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<br />Agenda Item 24 <br />March 22-23,2005 Board Meeting <br />Page 2 of2 <br /> <br />minimum objective release from 8.23 MAP to as low as 7.48 MAP. The LB States have indicated . <br />that they intend to oppose any reduction in the annual minimum objective release. <br /> <br />The seven state technical committee has been reconvened and given the charge to see if they could <br />develop a short term solution that all States could support, such that the annual minimum objective <br />release could be less than 8.23 MAP, but still assure sufficient protection for the uppermost Las <br />Vegas intake in Lake Mead. The technical committee is meeting on March 18, and Randy Seaholm <br />will update the Board on the outcome of that meeting. <br /> <br />Lower Basin Shortal!e Criteria <br />In addition, Reclamation and the LB are in the process of developing shortage criteria, pursuant to <br />the Secretary of Interior's direction. Related to the development of shortage criteria, the Department <br />of Interior has also initiated conversations with the State Department to explore issues related to <br />shortage language contained in the 1944 Mexican Treaty. In particular, these agencies have begun to <br />explore the meaning of the following language that exists in Article 10 of that Treaty: "In the event <br />of extraordinary. drought or serious accident to the irrigation system in the United States, thereby <br />making it difficult for the United States to deliver the guaranteed quantity of 1,500,000 acre-feet a <br />year, the water allotted to Mexico under subparagraph (a) of this Article will be reduced in the same <br />proportion as consumptive uses in the United States are reduced." <br /> <br />Staff Recommendation <br />There is no recommendation at this time. The Staffwill continue to work with the seven basin states <br />on a joint position concerning the mid-year review of the AOP and absent a seven state position will <br />pursue a reduction in the annual minimum objective release under the AOP, this year, from 8.23 maf <br />to a release amount as low as 7.48 maf. Staffwe1comes any input that the Board may wish to <br />provide. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />L:\boardmem\2005 meetings\March 2005\Agenda Item 24 Colorado River Issues.doc <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Flood Protection . Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning <br />