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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Colorado River Basin States
Outline of Areas of Agreement

NOTE - This documcnI does not represent agreement by any of the Colorado River
Basin States or the Federal Go....enunent on any maner outlined herein. This document is
prepared for discussion purposes only, and is not for attribution. This document is
prepared subject to the provisions of Rule 408 of the Federal Rules of Evidt.'nce. and any
corresponding rule of evidence in any state. Ncilher this document nor any discussions,
documents or other materials in relation hereto or in the furtherance hereof shall be
admissible in any court of law for any purpose.

J. Period of AJUecment. All operations and agreements set forth herein will ~
for an "Interim Period" which shaH run from the adoption of Shortage Criteria
and Coordinated Operations until 2025. The states will request [he Secretary
to extend the Interim Surplus Guidelines and the Interim 602(a) Storage
Guideline 10 remain in effect during the Interim Period. The Interim Period
may be extended by the agreement of all seven basin states.

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2. Coordinated Qperalion of Lake Powell and Mead. The basin states will work
through Ihe technical committee to refine and submit to the Secretary for
adoption a proposal for thc coordinaled operation of Lakes Powell and Mead.
The proposal will be based on the "Hybrid" sccnario dc\-e1oped by the
committcc. and shall be refined for the benefit improvcd water managemcnt in
the Colorado River Basin. Coordinated operations shall not adversely atTect
Ihe yield for development available 10 the Upper Rasin.

J. Lower nasin Shortage Guidelines. The basin states will work through the
technical committee 10 refine and submit 10 the Secrctary for adoption a
proposal for Shortage Guidelincs for lhe release of water from Lake Mead.
The Proposal \\'ill be based on the "Step Shortage" scenarios developed by the
committee. Mexico will receive a proportionate shortage under the
guidelincs.

4. ;\11 slales will work toward thc dc\'c1opment of projects designed 10 augment
the supply of waler 10 lhe Colorado River. Specifically:

A. All stales will work loward lhe development of a desalinalion project
in ~fexico thaI may make water available to Mexican cities and to the
Colorddo River for use by Nevada. California or Arizona.. eilher
directly or by exchange. Any water developed from dcsalinarion
projects shall he the property of the developing cntitit.'s. as (hose
enlities delennine.

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