WSP00672

• File Number: 822.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Plan - Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1993
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Annual Operating Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

WASHINGTON

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THE SECRETARY OF THE

OCT 2 1992

Honorable Roy Romer
Governor of Colorado
Denver, Colorado 80203

GOVERNOR
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Dear Governor Romer:

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On August 11, 1992, representatives of the Colorado River Basin States, the
Upper Colorado River Commission, appropriate Federal agencies, and others
interested in Colorado River operations met and agreed upon the Annual
Operating Plan (copy enclosed) for the Colorado River reservoirs for 1993.
The plan of operation reflects uses of the reservoirs for all purposes
consistent with the Criteria for Coordinated Lonq-Ranqe Operation of the
Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Pro.iect Act of
September 30. 1968 (Operating Criteria).

Pursuant to required Secretarial determinations, Glen Canyon Dam will release
the minimum objective of 8.23 million acre-feet (MAF) for water year 1993;
Hoover Dam releases, including pumping from Lake Mead, will satisfy up to
7.5 MAF of reasonable beneficial consumptive use by mainstream users in the
Lower Basin during calendar year 1993; 1.5 MAF of water will be delivered to
Mexico during calendar year 1993 in accordance with Article 15 of the 1944
Mexican Water Treaty and with Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and
Water Commission; and California or any Lower Division State will be allowed
to use apportioned, but unused, water from another Lower Division State
according to Article I1(B)(6) of the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court decree in
Arizona v. California.

Although requests in the Lower Division States are expected to exceed 7.5 MAF
in calendar year 1993, based on our review of the needs and conservation
measures planned, we believe there is a reasonable expectation that mainstream
consumptive use in the Lower Division States will not exceed 7.5 MAF.
Therefore, we will meet all reasonable beneficial consumptive needs of
Colorado River mainstream users in 1993. If the final Supreme Court decree
accounting data for calendar year 1993 indicate that more than 7.5 MAF in the
Lower Division States were consumed, then, by virtue of the authority vested
in the Secretary of the Interior, compensation for overuse will be required by
the end of calendar year 1996 from any State exceeding its apportionment.
Compensation will be in the form of an adjustment to consumptive use
apportionment. Alternate forms of compensation or other timeframes may be
possible if agreed to by the Governors' representatives of the seven Colorado
River Basin States and the Secretary of the Interior. The need for
compensation will be eliminated if (1) a surplus is declared, or (2) a flood
control release is required.