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e) e) el funding in FY 2004 and 2005. The US Dept. of Agriculture will seek between $13.8 and $25 million, the US Bureau of Land Management $5.2 million, and the US Bureau of Reclamation $17.5 million. These funding levels are consistent with prior year recommendations, but higher than the funding actually provided by Congress in recent years. Testimony to the relevant Congressional Appropriations Committees supporting the Advisory Council's funding recommendations was prepared. Colorado River Delta Workgroup: The Yuma Desalter Plant (YDP), which has not operated since 1992, was constructed to treat agricultural drainage water from the Yuma area. Treated water is returned to the river to satisfy part of the delivery obligations to Mexico and to ensure that the Colorado River water delivered to Mexico meets the Minute 242 salinity differential. The YDP has not operated because of the expense and because there has been replacement water available from the lining of a section of the Coachella Canal. As a result, 108,000 acre-feet of drainage water has not returned to the Colorado River, but bypassed instead to the Santa Clara Slough. Consequently, a significant portion of the Colorado River Delta wetland has been rejuvenated. This rejuvenation has resulted in a number of environmental organizations and the govermnent of , Mexico wanting to re-establish the entire Colorado River Delta wetland area. The initial step in this effort was the adoption of Minute 306 to the 1944 Treaty with Mexico in December 2000, which created a framework for a formal process to address Colorado River Delta matters. Subsequently, a Symposium on the Colorado River Delta was held on September 11-12, 2001, the proceedings of which were released on September 17,2002. A States Technical Workgroup was formed and to date has summarized the surface water and groundwater resources available to Mexico in an effort to develop a water budget that will help identify opportunities to improve conditions for the Colorado River Delta. The Technical Workgroup has also created a "Broad Brush Concept Document" that identifies possible water supplies available to meet the needs of the Colorado River Delta. This information was provided to the states representatives on March 14,2003 for discussion by the seven basin states and development of recommendations to the International Boundary and Water Commission. Staff has been participating on the Technical Workgroup. Yuma Desalt Plant (YDP): The Lower Colorado Region of Reclamation is working on a report to Congress that looks at alternatives to operating the YDP and also seeks funding to upgrade and operate the YDP. Staff has been involved in these ongoing discussions. One of the alternatives under discussiojl is for Reclamation to enter into voluntary forbearance agreements with agricultural users, including possibly agricultural users in the Upper Basin, to provide replacement water that would offset the need to operate the YDP. This is a significant concern and certainly has many issues associated with it. A public meeting was held in Las Vegas on Feb. 25 to discuss the report. It is anticipated that the report will be revised based on the comments received and sent to Congress. There is a 60-day Congressional waiting period before any actions can occur on the report. Following the waiting period, Reclamation would seek appropriations to correct the YDP design deficiencies and secure a discharge permit, complete supplemental environmental compliance and take necessary actions to inlple1l1ent the forbearance agreements that could offset the need to operate the YDP. No further action on the report has occurred. A meeting among representatives of the Lower Division states was held on April 25 to discuss management of water resources in the Yuma area. ......................,............................................................. 12