BOARD00320

• Board Meeting Date: 3/21/2006
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Update on 7-State Proposal to Reclamation
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Seven Basin States' Preliminary Proposal Rel!:ardinl!: Colorado River Interim Operations

The Seven Basin States (States) have worked together to recommend interim operations to the
Secretary that should minimize shortages in the Lower Basin and avoid the risk of curtaihnent in
the Upper Basin through conservation, more efficient reservoir operations, and long-term
alternatives to bring additional water into the Colorado River community.

The States' recommendation has three key elements. First, the States propose to manage the
reservoirs to minimize shortages and avoid curtaihnents. Second, the States have identified
actions in the Lower Basin to conserve water. Third, the States recommend a specific proposal
for implementing shortages in the Lower Basin. Finally, the States recognize the need for
additional water supplies to meet the current and future needs in the Basin.

Section 1. Allocation of Unused Basic Apportionment Water under Article II(B)(6)

A. Introduction

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Article II(B)(6) of the 1964 Decree in Arizona v, California (Decree) allows the
Secretary to allocate water that is apportioned to one Lower Division State, but is for any
reason unused in that State, to another Lower Division State, This determination is made
for one year only and no rights to recurrent use of the water accrue to the State that
receives the allocated water.

B.

Application of Unused Basic Apportionment

Before making a determination of a surplus condition under this proposal, the Secretary
will determine the quantity of apportioned but unused water under Article II (B)(6), and
will allocate such water in the following order of priority.

1. Meet the direct delivery domestic use requirements of the Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California, (MWD) and the Southern Nevada
Water Authority (SNW A), as allocated between them by agreement.

2. Meet the needs of off stream banking activities by MWD in California and
SNW A in Nevada, as allocated between them by agreement.

3. Meet the other needs for water in California in accordance with the
California Seven-Party Agreement as supplemented by the Quantification
Settlement Agreement.

Section 2.

Coordinated Operation of Lakes Powell and Mead

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Figure I describes the operating strategy that has been agreed to by the Colorado River Basin
States.

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