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<br />" <br /> <br />, ~ <br /> <br />11/02184 <br /> <br />.- <br /> <br />Mr. Robert Olson <br />Acting Commissioner <br />Bureau of Reclamation <br />U.S. Department of the Interior <br />18th and C. N.W. <br />Washington. DC 20240 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Olson: <br /> <br />At its November 15th meeting. the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board considered the 1984 Colorado River Operation <br />Study being prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation. After <br />reviewing the data presented thus far and the proposed schedule <br />for the finalization of the report. the Board asked me to <br />convey to you several concerns which it has. <br /> <br />As we understand it. the purpose of this study is to <br />compare the current operation of the Colorado River reservoirs <br />by comparison with alternative operating strategies which seek <br />to minimize the riSk of flooding in the Lower Colorado River <br />and power plant bypasses. The study must necessarily address <br />very complicated questions involving the application of federal . <br />statutes and regulations and other legal documents. <br />Furthermore. this analysis is to be accomplished by the use of <br />the Colorado River Simulation System (CRSS) model. which is <br />itself a very complex mathematical model. <br /> <br />In light of these circumstances. the Board is concerned <br />about the manner in which the study is being prepared. First. <br />it will be difficult to evaluate the study and comment on the <br />results without a thorough and clear understanding of the <br />computer model. Yet we understand that the "System Overview" <br />which will explain the model. and the data base and various <br />assumptions which it utilizes. will not be completed until <br />after the completion of the study. <br /> <br />The Basin states have urged the Bureau on several occasions <br />to complete the overview before any further studies were <br />undertaken with the eRSS model. Thus far. the Bureau has not <br />been responsive to those requests. The Board is very concerned <br />about this problem and strongly recommends that the "Systems <br />Overview" be completed prior to the operations study. In the <br />alternative. it might be acceptable if the operations stUdy <br />included a detailed explanation of the CRSS model in the study <br />report. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-12- <br />