BOARD00680

• Board Meeting Date: 7/24/2000
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - California 4.4 Plan and Interim Surplus/Shortage Criteria
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Agenda Item 2 I f
July 24-25, 2000 Board Meeting
Page 2 of3

. Operation Criteria Related to Surplus, Normal, and Shortage Year Declarations" on
December 4, 1998. California submitted a separate operating criteria proposal.
Subsequently, California has satisfied the conditions of the six basin states as
illustrated in Attachment 3 and the seven basin states have jointly developed proposed
interim surplus and shortage criteria. The seven-state proposal will be provided to
Reclamation on July 18, 2000 or as soon as possible thereafter. I will bring the proposal
sent to Reclamation to the board meeting and include it as Attachment 4 hereto.

Discussion

Attachment 2 contains materials that illustrate the seven state interim surplus and
shortage criteria proposal and the likely impacts. The following is a brief overview of the
proposal.

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I. Normal Year - Lake Mead is at or below elevation 1125 but above the
shortage trigger level.
2. Partial Domestic Surplus - Lake Mead is between elevations 1125 and 1145.
SNW A would receive one-half of demands in excess on Nevada's 300,000 AF
apportionment. MWD would receive 1,212,000 AF reduced by the amount
of basic apportionment available to MWD and offsets from offstream
groundwater withdrawals and other options. No surplus for any other
purposes would be declared.
3. Full Domestic Surplus - Lake Mead above elevation 1145 but less than
amount that would initiate surplus under flood control criteria or an R 70
strategy. MWD would receive 1,250,000 AF reduced by the amount of basic
apportionment available to MWD. SNW A would receive the direct delivery
domestic demands within the SNW A service area in excess of 300,000 AF
apportionment. Arizona would receive contracted direct delivery domestic
demands in excess of Arizona's basic apportionment. No surplus for other
purposes would be declared.
4. Quantified Surplus - Using either flood control criteria or the R70 strategy,
surplus would be allocated 50% to California, 46% to Arizona and 4% to
Nevada but assuring that domestic demands are fully met first from Arizona's
surplus. However, only under flood control surplus would all demands be
fully satisfied, including surplus deliveries to Mexico.
5. The Secretary would declare a shortage when future water supply and
demands create a 20% probability or greater that Lake Mead would drop
below elevation 1050 (SNW A upper intake) in any year prior to and including
2050. Shortages would be distributed according to existing law.
6. During the interim period, 602(a) storage protection in Lake Powell shall not
be less than 14.85 maf (elevation 3630).
7. These guidelines would be implemented through the findings and
determinations made during the annual AOP process for the Lower Basin.
California shall report annually to the Secretary on the progress made in
implementing California's water plan.

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