BOARD00748

• Board Meeting Date: 5/24/1999
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - San Juan Recovery Program - Status Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Agenda Item 9d
May 24.25, 1999 Board Meeting
Page 5 of5

Colorado
New Mexico
Reservoir Evap.
Total

ALP Lite
40,880
13,520
2.700
57,100

We believe that ALP depletions of 128,600 af should be allowable concurrently
with the remainder ofNIIP depletions.

Comoact Develooment

Based on the November 1995 "Final Report, Colorado River Compact
Water Development Projection" our best estimate at this time is that the upper
limit of total depletions by the State of Colorado from the San Juan River Basin
may approach 485,000 af (existing and future). Of the amount remaining, we
could assume half occurs above Navajo and half below. The use pattern would be
predominately M&I we expect. However, most of the new use will have to
depend on storage. Therefore, we suggest assuming that much of depletion will
need to come from the peak.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

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Public involvement remains a significant issue for this program, As you
can see from the attached table of depletion estimates, there are still issues to
resolve. We will continue to work to find ways for more public input and
coordination with the San Juan Recovery Program.

FLOW RECOMMENDATIONS AND NAVAJO DAM RELEASE
DECISION TREE

Attached are the flow recommendations and the decision tree adopted to
re-operate Navajo Dam for the benefit of endangered fish. The decision tree will
be used for the first time to re-operate Navajo Dam in 1999. Reclamation will
initiate a Navajo Dam Operations Group in 1999 to perform the same function as
those groups do at Aspinall and Flaming Gorge. Reclamation will also initiate the
required NEP A process to support the suggested re-operations in late June or
early July. Mr. Pat Schumacher will be available to address the CWCB on
Navajo Dam re-operations.

RECOMMENDATION

This is an informational item and staffhas no recommendations,

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