BOARD00670

• Board Meeting Date: 3/26/2001
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Delta and Inadvertent Overrun Accounting Policy Resolutions
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources

1313 Sherman Street. Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

STATE OF COLORADO

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MEMORANDUM

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
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Rod Kuharich, Director "~
Randy Seaholm, Chief, Water Supply Protection

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lJillOwens
Governor

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

Rod Kuharich
ewes DirectOr

. Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

FROM:

DATE: March 14,2001

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 25(e)t March 26-27,2001 Board Meeting - Colorado
River Basin Issues, Colorado River Governance

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The purpose of this memorandum is to update the Board Members on the Colorado River
Governance issue and seek broad policy guidance. On January 2,2001 the Colorado
River Commission of Nevada (letter attached) proposed a conference to attempt to
establish a fonnal Colorado River governing body. Staff strongly opposed the
establislunent of such a group as both unworkable and unnecessary. Operations on the
Lower Colorado River are governed by a Supreme Court decree where the U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation functions as a river master. In contrast, the Upper Colorado River
operates pursuant to the Upper Colorado River Compact and a Compact Commission that
is already in place.

When issues of mutual concern to both basins have arisen in the past, the seven Colorado
River Basin States have created ad hoc groups and held informal meetings that have
resulted in successful agreement on or resolution of the issues. Most recently, this has
included concurrence on the "Interim Surplus Criteria for Colorado River Reservoirs."
Other examples include the 7\10 discussions which resulted in California's development
of a plan to reduce its use of Colorado River water to itls 4.4 MAF entitlement; and the
Committee of 14 which came to successful agreement on Minute 242 to the 1944
Mexican Treaty and implementation of the Colorado River Salinity Control Program.
Given the success of the ad hoc groups that have formed on an as needed basis, it is hard
to justify a formal organization that would create additional costs and process for dealing
with very complex issues on the Colorado River.

Colorado River Governance ProDosed Poliev Recommendation

Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached policy position.
. Attachments

Flood Protection · Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning