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Unregulated inflow into Lake Powell in water year 1995 was 16,291,000 acre-feet, 139 percent of the long-term average. This inflow resulted in the gain of 4,538,000 acre-feet of storage in Lake Powell. Approximately 987,000 acre-feet of storage was gained in upstream reservoirs. With an additional gain of approximately 968,000acre-feet within the Lower Basin reservoirs, the total Colorado storage system gained approxi- mately 6,493,000 acre-feet during water year 1995. It is now estimated that it would take two years of average inflow to completely fill the storage system. During 1995, all deliveries of water to meet obligations pursuant to "The Law of the River" were maintained. 1. Annual Operating Plan Development The Secretary of the Interior has approved an Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for water year 1996. The Operating Plan was developed through the cooperation of representatives of the seven Basin States, Reclamation, other State and Federal agencies and others interested in Colorado River opera- tions. The AOP reflects uses of the reservoirs for all purposes consistent with the Operating Criteria. The 1 996 AOP calls for the Upper Basin to release from Glen Canyon sufficient water in water year 1996 to equalize, as nearly as practicable. the active reservoir contents of Lakes Powell and Mead on September 30, 1996 in accordance with Article 11(3) of the Operating Criteria unless the minimum objective release criterion in Article 11(2) (8.23 mafl is controlling. In the Lower Basin, taking into account the existing and predicted water supply conditions in the Basin and that the reasonable beneficial consumptive use requirements of the Lower Division States are expected to be less than 7.5 maf, the 1996 AOP states that the "normal" condition is the criterion governing the operation of Lake Mead for calendar year 1 996 in accordance with Article 1I1(3)(a) of the Operating Criteria and Article II(B)(1) of the decree in Arizona v. California. If it becomes evident that water needs in the Lower Division States will exceed 7.5 maf, compensation will be required from any State exceeding the apportionment according to the terms of the AOP. The AOP also states that any Lower Division State will be allowed to utilize apportioned, but unused, water from another Lower Division State in accordance with Article II(B)(6) of the decree in Arizona v. California, provided that the calendar year 1996 consumptive use by mainstream Lower Division States users does not exceed 7.5 maf. The guaranteed annual quantity of 1.5 maf of water will be delivered to Mexico during calendar year 1996 in accordance with Article 15 of the 1944 Mexican Water Treaty and Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission. 59