WSP01185

• File Number: 8282.500.20.A
• Description: Colorado River Operations
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 8/15/1986
• Author: UCRC
• Title: Draft - Upper Colorado River Commission Action Related to Operation of the Colorado River Reservoir System
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

OFFICIAL 5-YEAR REVIEW
OF THE OPERATING CRITERIA

Legal Basis:

The "Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado River

Reservoirs," which was promulgated in compliance with section 602 of "The

Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 30, 1968, P.L. 90-537," direct

the Secretary of the Department of the Interior to "

. sponsor a formal

review of the Operating Criteria at least every 5 years, with participation

by State representatives as each Governor may designate and such other

parties and agencies as the Secretary may deem appropriate."

Commission position:

As expressed in a January 16, 1986 letter from the Commission's Execu-

tive Director to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Donald Paul

Hodel: "the Commission is not aware of any need to make changes in the

Operating Criteria and reiterates its position that a formal review of the

Operating Criteria is not required at this time.1I

Discussion:

The "Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado River

Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 30,

1968 (P.L. 90-537)" were published in the Federal Register on June 10, 1970.

The first review of the Operating Criteria was initiated in June of

1975. The Commission's comments of August 11, 1975 and those of the Upper

Division States suggested that a formal review of the Operating Criteria was

not warranted at this time. The Commission's comments as contained in its

"Comments and Recommendations of the Upper Colorado River Commission on

Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs"

dated August 9, 1975, specifically stated: "Since the change in the

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