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<br />002224 <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the <br />1968 Colorado River Basin project Act and are administered <br />consistent with the collection of documents referred to as <br />"The Law of the River" which establishes the basis for the <br />use and storage of water and river operations. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />With the filling of Lake powell in 1980, and the more <br />recent high Colorado River flows, the Governors' <br />representatives of the Basin states and representatives of <br />the federal agencies involved in river operations undertook <br />and formulated a recommended process for the development of <br />annual river operation plans, pursuant to and consistent with <br />the Operating Criteria, that would provide for more effective <br />river management and use of water under full and near full <br />reservoir conditions, and for the preservation of reservoir <br />system storage while still providing prudent flood control. <br />The recommended process involves the use of varying water <br />supply scenar ios to identify potential mandatory flood <br />control releases of water surplus to reservoir system <br />storage. Surplus water thereby identified for the upcoming <br />water year, if appropriate, can then be distributed <br />consistent with the Operating Criteria for advance release <br />for improved river management. Following the development and <br />release of the annual operating plan, river operations are <br />continuously evaluated on a moving 24-month basis, correcting <br />for actual conditions as they occur. <br /> <br />The early release of anticipated mandatory flood control <br />releases and their redistribution in accordance with the <br />Operating Criteria serves to reduce higher subsequent flood <br />control releases and possible associated damages to property <br />and natural resources. tt provides for improved river <br />regulation, preserves water conservation, enhances the <br />river's water and power resources, reduces river operation <br />and maintenance costs and avoids adverse impacts on water <br />quality and fish and wildlife associated with higher flood <br />control releases. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />It is recommended that the federal and Colorado River <br />Basin state agencies responsible for the development of the <br />annual operating plans for the Colorado River reservoir <br />system be commended for the formulation and implementation of <br />their recommended process for developing annual operating <br />plans. under full and near full reservoir conditions which has <br />provided for more effective river management and the <br />preservation of reservoir storage consistent with "The Law of <br />the River" including the Colorado River Floodway Protection <br />Act and the furtherance of its objectives. <br /> <br />III-16 <br />