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<br /> <br />, <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />Messrs Barrett and Plummer <br />March 15, 1982 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />thereto by letter dated May 7, 1979. Copies of this correspondence <br />is attached. <br /> <br />In discussing our concerns with your staffs at that time, it <br />was concluded that the matter would be discussed during the planned <br />five-year review of the operating criteria scheduled to take place <br />in 1980. However, for various reasons, the basin states concluded <br />that it would not be necessary to review the operating criteria and <br />so notified the Secretary of the Interior. <br /> <br />Even though no review of the operating criteria took place at <br />that time, the Bureau should still use in its studies which involve <br />operations pursuant to the operating criteria the probabilities <br />of.water supply as directed by Congress and specified in the criteria. <br />We are concerned that continued use of only the most critical period <br />of record as the water supply in the Bureau's analyses of the Colorado <br />River system will eventually result in the assumption, by those who <br />are not familiar with the background of the development of the <br />operating criteria, that the use of such a water supply is in con- <br />formity with the Congressional directive and the operating criteria. <br /> <br />Accordingly, we request that the Bureau discontinue the exclusive <br />use of .the most critical period of record to determine 602(a) storage . <br />requirements in its studies of the Colorado River. In lieu of that <br />criteria, we suggest that the Bureau do either one of two things: <br /> <br />(1) utilize a more reasonable water supply criteria, drawing <br />upon the probability levels investigated in connection with the <br />development of the operating criteria and which conforms ,'lith the <br />intent of Congress in enacting P.L. 90-537; or <br /> <br />(2) use, i~ addition to the most critical period of record, a <br />90 percent water .supply probability level in computing 602(a) storage <br />requirements, and present results under both criteria. <br /> <br />We would appreciate hearing from you with regard to our request <br />at your earliest convenience. <br /> <br />We would like to further point out that the use of only the <br />most critical period of record gives a misleading picture of the <br />probabilities of Lake Powell being at err above the elevation where the <br />