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<br />. <br /> <br />December 12, 2005 <br />Page I of 15 <br />Working Draft for Discussion <br /> <br />/l1I~),,.,,.~ I-c <br /> <br />Conceptual Paper <br /> <br /> <br />Guidelines for the Interim Operation of Lake Mead and Deliveries <br /> <br /> <br />of Colorado River Water to the Lower Division States <br /> <br />Working Draft <br />Prepared by the <br />States of tbe Lower Division I <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Introduction <br />The States of Arizona, California and Nevada propose that revised and expanded <br />guidelines for the implementation ufthe Long~Range Operating Criteria (LROC) <br />for the operation of Lake Mead be adopted. The primary purpose ufthe revised <br />and expanded guidelines is to protect and conserve Ute water supply of Lake <br />Mead to meet the consumptive uses in the Lower Division States. A secondary <br />purpose is to provide flexibility and more certainty in the water supply operations <br />and water deliveries from Lake Mead. The existing Interim Surplus Guidelines <br />would be revised and Interim Shortage Guidelines would be issued by the <br />Secretary of the Interior (Secretary). Together, these guidelines would prescribe <br />Lake Mead operations and water deliveries for the full range of water supply <br />conditions in Lake Mead. These detailed guidelines for the detennination of <br />shortage, nonnal and surplus operations would avoid the potential for contlict <br />between the Lower Division States and the Secretary over the annual <br />determination of Lake Mead operations. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Lower Division States have discussed the concept for revising and expanding <br />the guidelines. Each state has particular concerns about the effect of the operation <br />of Lake Mead on the long-tenn water supplies needed to meet the needs of its <br />water users. Nevada desires new flexibility in the operation of Lake Mead to <br />deliver imported non-system water to meet increasing demands, and to use <br /> <br />I The [ex.llhat is bracketed is to bof' re-placed once the :Ippropriate lan~uage has been developed. <br />