Annual Operating Plan For Colorado River Reservoirs 2004

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' January 7, 2004 2 INTRODUCTION Authority This 2004 annual operating plan (AOP) was developed in accordance with Section 602 of The Colorado River Basin Project Act (Public Law 90 -537), and the Criteria for Coordinated Long- ' . Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado RiverBasin ProjectAct of September 30, 1968 (Operating Criteria), promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) pursuant thereto. In accordance with The Colorado River Basin Project Act and the Operating Criteria, the AOP must be developed and administered consistent with applicable Federal laws, The Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, Treaty Between the United States of America and Mexico, signed February 3, 1944 (1944 U.S.- Mexico Water Treaty), interstate compacts, court decrees, the Record of Decision, Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines Final Environmental Impact Statement (Interim Surplus Guidelines) (66 FR 7772), and other documents relating to the use of the waters of the Colorado River, which are commonly and ' collectively known as "The Law of the River." The Operating Criteria and Section 602 of The Colorado River Basin Project Act mandate consultation with representatives of the Governors of the seven Basin States and such other parties as the Secretary may deem appropriate in preparing the annual plan for operation of the Colorado River reservoirs. In addition, The Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 (Title XVIII of Public Law 102- 575) requires consultation to include the general public and others. Accordingly, the 2004 AOP was prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in consultation with the seven Basin States Governors' representatives; the Upper Colorado River Commission; Native American Tribes; appropriate Federal agencies; representatives of the academic and scientific communities, environmental organizations, and the recreation industry; water delivery contractors; contractors for the purchase of Federal power; others interested in Colorado River operations; and the general public, through the Colorado River Management Work Group (CRMWG). '. Purpose The purposes of the AOP are to determine: (1) the projected operation of the Colorado River ' reservoirs to satisfy project purposes under varying hydrologic and climatic conditions; (2) the quantity of water considered necessary as of September 30, 2004, to be in storage in the Upper Basin ' reservoirs as required by Section 602(a) of The Colorado River Basin Project Act; (3) water available for delivery pursuant to the 1944 U.S.- Mexico Water Treaty and Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico (IB WC); (4) whether the reasonable consumptive use requirements of mainstream users in the Lower Division States will be met under a "Normal," "Surplus," or "Shortage" condition as outlined in Article III of the Operating Criteria; and (5) whether water apportioned to, but unused by one or more Lower Division States texists and can be used to satisfy beneficial consumptive use requests of mainstream users in other