7754

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7754
• Author: Harris, R., H. Sersland and F. P. Sharpe.
• Title: Realities of Providing Water for Endangered Fishes in the Upper Colorado River System.
• USFW Year: 1981.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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year and in future years will be governed by the terms of the "Long-Range

Operating Criteria for Colorado River Reservoirs" that were established in

1970 . d . h . 1 I f h 1 6 . B' P' A 1/
1n accor ance W1t T1t e V 0 t e 9 8 Colorado R1ver aS1n rOJect ct-.

The major purposes of,the Operating Criteria are to establish the factors and

applicable laws which determine how much water should be stored in Upper Basin

Reservoirs and to establish m1n1mum quantities of water to be released. The

criteria are reviewed every 5 years and are subject to modification by the

Secretary of Interior.

In addition, each reservoir has its own operating procedures which are generally

governed by flood control criteria, downstream demands, energy production require-

ments, and minimum releases for fishery purposes and recreation. Operational

flexibility normally exists within the major mainstem facilities to provide

needed flows for a variety of purposes. Balancing those needs now and in the

future will be Reclamation"s biggest challenge.

C. Political Realities

As the Upper Basin States develop their entitlement to Colorado River water,

consumptive uses will increase and therefore less water will be available for

instre,rn uses. Obviously, operational flexibility will decrease as specific

uses increase,

With the mains tern Colorado River Storage Systems 1n place and filled with water,

the useable or controllable yield of the~ystem at Lee Ferry 1S about 14.0 MAF

(the remaining 1.0 MAF is not controllable). The consumptive use 1n the Upper

1/ Act of September 30, 1968, Public Law 90-537, 82 Stat. 885.