BOARD01112

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2006
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Schedule is overstated, and expressed significant concern associated with the interim 14,85 MAF 602(aO
storage requirement in Lake Powell. Arizona believes that using the 14,85 MAF requirement will result
in an improper protection of power and other subordinate uses, such as recreation, and may subordinate
Lower Division states' beneficial consumptive uses in violation of the Law of the River,"

California River Board Has Concerns about By-Pass Drainage Flow Issues: The California River
Board submitted a letter on Nov. 17 to Reclamation, expressing the Board's concerns and comments
regarding the process to develop potential methods to recover or replace the by pass drainage flows
Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District. The Board considers that replacement of the WMIDD
Bypass Flow is a national obligation and should be totally funded by federal monies; that Reclamation
should take steps to replace the bypass flow and increase the storage in the mainstream reservoir system;
that further land-fallowing programs in California are not likely at this time; and that some solutions for
Bypass Flow replacement may involve groundwater pumping in the Yuma, but other issues exist that
must be addressed before that implementing this option,

Lower Basin Reps Hold Retreat: On Nov 21-22, Lower Basin Representatives met to develop a
concept paper,containing working principles on the operation of the Colorado River System reservoirs
and how water form various sources might be managed within the constraints of the "Law ofthe River".
The Lower Basin States are discussing how bayous types of water might be managed and made available
to meet the water supply needs. Each of the Lower Basin States is continuing to internally discuss
potential elements of the seven basin states package.

Me~can National Water Commission Report: In July 2005 the Mexican National Water Commission
released a brief technical report regarding potential mitigation strategies to address the reduction in
recharge oflocal aquifers related to the lining of the All-American Canal in the United States, The report
outlines a series of actions that could be implemented to make up for this loss of water annually, These
actions could include: I) on-farm water conservation programs; 2) improvements to regional water
delivery and conveyance facilities; 3) conversion from well field supplied irrigation to surface water
supplied irrigation; 4) recovery of water supplies through transfer of water rights from adjacent irrigation
zones in the Mexicali Valley. The report estimates that through implementation of these carious
programs that nearly 64,000 AF of water could be recovered,

U.S/Mexican Tour Planned: The Water Education Foundation is sponsoring a special tour, March 1-3,
2006 on U.S,lMexican border water issues. Ted Kowalski of the Water Supply Protection Section is
planning to attend.

Two Organizations File Notice to Sue Reclamation: Two environmental organizations, Center for
Biological Diversity and Living Rivers, recently filed notice that they intend to sue Reclamation and the
U,S, Fish and Wildlife Service over the decline and extinction of native fishes below Glen Canyon Dam
and in Grand Canyon National Park, That basis for their notice was the USGS Circular Report of October
2005 that indicated efforts to restore the native fishes have not been as successful as hoped,

Colorado River Water Conservation District Opens 2006 Grants Program: Grants are available for
up to $15,000 for water-related projects, The competitive grant program closes on Jan, 31,2006,
Recipients will be announced in April 2006. Half of the funds will be issued once a contract is executed,
The remainder will be issued upon project completion,

The Colorado River District 2006 Grants Program considers projects that would:
Develop new water supplies;
Improve an existing water supply system;
Improve instream water quality;

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