BOARD01350

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2006
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Issues - Development of Opearations for Lakes Powell and Mead under Low Reservoir Conditions, including the Development of Lower Basin Shortage Criteria
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street Room nt
Dmv{>J', Colorado S0203
Phone: (3(3) 866-3<<1
FAX: [phone]
.....ww.cwcb.sta~.co.UJ

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Bill Owens
G<w~,

FROM:

Randy Seaholm ~
Chief, Water Supply Protection

RuSliot'U George
Executive Director

DATE:

January 16,2006

RodKuharich
cv.'CB Din>ctor

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Rick Brown
SUBJECT: Agenda Item 24, Januar)' 24-25, 2006 Board Meering - Acting Deputy Director
Colorado River Basin Issues - Development of Operations for
Lakes Powell aDd J\lead under Low Reservoir Conditions, including
the Development of Lower Basin Shortage Criteria

Introduction

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Representatives of the 7-Colorado River Basin States have been meeting over
the last two years to discuss operations of Lakes Powell and Mead under low reservoir
conditions. The last several years of drought resulted in particularly low reservoir
levels in Lake Powell prompting the Upper Division States to request a reduction in
Lake Powell releases. While the Secretary of Interior did not reduce Lake Powell
releases, she did encourage the development of management strategies for Lakes
Powell and Mead under low reservoir conditions, including the development of
"Lower Basin Shortage Criteria." As a result, on June 15,2005 the Bureau of
Reclamation published a Federal Register Notice announcing its intent to solicit
comments and hold public meetings on the development of management strategies for
Lakes Powell and Mead under low reservoir conditions, which strategies would
include the development of Lower Basin Shortage Guidelines. In response, the 7-
Colorado River Basin States sent a letter to Reclamation on August 25, 2005
indicating the states were discussing ways to utilize water surface elevations or
volumetric contents at both Lakes Powell and Mead to determine the beginning and
end of Lower Basin Shortage Guidelines and operations under low reservoir
conditions.
The 7-Basin States also noted that these operations and shortage guidelines
were part of a much more comprehensive set of actions needed to address Colorado
River water supply issues. Additional actions included "System Efficiency and
Management Improvements" such as development of more regulatory storage and the