Agenda Item 17: Water Supply Protection - Colorado River 7-State Agreement Approval

Home Browse Search

January 23 -24, 2007 Board Meeting Agenda Item 17 Page 2 of 6 June 15, 2005, the US Bureau of Reclamation published a Federal Register notice to begin the NEPA process to develop the shortage criteria and coordinated operations with a deadline for completion of the process by December 31, 2007. On August 25, 2005 Governor's representatives for the 7 -Basin States (Scott Balcomb, Rod Kuharich, for the State of Colorado and Jim Lochhead in his capacity as private legal counsel for several of Colorado's major water users) wrote a letter to the Secretary of Interior stating the 7- States had agreed on a 3- pronged strategy for improving management and operations of the Colorado River. First, the states, working with Reclamation, would develop Lower Basin shortage criteria in conjunction with new coordinated operating criteria for Lakes Powell and Mead under low reservoir conditions. Second, the states, working with Reclamation, would look for ways to improve system efficiency and management. Finally the states would look for ways to augment the water supplies of the Colorado River. On February 3, 2006, the 7- States sent a letter to the Secretary containing a draft of the proposed agreement. Since then, the States have further refined that agreement, the latest version of which is dated December 18, 2006. The agreement is specifically designed to comport with the Compacts and the "Law of the River" but seeks to find flexibility within the law to further the objectives in the 3 areas identified. Summary and Status of the 3- Pron2ed Approach • NEPA Process The US Bureau of Reclamation initiated the NEPA process for the development of Lower Basin shortage criteria and the coordinated operations of Lakes Powell and Mead under low reservoir conditions on June 15, 2005. To date, USBR has completed the Scoping Process and identified 5 alternatives that it will be evaluate in the NEPA process: 1) the Basin States Proposal; 2) a conservation before shortage proposal developed by the environmental community; 3) a water supply alternative; 4) a preservation of reservoir storage option; and, 5) a no action alternative that continues the existing coordinated long -range operating criteria. We anticipate the release of a draft EIS for review by February 28, 2007, with a final EIS in September 2007 and a Record of Decision issued by December 31, 2007. A matrix providing -a brief overview of the alternatives and the states proposal is attached for reference. States Proposal Lower Basin Shortage Guidelines: The Lower Basin proposes to take shortages in incremental amounts that are tied to reservoir elevations in Powell and Mead. Those increments are 400,000 AF, 500,000 AF or 600,000 AF annually, larger amounts are possible but the Secretary would need to consult further with the states before making larger reductions. Most of the shortage will be born by the Central Arizona Project, but some portion can be charged to Mexico and Nevada. The details of the split remain to be is worked out and could depend on how other portions of the agreement are implemented.