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<br />OlJ22511 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />quantify unmeasured return flows by analyzing satellite photography to determine crop and <br />phreatophyte water use along the lower Colorado River. Under the LCRAS, the item for "estimated <br />unmeasured returns" or in fact, " measured returns" will no longer appear in the Article V reports <br />because it uses a water balance methodology rather than a diversions less returns methodology for <br />determining Colorado River water use. <br /> <br />On June 24-25, 1998, Reclamation held its first in a series of LCRAStechnical consultation <br />meetings in Henderson, Nevada. In response to the material which came from that consultation <br />meeting, the Board staff in conjunction with review and comment from representatives from each <br />of the California six agencies prepared a comment letter to Reclamation. A copy of that letter is <br />included in the Board folder. The PVID, under separate cover, sent its own letter with expanded <br />comments concerning the LCRAS methodology. The next LCRAS technical consultation meeting <br />will occur in early October, 1998. It will be another two-day meeting, probably in Henderson, <br />Nevada. The California Technical Committee for LCRAS will meet in Coachella a week or two <br />before Reclamation's meeting to further discuss concerns that the California agencies may have <br />regarding the use of LCRAS and its methodology. <br /> <br />As you are aware, Mexico is allowed to revise its annual water delivery schedule upon <br />30 days written notice. In June, Mexico requested Reclamation to decrease its July delivery request <br />and increase its December water delivery. Included in the Board folder is a letter, dated August 5lh, <br />from Reclamation to the International Boundary and Water Commission (lBWC) incorporating <br />Mexico's latest request to decrease its December delivery request and increase its September water <br />delivery. <br /> <br />On June 22ad, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, published in the <br />Federal Register, a Notice of Public Comment Period on Proposed Agreement for Leasing of <br />Colorado River Water and Non-Irrigation of Lands on Chemehuevi Indian Reservation. At the <br />Board's July meeting a brief discussion ensued among the Board members after which it was decided <br />that I would: I) request a 30-day extension in the comment period, 2) arrange a meeting with either <br />the Agency Managers and/or their attorneys to discuss the ramifications of the proposed agreement, <br />and 3) bring the findings from that meeting back to the Board for its consideration. Included in the <br />Board folder are two letters which I sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs requesting an extension of ., <br />the comment period and reserving the Board's rights to comment on the contents of the entire <br />proposed agreement once the exhibits to the agreement are received. <br /> <br />A meeting with the attorneys from the agencies was held on July 23M. Following the <br />July 23M meeting, comments regarding the scope of the issues being raised by the proposed <br />agreement were received from each of the agencies and categorized into three main issue areas: I) <br />legal issues/constraints; 2) policy issues; and 3) issues regarding specific agreement provisions. The <br />resulting draft list of issues is still being reviewed by each of the agencies. Prior to the Board's <br />September meeting this list of issues will be finalized and a draft letter commenting on the proposed <br />agreement will be brought to the Board for its consideration. <br /> <br />Also on this subject, included in the Board folder for your reference are copies ofMWD's, <br />CVWD's and the Arizona Department of Water Resources' comments on the proposed agreement. <br />Included also in the Board folder is a copy of a "Note," dated August 20, 1998, from the Bureau of <br /> <br />3 <br />