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<br />the northern plains states are experiencing dry
<br />conditions, while some portions of the southern plains
<br />states have moist conditions. Normal to moist
<br />conditions exist in many parts of Arizona, New
<br />Mexico, and Texas.
<br />
<br />With respect to reservoir storage, as of August 1,
<br />the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation reports below average
<br />levels in many of its reservoirs, The most severe
<br />conditions are in northern California, Nevada, and the
<br />Pacific Northwest. Some projects with near or above
<br />normal storage are located in the four corners area
<br />of Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, Texas and
<br />other localized regions, Columbia River Basin storage
<br />is above average because of operating modifications.
<br />A number of river basins report particularly low
<br />storage including: Malheur (0%); Humboldt (0%);
<br />Owyhee (2%); Carson (3%); Boise (10%); Stanislaus
<br />(14%); Rogue (29%); Klamath (35%); Upper Snake
<br />(40%); Umatilla (42%); Deschutes (43%); American
<br />(51%); Trinity (53%); Yakima (59%); North Platte
<br />(58%); Cheyenne (58%); and Truckee (excluding Lake
<br />Tahoe) (55%). Reservoir storage is also below
<br />average in a number of other areas.
<br />
<br />Accumulated precipitation data provide additional
<br />indications that drought prevails over a large portion
<br />of the West, particularly the Pacific Northwest. The
<br />exceptions are Arizona. New Mexico, and Texas.
<br />However, in some areas, precipitation during July
<br />helped ease drought conditions to some extent. Data
<br />on accumulated inflow to storage areas indicate the
<br />same general pattern, The Pacific Northwest,
<br />northern California, and the upstream portion of the
<br />Colorado River Basin have experienced generaily low
<br />accumulated infiow,
<br />
<br />According to the Bureau of Reclamation's last
<br />water supply conditions report for the 1992 water
<br />year, in the Pacific Northwest Region, above normal
<br />precipitation during July improved drought conditions
<br />in some areas, while others remain extremely dry.
<br />Record high temperatures occurred at several
<br />locations. Accumulated precipitation for the season,
<br />however, remains below normal for the entire region.
<br />Reservoir storage has been inadequate in some
<br />areas, with irrigation deliveries ending for some
<br />projects. In the Mid-Pacific Region, water supply
<br />conditions continue below normal. Timely
<br />precipitation during July may allow water users in the
<br />Klamath River Basin to complete their irrigation. In
<br />
<br />the Lower-Colorado Region reservoir storage is 76%
<br />of capacity. April-July inflow to Lake Powell was 57% ....
<br />of average. Water supplies, however, have been ~
<br />adequate. In the Upper-Coloraclo Region runoff was
<br />below normal and temperatures above normal for
<br />July, Precipitation in Juiy was normal or above
<br />normal for much of the region, helping reduce
<br />irrigation demand. Storage in the Colorado River
<br />Storage Project is about 1.1 M acre-feet less than the
<br />same time last year, but the Rio Grande and Pecos
<br />River basins are experiencing near to above normal
<br />water supply conditions. In the Great Plains Region
<br />above normal temperatures were the rule, while
<br />precipitation varied from much below normal to much
<br />above normal, with some exceptionally dry areas at
<br />Keyhole Reservoir (Wyoming), North Platte River basin
<br />reservoirs (Wyoming), Belle Fourche Reservoir (South
<br />Dakota), Reclamation reservoirs in North Dakota, and
<br />isolated reservoirs in Nebraska.
<br />
<br />WATER RIGHTS
<br />
<br />Model State Water Code
<br />An American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
<br />Committee has issued its second draft of the Model
<br />State Water Allocation Code. It is, according to its
<br />authors, a rough draft prepared only to stimulate
<br />reaction, It is being circulated to attract written ....
<br />comments on its scope of coverage and organization, "
<br />policy questions, and textual and commentary
<br />language. The scope of the code is derived from a
<br />proposal prepared by Ray Davis, Professor at the
<br />Brigham Young University Law School. The University
<br />has underwritten the cost of preparing the document.
<br />
<br />The initial draft of the code was prepared in 1990.
<br />Its organization and outline were modified extensively
<br />at the second annual meeting of the ASCE Model
<br />Water Code Task Committee in October, 1991.
<br />Among the major changes from the first draft are
<br />more clearly defined multiple tracts to provide
<br />materials for jurisdictions wishing to use a judicial
<br />allocation system rather than an administrative
<br />approach and states desiring to use a regulated
<br />riparian system as well as those using an
<br />appropriation approach. Information was also added
<br />on water supply augmentation and conservation, area
<br />of origin (intrastate) issues and interstate water rights
<br />transfers. For more information contact Ray J. Davis
<br />(801) 378-4274.
<br />
<br />The WE~TERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors ..
<br />of member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North ...
<br />Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma
<br />
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