Laserfiche WebLink
<br />help us update the irrigated acreage. Weare initiating contracts to hopefully complete an irrigated acreage <br />update by the end ofthe year. <br /> <br />Colorado River Interim Surplus Criteria: Staff has been working extensively with the other Colorado <br />River Basin States and Interior to address a number of issues related to the implementation of the Interim <br />Surplus Criteria. As a result, Interior issued a Record of Decision implementing the criteria on January l6, 200l <br />and a signing ceremony was held in San Diego, California on January l7, 200l. This represents the <br />accomplishment of a major step in providing California the "soft landing" they desire in their efforts to live <br />within the 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado River water they are entitled to. <br /> <br />Another piece of the "soft landing" package that is absolutely critical to agricultural interests in <br />California is the inadvertent overrun accounting package. Because ofthe manner in which water is distributed <br />and accounted for in the Lower Basin if inadvertent overruns are not paid back, it would always fall on the more <br />junior users to absorb the overruns. The proposed policy would allow accumulated inadvertent overruns of up <br />to 10% to occur, but all overruns would have to be paid back with "wet water" within three years. This <br />proposed policy well be published in the Federal Register before the current administration leaves office. <br />However, there remain a number of issues to be worked out prior to implementing this proposed policy. While <br />we believe an overrun policy is appropriate, the proposed policy is a considerable ways away from being one <br />that we can support. Staff well continue to work with the other Colorado River Basin states on this policy. <br /> <br />Colorado River Delta: By way of follow-up to the Boards discussions on the Colorado River Delta in <br />November (Agenda Item 23 1), IBWC Commissioners Bernal and Solis held meetings during the Colorado <br />River Water Users Association Meeting on December 13, 2000 in Las Vegas. During the meeting we were <br />supplied copies ofa new minute, Minute No. 306, to the 1944 Treaty. The purpose of Minute 306 is to support <br />the examination of the effect of flows on existing riparian and estuarine ecology of the Colorado River from the <br />limitrophe section to the Delta. A copy of Minute 306 is attached for your reference. The next task for IBWC is <br />coordinate a workshop on a number of issues related to the Delta, including a discussion of legal issues in both <br />countries concerning the ability to address and protect flows for the Delta. No date for this workshop has been <br />selected at present and IBWC would still like to form a small committee to develop an agenda for the workshop. <br /> <br />Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program: The Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Workgroup <br />(AMWG) meet on January ll-12, 200l in Phoenix, Arizona. The AMWG continues to work on the strategic <br />plan for the Program and during this meeting agreed on qualitative goals for the Program. The development of <br />this plan has been a huge effort given all the competing interests. However, we are making progress although it <br />is slow. <br /> <br />Gunnison River Basin Issues <br /> <br />Black Canyon Water Rights: After many years, the National Park Service has announced that it <br />intends to file the quantification of the Federal Reserved Water Right that it was decreed in the 1968 USA v <br />Denver case. We do not know at this point what the quantification will look like other than what was indicated <br />during public meetings about two years ago, which was essentially all remaining flows with a priority date equal <br />to that ofthe Aspinall Unit. Quantification ofthis right is something that we need to bring to closure before we <br />know how much remains for future development. We also want to know how the reserved right will interact <br />with the recent Gunnison River flow recommendations from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While we <br />would have liked and even encouraged some discussions with basin water users prior to any filing, that <br />apparently will not happen and we will have to deal with this issue through the water court process. We will <br />keep the Board informed on this matter as it develops. <br /> <br />San Juan and Dolores River Basin Issues <br /> <br />Animas-La Plata Project: H.R. 3112 and S.2508 were passed during the closing days of the last <br />Congress. With passage of that legislation, there are a number of issues to address to move that project forward. <br /> <br />6 <br />