WSP01172

• File Number: 822.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Plan - Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1997
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Annual Operating Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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THE SECRETARY OF THE

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WASHINGTON

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FEB 2 4 1997

MEMORANDUM

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To:

Interested Parties ,., ,.
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Annual perating Plan for Colorado River Reservoirs-1997

From:

Subject:

The Bureau of Reclamation, after consultation at a meeting on September 4, 1996, with
representatives of the Colorado River Basin States, the Upper Colorado River Commission,
appropriate Federal agencies, Indian tribes, and other interested parties in Colorado River operations,
established the Annual Operating Plan, (AOP) (copy attached) for the Colorado River reservoirs for
1997. The plan of operation reflects use of the reservoirs for all purposes consistent with the "Criteria
for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of the Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado
River Basin Project Act of September 30, 1968" (Operating Criteria).

Pursuant to required Secretarial detenninations, storage equa1ization and the avoidance of spills will
control the annual releases from Glen Canyon Dam in accordance with Article ~(3) of the Operating
Criteria unless the minimum objective release criterion in Article 11(2) is controlling. If the
equa1ization criterion is controlling, Glen Canyon Dam will be operated to release sufficient water
during water year 1997 to equalize, as nearly as practicable, the active reservoir contents of Lakes
Powell and Mead on September 30, 1997.

Taking into account (1) the beneficial consumptive use requirements of Colorado River mainstream
users in the Lower Division States are expected to be more than 9,250 MCM (7.5 MAF), (2) the
existing water supply conditions in the basin, and (3) the predicted water supply conditions in the
basin, the surplus condition is the criterion governing the operation of Lake Mead for the calendar
year 1997 in Accordance with Article ill(3)(b) of the Operating Criteria and Article II (2)(B) of the
decree in Arizona v. California.. A volume of 1,850 MCM (1.5 MAP) of water will be scheduled for
delivery to Mexico during calendar year 1997 in accordance with Article 15 of the 1944 Mexican
Water Treaty and Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission.

Any Lower Division State will be allowed to use water apportioned to, but unused by, another Lower
Division State in accordance with Article 1I(B)(6) of the decree in Arizona v. California
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This detennination is warranted'based on the current and projected hydrologic conditions in the
Colorado River Basin and water needs in the Lower Division States, utilizing an analysis offuture
reservoir conditions, Lake Powell releases, and the effect on future shortage determinations, with and
without the anticipated additional consumptive uses in 1997 being met under a surplus determination.