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<br />001181 <br /> <br />to release for consumptive use in either California or Arizona. Nevada has anticipated the need <br />to redeem storage credits from the Arizona Demonstration Underground Storage Project for <br />future use beginning the year 2007. Although Nevada stores some of its unused Colorado River <br />water offstream in the State for future use, such storage is principally to meet summer peaking <br />needs when demand has met or exceeded the capacity of the diversion and delivery system. <br />Studies are continuing on ground water recharge, but it is unknown if new recharge facilities are <br />planned. <br /> <br />The California entities are working on a plan to allow California to stay within its 4.4 maf annual <br />apportionment when such a limitation becomes necessary. It is possible that such a plan may <br />provide some alternative for off stream storage. However, at this time it is not known what the <br />specific contents of the plan may be. Under this alternative, California entities will continue to <br />divert California's annual apportionment through existing diversion and delivery facilities along <br />the Colorado River. Nevada's diminishing unused apportionment will continue to be subject to <br />release for consumptive use in either California or Arizona. Entities may construct off stream <br />storage facilities for their own uses within the State. Without the rule, neither Nevada nor <br />California entities would be able to participate in the interstate component of the A WBA Act and <br />enter into interstate agreements with Arizona. However, without the rule, it is possible that <br />off stream storage credits could be developed between California and Nevada. <br /> <br />LC Region DEAl I <br /> <br />10 <br /> <br />12197 <br /> <br /> <br />2. Agency Preferred Alternative-Proposed Action <br /> <br />The proposed action is the agency preferred alternative. <br /> <br />C. Alternatives Eliminated <br /> <br />I. Revision of the Arizona Groundwater Act Alternative: <br /> <br />Arizona could revise its law to remove the requirement for a Federal rule. This alternative was <br />considered but eliminated from further analysis because it does not meet the requirements of the <br />purpose and need for the action. <br /> <br />2. Onstream Storage Alternative <br /> <br />Lower Colorado River entities could bank water onstream in Lake Mead. This alternative was <br />considered but at this time eliminated as a reasonable alternative and not further analyzed for the <br />following reasons. Water would be banked in Lake Mead as "top water" or water that is the first <br />to spill when flood control releases are anticipated. Water banked onstream must be the first to <br />spill to avoid third party impacts. One entity had stored onstream a quantity of conserved water <br />accumulated from 1992-1994. The financial investment for the water was $26.4 million. All of <br />this water was later spilled and lost for use in the United States in the winter of 1996-1997, due <br />to flood control releases. Currently, with high Lake Mead elevations, it is unlikely that onstream <br />banking will occur for several years. Further, onstream stDrage is subject to water losses through <br />evaporation. <br /> <br />