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<br />. <br /> <br />.- <br /> <br />Basin's long-term yield. Reclamation plans to have a recommended surplus strategy that will <br />provide the basis for the 1998 AOP; thus, it intends to have its proposed surplus guidelines by July <br />1997. <br /> <br />At the January and March Board meetings I discussed various issues related to the Draft <br />Environmental Assessment (DEA) for backwater restoration and enhancement of the Imperial <br />Division of the Lower Colorado River along with the Board's comments to Reclamation. Included <br />in the Board folder is Reclamation's response to the Board's letter. The letter indicates that I) the <br />Arizona Department ofWatec Resomces and the Board will assist Reclamation in preparing a water <br />budget, 2) credit will be received for implementing interim conservation measures in the LCR MSCP <br />and for funding participation in backwater restoration program, and 3) the native verses the non- <br />native fish issue will be fully discussed in the Environmental Assessment. The staff of the Board <br />will continue to participate in and follow the a...-tivities of the Backwater Subcommittee of the Lower <br />Colorado River Management Work Group. <br /> <br />Five- Year Review of Coordinated Lonl!-Ranlle Ooeratinll Criteria <br />for Colorado River Reservoirs <br /> <br />On October 31, 1996, Reclamation initiated its fifth five-year review by requesting comments <br />related to the CoordinAtM Long-Range Operating Criteria for the Colorado River Reservoir System <br />pursuant to the 1968 Colorado River Basin Project Act. The Board along with fifteen other <br />stakeholders responded to Reclamation's request. <br /> <br />Reclamation has reviewed the comments and combined them into the following categories: <br /> <br />I. Administrative Procedures Act <br />2. Surplus/Shortage criteria <br />3. 602(a) Storage <br />4. NEP A1ESAlMitigation <br />5. No Change <br />6. Water Marketing and Banking <br />7. Administrative Changes <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Copies of Reclamation's analysis and response to the comments are included in the Board folder. <br />The final public meeting has been scheduled for April 22, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, <br />the comment period has been extended from April 30th to May 16, 1997. <br /> <br />Ba~in Statesffribes Discussion <br /> <br />Representatives from the seven Basin states and Reclamation met in Las Vegas, Nevada, on <br />March 31st and April 1st to discuss California's Plan to satisfy its Colorado River water needs from <br />within its annual apportionment of Colorado River water. I can report the reaction of the other Basin <br />states as lukewarm. The other states reiterated that they want to see a defined, enforceable plan on <br /> <br />4 <br />