BOARD02180

• Board Meeting Date: 1/22/2003
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Issues
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

FROM:

Rod Knharich
CWCB Director

Randy Seaholm, Chief, Water Supply Protection

DATE:

Dan McAnliffe
Deputy Director.

January 13, 2003

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 13, January 22-23, 2003 Board Meeting -
Water Supply Protection - Colorado River Issues

Introduction: Given all the activity occurring on the Colorado River, I though it would be helpful
to try and put the issues into some perspective and to specifically identify the linkages between
certain activities. Starting with the California Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA), debate
began to occur on whether or not Reclamation could still rely on the water saved by lining a section
of the Coachella Canal to offset the need to run the Yuma Desalt Plant (YDP). Since replacement
water had been available to offset the need to run the YDP, the agricultural drainage water from the
Wellton-Mohawk and Yuma areas did not have to be treated and returned to the river if it would
result in a failure to meet the salinity differential under Minute 242 to the Mexican Treaty. Instead,
it could be allowed to run down the "rnain outlet drain and extension" (MODE) all the way to the
Santa Clara Slough. This approximately 108,000 af of highly saline drain water bypassed annually
had a rejuvenating affect on the Slough. As a result, enviromnental interests began working hard to
restore the wetlands of the entire Colorado River Delta.

The Colorado River Salinity Control Program, in effect since 1972, coupled with some very high
runoff water years in 1983 and 1984 had a profound impact on the salinity of the river, as shown on
the attached graph. Those reductions make it difficult to maintain the salinity differential prescribed
in Minute 242 to the Mexican Treaty. As a result, if a new replacement source for the agricultural
drainage water cannot be found, the YDP must be operated or by default the replacement water will
come out of Lake Mead. If the replacement water comes from Lake Mead, the Upper Basin is
impacted through equalization. In order to address the replacement issue, Reclamation is preparing a
report to Congress to get funding for replacement water and to make the YDP operational if
adequate replacement water cannot be obtained. These issues being important to Mexico are also
being discussed through the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) and IBWC also
wants to keep the public informed of their actions and has established a Citizens Committee.

The next set of linked issues involves the California QSA, QSA enviromnental commitrnents to the
Salton Sea, the Coordinated Long Range Operating Criteria for Colorado River Reservoirs, the 5-
year review of those Criteria, the Interim Surplus Guidelines which impact the Criteria for the next

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning