BOARD00289

• Board Meeting Date: 3/21/2002
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Colorado River Coordinated Long-Range Operating Criteria Five Year Review
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to
the Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 30, 1968 (public Law 90-537)

These Operating Criteria are promulgated in compliance with Section 602 of Public Law
90-537. They are to control the coordinated long-range operation of the storage reservoirs in the
Coloraao River Basin constructed under the authority of the Colorado River Storage Project Act
(hereinafter "Upper Basin Storage Reservoirs") and the Boulder Canyon Project Act (Lake
Mead), The Operating Criteria will be administered consistent with applicable Federal laws, the
Mexican Water Treaty, interstate compacts, and decrees relating to the use of the waters of the
Colorado River.
The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter the "Secretary") may modifY the Operating
Criteria from time to time in accordance with Section 602(b) of Public Law 90-537. The
Secretary will sponsor a formal review of the Operating Criteria at least every 5 years, with
participation by State representatives as each Governor may designate and such other parties and
agencies as the Secretary may deem appropriate.

I.

Annual Report

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(1) On January 1, 1972, and on January 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary shall
transmit to the Congress and to the Governors of the Colorado River Basin States a report
describing the actual operation under the adopted criteria for the preceding compact water
year and the projected plan of operation for the current year.
(2) The plan of operation shall include such detailed rules and quantities as may be
necessary and consistent with the criteria contained herein, and shall reflect appropriate
consideration of the uses ofthe reservoirs for all purposes, including flood control, river
. regulation, beneficial consumptive uses, power production, water quality control,
recreation, enhancement of fish and wildlife, and other environmental factors. The
projected plan of operation may be revised to reflect the current hydrologic conditions,
and the Congress and the Governors ofthe Colorado River Basin States shall be advised
of any changes by June of each year.

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Operation of Upper Ba.sin Reservoirs

(1) The armual plan of operation shall include a determination by the Secretary of the
quantity of water considered necessary as of September 30 of that year to be in storage as
required by Section 602(a) of Public Law 90-537 (hereinafter "602(a) Storage"). The
'quantity of 602( a) Storage shall be determined by the Secretary after consideration of all
applicable laws and relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Historic streamflows;
(b) The most critical period of record;
(c) Probabilities of water supply;
(d) Estimated future depletions in the upper basin, including the effects of
recurrence of critical periods of water supply;

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