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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Of major significance is the input of sediment resources, primarily from the Paria River, that resulted <br />in attaining the sediment trigger of 800,000 tons. Attaining the sediment trigger will result in a Beach <br />Habitat Building Flow or BHBF. Pursuant to a recent motion of the AMWG, the BHBF will occur <br />before the end of November. The BHBF will result in the bypass of flows at the Glen Canyon Dam <br />power plant for approximately 60-hours, with flows between 40,000 and 45,000 cfs during that time. <br />This is a one-time experiment to determine if the refinements to the sediment hypothesis developed <br />following the 1996 experiment are valid or if the flows continue to flush more sediment out the system <br />than they conserve. The BHBF will be followed by high fluctuating flows from January 1 through the <br />1 st week of April to continue to disadvantage the Trout fishery below Glen Canyon. The high <br />fluctuating flows have had the desired affect on the downstream Trout fishery and are also good for <br />hydropower operations. The BHBF will be accomplished within the adjusted flow volumes outlined in <br />the recent 24-month study and will be within the 4.6 MAF of Glen Canyon releases through April that <br />the Upper Basin has requested so that adjustments are possible in April of 2005 should the drought <br />continue. <br /> <br />CRWCD Conference: On Sept. 21 the Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD) held <br />and educational conference on Challenging Assumptions regarding the Colorado River. Russell <br />George spoke about the possibility of an intrastate compact. Ted Kowalski spoke about Recreational <br />In-Channel Diversions and Rick Brown spoke about the Statewide Water Supply Initiative. <br /> <br />New CRWCD Resolution: On Oct. 20 the CRWCD unanimously passed a resolution urging the <br />Colorado, as well as the other Upper Basin states of Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, to "take <br />whatever actions are necessary" to conserve storage in Upper Basin reservoirs and release only the <br />absolute minimum amount of water necessary from Lake Powell to meet obligations to downstream <br />states. Record low water levels in Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge, Navajo and the Aspinall Unit of the <br />Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) pose a significant threat to hydroelectric power generation and <br />the ability of Upper Basin states to meet compact obligations. <br /> <br />Lake Powell, in particular, has suffered from the past five years of drought and is down to 38% of its <br />useable capacity. The reservoir is instrumental in meeting required water deliveries under the Colorado <br />River Compact of 1922 to the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada at the Colorado <br />River's dividing point of Lee's Ferry, Arizona. As Lake Powell levels drop, Upper Basin states' <br />capacity to maintain the required deliveries is diminished, while the possibility of water use being <br />restricted in Upper Basin states increases, should the drought persist. <br /> <br />The District's Board reaffirmed its "historical position" that the Upper Basin states are not required to <br />supply one-half of the United States' treaty obligation to Mexico of 1.5M acre-feet of water each year. <br />The October 20 press release states: "The Department of Interior's guideline to annually release an <br />extra .75 million acre-feet per year from the Upper Basin's stored water supply in Lake Powell is <br />inequitable to the states of the Upper Basin." <br /> <br />Southern Nevada Pipeline: On Oct. 4, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNW A) filed an <br />application with the BLM for permanent rights-of-way to allow for the construction and operation of <br />facilities necessary to convey water from northeastern rural areas to Las Vegas. According to a 1994 <br />Nevada State Engineer order, SNW A has the right to an average of 113,000 acre-feet (af)/year from <br />the Virgin River, a tributary ofthe Colorado, before reaching Lake Mead. SNW A also has negotiated <br />the acquisition of another 7,000 AF from the Muddy Valley Irrigation District and Muddy River, with <br />an option to purchase another 2,500 AF. <br /> <br />SNW A's water supply plan includes access to local water resources, aggressive conservation and <br />stringent drought response measures. Clark County, SNW A, and the Las Vegas Valley Water District <br /> <br />19 <br />