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Agenda Item 12f Attachment November 19-20, 2001 Board Meeting Page 8 of9 e We are reviewing the decree accounting to see if it can provide further information aud insight on this issue. 2. If the interim period has ended, is there another source of water of suitable quality that can be used to offset the need to operate the Desalter? Reclamation is investigating four alternatives and variations of those alternatives. · Yuma Area Groundwater Recovery (introduced at July meeting), · Off-Stream Storage of excess CAP water · Conservation of Agricultural Supplies (land fallowing, etc.) · Operation of the Desalter 3. If there is another suitable water source, should that source be available on a permanent basis, or is another temporary arrangement acceptable? Given the developing situation with the Colorado River Delta in Mexico, any alternative to operation of the Desalter is likely desirable. At this time, all options should remain on the table. However, a long-term alternative that would allow the Desalter to be permanently shnt down seems highly desirable. 4. Given the desire to restore the Colorado River Delta in Mexico, would it even be politically acceptable to operate the Yuma Desalter if it reduced the amount of water, and decreased the quality, flowing to the Santa Clara Slough? The water treated by the Desalter would be delivered to the river, as part of the 1944 Treaty obligation and only the very highly saline water of the reject stream from the Desalter would flow to the Slough. Given the tenor of the recent symposium in Mexicali concerning the Colorado River Delta, operation of the Desalter does not appear to be politically acceptable. 5. If a suitable water supply can not be located to offset the need to operate the Desalter and operation of the Desalter is not acceptable because of the reduction in flows to the Santa Clara Slough that would occur, what other options might Colorado and the other basin states find acceptable? See options listed in number 2 above. 6. Could Reclamation release water from any upstream reservoir without further authorization from the Congress? This question is still under investigation. However, the use of Painted Rock Reservoir was provided for in the CRBSCA. . . Currently, Reclamation is working on the assumption that the interim period may be over and that another source of suitable quality water needs to be found. Regardless of the answer to question I this is clearly a prudent course of action given the Colorado River Delta situation. The focus to date has shifted from mining the groundwater mound located beneath Yuma Valley to include other options. However, Arizona's willingness to allow the use of the Yuma groundwater for only 15-years remains a concern. The Colorado River Delta situation will likely require a long-term solution that does not involve operation of the Desalter, other than perhaps in a very limited manner.