BOARD01367

• Board Meeting Date: 3/16/2004
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Total releases that directly or indirectly
Benefited the 15 Mile Reach flows

72,10.

EFFECT OF LATE IRRIGATION SEASON ReSERVOIR RELEASES ON FlOWIN THE H5.~ILE REACH
IAsM,uur,d at the Cofor/ufo River at Patltade Gagel
2003 LATE SUMMER/fALL

400 ._"u ......1..,...1 /
200

..

2000
~OO
~OO
-
.
! 1400 .

.
..
.
" 1200
.
..
.
.~ '[100
..
..
~
tJ 800
.
f'
.
~ 600
.
Q

I
. .

o
'l5-JI,j 29.Jl,j 12.Aug 26.Aug 9.Sep 23-Sep 7-Oct 21-OcI
15 Mle Reach Flow WITH Reservoir Releases (PaIOlade Gage)
- - -15 Mle Reach Flow Wm-tOUT Reservoir Releases
. . . . - . . USFWS Reconrrended Mean M:mthly Flow

4-Nov

.

Colorado River Salinity Control Forum Workgroup Meeting: The following is a brief
summary of the meeting discussions:

. Lake Powell Salinity Trends Studies - Both the Forum and Glen Canyon Adaptive
Management Program are concerned with the potential increase in downstream salinity
due to the impact drought conditions are having on reservoir elevations in Lake Powell
and Lake Mead, At the Work Group meeting, Reclamation indicated that if the drought
should continue, it is theoretically possible that the salinity below Hoover Dam could reach
the Forum's numeric value of723 ppm by the end of2005,

. Selenium - Reclamation selenium pilot study indicates that lining canals and laterals over
very shallow Mancos Shale soils, reduced selenium uptake by approximately 0,1 lb. per
ton of salt reduction. Based on this, Reclamation estimated that the selenium level in
the River might be reduced by 2 ppb for every 400,000 tons of salt removed,

2005 Triennial Review: It is time to begin preparation of the 2005 Triennial Review, The Forum
needs to consider approval of the final report at its October 2005 meeting, that necessitates the
release of a draft for public comment at the June 2005 Forum meeting, In order to be able to
address the projected salinity levels in the River and the salinity programs ability to meet the
numeric criteria, a new salinity model needs to be up and running by June 2004, Further discussions
will occur at the March Work Group Meeting,

Lower Colorado River Mnlti-Species Conservation Program: The LCR MSCP Technical
Contractors are preparing the public review draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), Biological 4
Assessment (BA), and Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIS/R) for release, review, and
comment this month, These documents will be reviewed for approximately 90-120 days prior to
finalization, The LCR MSCP Steering Committee is continuing to maintain the schedule leading to
a Record of Decision in late-November 2004 by the Secretary of the Interior.

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