CRWUA 2006 Resolutions and Supporting Position Statements

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Imnrovine Capacity to Reeulate Flows Released from Parker Dam The governors' representatives of the seven Colorado River Basin states for Colorado River operations have concluded that the appropriation of additional monies for (1) advancement of new off - stream regulatory storage near the All- American Canal, and (2) work related to removal of sediment from the Colorado River behind Laguna Dam to increase its in- stream regulatory storage capability, is needed in order to save up to 200,000 acre -feet of water annually. Timely action is critical, as the five consecutive years of drought in the Colorado River Basin that occurred during 2000 through 2004 has resulted in tremendous storage reductions in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The lack of sufficient regulatory storage below Parker Dam results in drawing down the upstream storage reservoirs. Water released from Parker Dam takes three days to travel the 143 miles to Imperial Dam, at which point diversions from the River are the greatest and the ability to regulate flows is the least. Unanticipated changes in weather conditions, water use orders, and flow into the River can significantly affect the Bureau of Reclamation's ability to deliver the water ordered by Arizona and California entities, and regulate the River. The limited storage capacity available downstream of Lake Havasu is located principally in Senator Wash Reservoir, operated by Reclamation. This reservoir has a usable storage capacity of over 12,000 acre -feet when full at elevation 251 feet. However, operation restrictions put in place since 1992 due to dam safety concerns prevent raising the reservoir's water surface elevation above 240 feet. These reservoir operating restrictions, which prevent the use of nearly 5,000 acre -feet of storage space, make it much more difficult to regulate the flow of water arriving at Imperial Dam. The efficiency of a water system is largely dependent upon the ability of the operators to manage water on a real - time basis. Additional regulating capacity is needed to optimize beneficial use of Colorado River water in the United States. The Bureau of Reclamation has completed a multi - phased study quantifying the need and options for regulatory storage to improve Colorado River management downstream of Parker Dam. Reclamation concluded that locating a water management reservoir near the All- American Canal, near Drop 2 east of the Imperial Valley, with a capacity of up to 10,000 acre -feet, would greatly benefit the Colorado River Basin States. These benefits include conserving reservoir system storage, improving river regulation and water delivery scheduling, providing opportunities for water conservation, storage and conjunctive use programs, and setting the stage for new cooperative water supply and water quality management endeavors with Mexico. Reclamation funding of $37 million in fiscal year 2007 and $47.2 million in fiscal year 2008 is needed to construct this water management reservoir near the All- American Canal. Funding could be appropriated under the authority of Reclamation's multi - pronged Colorado River Front Work and Levee System, Water and Energy Management and Development Activity, in the Lower Colorado Region's construction budget. While activities on a reservoir near the All- American Canal proceed, there is an immediate need to restore the limited regulatory storage capacity. This can be partly accomplished by excavating sediments that have accumulated behind Laguna Dam since its completion in 1909. Reclamation funding of $3.5 million in fiscal year 2007 and $3.5 million in fiscal year 2008 is needed for implementation of this Yuma Area Projects, Facilities Maintenance and Rehabilitation Activity action, which would restore 1,100 acre -feet of storage behind Laguna Dam. In addition to enhancing the ability to regulate flows arriving at Imperial Dam, it would capture and re- regulate the water periodically released for the proper operation of Imperial Dam, benefiting both the Basin States and Mexico. Habitat restoration and enhancement within this project area may be implemented under the Lower Colorado River Multi - Species Conservation Program. The LCR MSCP Final Biological Assessment indicated that the project included a habitat restoration element designed to benefit riparian and aquatic species. The habitat restoration elements of the project could create wetlands and riparian habitat in or parallel to the excavated channel. Yuma Desalting Plant The United States is currently bypassing an average of more than 100,000 acre -feet of drainage every year from the Wellton- Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District to Mexico without charge against Mexico's entitlement to Colorado River water under the 1944 Treaty with Mexico. The United States is required, as a national obligation under the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, to replace these bypassed flows and thereby conserve Colorado River water for use in the United States. 21