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I J I I t , , J I l I I I I I I "--~ t , I BIOLOGICAL OPINION Proposed Action information becomes available to Reclamation. The forecast is available on request. d. Declaration of surplus In accordance with the Operating Criteria, discussed above, the Secretary shall determine from time to time when mainstream water in quantities greater than "normal" is available for either pumping or release from Lake Mead pursuant to Article I1(b )(2) of the Supreme Court Decree in Arizona v. California, where "normal" is the quantity required to satisfy 7.5 maf of consumptive use. Consumptive use in excess of 7.5 maf is defined as "surplus." Some of the relevant factors to be considered in making such a determination include current and projected contents of Lake Mead and Upper Basin Reservoirs, the estimated inflow to Lake Mead, and the requests for water by holders of mainstream water rights in the United States. A "surplus" condition for a calendar year, if warranted, will be made after consideration of all relevant factors in the Operating Criteria, and after consultation with the Basin States and other interested parties. Generally, a surplus will be declared when there is a high probability that flood control releases will occur, so that water otherwise wasted may be beneficially used. It is highly likely that this will occur within the next five years, therefore, Reclamation is consulting on this likelihood. e. Fulfilling water orders Under normal operating conditions, Reclamation's Yuma Area Office (YAK) receives daily water orders for those water entitlement holders within the United States and Mexico below Parker Dam. Water orders are totaled and submitted to Hoover Dam personnel who then coordinate releases to meet downstream water demand and power demands from Parker, Davis, and Hoover Dams. Mexico submits a daily water order each Wednesday, to cover the following week, through IBWC at Yuma; however, Mexico cannot change its daily water order once it is received, except in the case of an emergency. United States water entitlement holders below Parker Dam also furnish their water orders to YAK each Wednesday; however, United States water entitlement holders may modify their master schedule of water orders at least 3 days in advance of water releases from Parker Dam, and they may also vary from their master schedule on a daily basis if necessary. Release requirements from Parker Dam are equal to the water required by Mexico and United States users downstream of Parker Dam and system losses resulting from transporting the water from Parker Dam to Imperial Dam. When either more or less water than needed by United States entitlement holders arrives at Imperial Dam, storage behind Imperial Dam, Laguna Dam, and Senator Wash Dam is utilized to attempt to regulate incoming Colorado River flows in order to meet actual water demand and prevent over deliveries of water to Mexico. Regulating flows involve either pumping water into 18