|
<br />002452
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />,
<br />
<br />Colorado River Operations
<br />
<br />Reclamation's Centennial Celebration - June 17, 2002
<br />
<br />On June 17, 1902, Congress passed the Reclamation Act to provide for the irrigation.,
<br />storage, diversion, and development of water that ultimately made settlement of the West possible. The
<br />Reclamation Act also created what is the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation within the Department of the
<br />Interior. Reclamation intends to celebrate its 100th anniversary from June 17,2002, through JWle 17,
<br />2003. It is in conjWlction with the scheduled events at Hoover Dam on June 17, 2002, that the Board
<br />moved its meeting to Nevada.
<br />
<br />Reclamation Strategic Planning Process and Stakeholder Meetings
<br />
<br />I have included in the Board folder a letter, dated April II, 2002, from Reclamation Commissioner,
<br />John W. Keyes, Ill. Commissioner Keyes is initiating a revision of Reclamation's Strategic Plan. The
<br />Government Performance and Results Act requires federal agencies to develop and periodically revise
<br />agency strategic plans. Reclamation prepared strategic plans in 1997, and again in 2000. Commissioner
<br />Keyes has scheduled a series of "conversation dialogues" to be held across the nation over the next couple
<br />of months to discuss perspectives and solicit feedback associated with Reclamation's roles and
<br />responsibilities. Currently dialogue sessions are scheduled for Denver, Colorado (May 6.7, 2002),
<br />Washington, D.C. (May 8, 2002), and Sacramento, California on May 29-30, 2002. I have included a copy
<br />of the schedule, meeting dates, locations. and times in the Board folder.
<br />
<br />i
<br />
<br />2003 Annual Operating Plan
<br />
<br />The flTst consultation meeting associated with development of the 2003 Annual Operating Plan
<br />(AOP) has been scheduled for June 15,2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The other six Colorado River Basin
<br />states and Reclamation expect California to provide a status report related to its activities toward meeting
<br />the December 31, 2002, deadline associated with execution of the Quantification Settlement Agreement
<br />(QSA). Absent execution of the QSA, the Interim Surplus Guidelines will be suspended and the AOP will
<br />be based upon operations for Lake Mead utilizing the "70R strategy" (i.e., a spill avoidance strategy). With
<br />the existing reservoir conditions, the 70R strategy would result in a "normal" declaration by the Secretary
<br />of the Interior, which results in California's use of Colorado River water being limited to 4.4 mafin 2003.
<br />This suggests that Reclamation may go forward with a two-track AOP development process. The first
<br />track, assuming the QSA is signed, would be based upon the Interim Surplus Guidelines being in full effect
<br />and result in a "full domestic surplus." The second track, assuming the QSA is not signed, would be based
<br />upon the "70R strategy" and result in a "normal" declaration.
<br />
<br />Water Use on the Yuma Island
<br />
<br />At the April 1 0, 2002, Board meeting it was reported that Reclamation has postponed the deadline
<br />for receiving comments regarding the Yuma Island issues Wltil August 5, 2002, and has scheduled a tour
<br />of Yuma Island for April 17, 2002. Representatives from the staff of the Board, MWD and CVWD
<br />
<br />3
<br />
<br />.,
<br />
<br />.'
<br />
|