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Consistent with the above determinations and in accordance with other provisions of "The Law <br />of the River," the AOP was developed with "appropriate consideration of the uses of the <br />reservoirs for all purposes, including flood control, river regulation, beneficial consumptive uses, <br />power production, water quality control, recreation, enhancement of fish and wildlife, and other <br />environmental factors" (Operating Criteria, Article I(2)). <br />Since the hydrologic conditions of the Colorado River Basin can never be completely known in <br />advance, the AOP addresses the operations resulting from three different hydrologic scenarios: <br />the probable maximum, most probable, and probable minimum reservoir inflow conditions. <br />River operations under the plan are modified during the year as runoff predictions are adjusted <br />to reflect existing snowpack, basin storage, and flow conditions. <br />Summary <br />Upper Basin Delivery. Storage equalization and the avoidance of spills will control the annual <br />releases from Glen Canyon Dam in accordance with Article II(3) of the Operating Criteria unless <br />the minimum objective release criterion in Article II(2) is controlling. Downstream Lower Basin <br />deliveries and /or flood control parameters are expected to control the releases from Hoover <br />Dam. <br />Lower Basin Uses. Taking into account (1) the existing water storage conditions in the basin, <br />(2) the most probable near -term water supply conditions in the basin, and (3) that the beneficial <br />consumptive use requirements of Colorado River mainstream users in the Lower Division States <br />are expected to be more than 9,250 MCM (7.5 MAF), the surplus condition is the criterion <br />governing the operation of Lake Mead for calendar year 1998 in accordance with Article <br />III(3)(b) of the Operating Criteria and Article II(B)(2) of the decree in Arizona v. California. <br />Any Lower Division State will be allowed to utilize water apportioned to, but unused by, another <br />Lower Division State, in accordance with Article II(B)(6) of the decree in Arizona v. California. <br />1944 Mexican Water Treaty Delivery. A volume of 2,096 MCM (1.7 MAF) of water may be <br />scheduled for delivery to Mexico during calendar year 1998 in accordance with Article 15 of the <br />1944 Mexican Water Treaty and Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water <br />Commission. <br />September 3, 1997 2 <br />