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Colorado River Salinity at the International Boundary with Mexico: We have just learned that there may be a problem with maintaining deliveries of Colorado River water to Mexico within water quality . limit of 115 ppm +\- 30 ppm of that arriving at ImperiallDam established by Minute 242 of the Treaty. Weare not certain of the reasons for this at this time and ,have asked Reclamation to look into the cause. It could be due in part to increased pumping of the Yuma groundwater mound coupled with current drought conditions. In any event if the target is exceeded, Reclamation must either operate the Yuma Desalter or provide dilution flows in order to meet the re;quirement. If such water comes from Lake Mead, it would effect equalization between Lakes Powell and Mead. We will monitor this situation and keep you informed. Gunnison River Basin Issues Black Canyon ofthe Gunnison National Park Feder~l Reserved Water Right Quantification: The Colorado Supreme Court decided that the National Parli Service's (NPS) Black Canyon Reserved Right Filing will be heard in Division 4 Water Court. Object<!>rs to the NPS filing, including the state of Colorado, Colorado River Water Conservation District 'and Upper Gurmison River Water Conservancy District, worked together to submit proposed conditions for a stay oflitigation to facilitate negotiations. The NPS and Department of Justice received the proposal on March 8. The Department of Justice stated that they are postponing their response to the proposal until June because the new administration at the Department of Interior have ordered an internal revieW, of the NPS claim and will hold a meeting in early June to discuss it. The last word from Justice is ~at they remain unable to agree on a position. As a result, John McClow has filed a motion to r~refer t!\e case to the water judge. We will be discussing litigation strategy in executive session. Field Trips to the Mt. Emmons Iron Fen and the Spring Creek Spring: On June 25 Dan Merriman, Mark Uppendahl and Greg Espegren along with Jay Skinner of the CDOW and AleX Davis of the AGO . met with the participants in the Mt. Emmons Iron Fen contested case. The participants included Brian Nazarenus & Anne Beierle of the Mount Emmons Mine; John Almy, Polly Hays, Randy Brainer, Bob Storch and David Merritt of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS); Bart Miller representing TU and Steve Glazer of HCCA. The field trips allowed the particip:ants and staff an opportunity to visit the Iron Fen and the Spring Creek Spring to discuss concerns about the Board's proposed application. Both the Iron Fen and Spring Creek are water featur~s located on USFS land. Fens are described as lowland areas covered with water, or marshes. They are of concern to .the USFS and that agency has devoted substantial resources to understanding how fens work and what the role of groundwater/surface water is with regards to protecting a fen. Iron fens are rarer then other types of fens, and the Mt. Emmons Iron Fen is one of a very few of such fens located in Colorado. Spring Creek is a creek that begins as a large spring! Similar to the Fen, the ground water/surface water connection is not fully understood. Because ofthe ~ignificant connection between groundwater and surface water for both of these features, the USFS h,as designated a fen/spring specialist to study the groundwater/surface water connections of both the iron Fen and Spring Creek. . 18 -..