservoir contents in Lakes Powell and Mead nor significant
additional risk of future shortages in Arizona.

The amount of additional mainstream water being made available during calendar year 1997 is limited
to that quantity required to satisfy the beneficial consumptive use requirements of Colorado River
mainstream water users in the Lower Division States with valid contracts or Federal or decreed
entitlements. The making of this determination does not preclude the Secretary from adopting other
detennination criteria in future years. Furthermore, neither this determination nor the basis on which
it was made constitutes a precedent for future determinations.m
It is my intention that Glen Canyon Dam will be operated on a long-term basis in conformance with
the proposal descn"bed in the 1997 AOP regarding BeachlHabitat Building Flows.

Anticipated increase in uses of Colorado River water dictate that the efficient use of water must be
a priority to properly manage the resource. Consultations concerning water conservation measures
and operating practices will be carried out under Title 43 CFR 417, Procedural Methods for
Implementing Colorado River Water Conservation Measures with Lower Basin Contractors and
Others.

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