BOARD02602

• Board Meeting Date: 5/20/2002
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Colorado River Annual Operating Plan and Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

MEMORANDUM

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

FROM:

Randy Seaholm
Chief, Water Supply Protection

DATE:

May 14,2002

SUBJECT:

Agenda Item 22e, May 20-21, 2002 Board Meeting
Colorado River Basin Issues -
Colorado River Annual Operating Plan for 2003

Backl!round

This will be the second year of reservoir operations under the Colorado River Interim
Surplus Guidelines. Based on the Guidelines, the 2003 Colorado River Annual Operating
Plan (AOP) should include the following.

1. Discussions on Lower Basin Water Use should include a determination of whether or
not there is any unused lower basin apportionment and if so how that is distributed to
other lower basin users. This has the effect of reducing the amount of surplus water
needed and thus the amount of interim surplus declared.

This section should also discuss whether or not Califomia is on schedule with
implementation of the Califomia Colorado River Water Use Plan and the reductions
in Califomia agricultural water use discussed therein. I have reviewed the language
in the, "Record of Decision, Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines, Final
Environmental Impact Statement" concerning actions that Califomia must have
completed by December 31, 2003. There are two milestones that must be reached.
The specific language is found in "XI (Section5(B))" and XI (Section5(C)) which
state:

Section 5(B)
"It is expected that the California Colorado River contractors will execute the
Quantification Settlement Agreement (and its related documents) among the
Imperial Irrigation District (lID), Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD)
MWD, and the San Diego County Water Authority by December 31, 2001, In the
event that the California contractors and the Secretary have not executed such
agreements by December 31, 2002, the interim surplus determinations under
Sections 2(B)(I) and 2(B)(2) of these Guidelines will be suspended and will
instead be based upon the 70R Strategy, for either the remainder of the period
identified in Section 4(A) or until such time as California completes all required