WSP02554

• File Number: 8210.140.20.A
• Description: Colorado River - Colo River Basin - Orgs/Entities - CRBSF - California - Colo River Board of Calif
• State: CA
• Date: 8/25/1998
• Author: Gerald Zimmerman
• Title: Executive Directors Monthly Report to the Colorado River Board of California
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

i
t:J/ \
it.'V~
~~I,lo'
/
\'

.

.

Indian Affairs transmitting a copy of the exhibits to the proposed agreement to the Board for its
review. The "Note" also announces that a proposed Federal Register Notice, extending the comment
period for 45 days from the date of its publication, has been sent to the Assistant Secretary of Indian
Affairs for his consideration.

ReguJations for Administrating Entitlements
in the Lower Colorado River Basin

As reported at previous Board meetings, Reclamation received 48 letters commenting on its
proposed Rule on "Off stream Storage of Colorado River Water and Redemption of Storage Credits
in the Lower Division States". I have been infonned that Reclamation intends to publish the final
Rule in the Federal Register soon. However, before the Rule can be implemented it must sit before
Congress for 60 session days. Since there are less than 60 session days remaining in the current
Congress, Reclamation has indicated to me that the rule will not become effective before March
1999.

Basin Statesffribes Discussion

Progress is being made in addressing the linchpin issues and in moving forward with
programs identified in the Colorado River Board's December draft of the 4.4 Plan. News Releases
included in the Board folder discuss the progress that has been achieved on several of the key issues
enumerated in the December draft of the 4.4 Plan, including the nD/SDCW A conservation and
transfer agreement; the MOU between MWD and the SDCW A dealing with the transportation of the
conserved water through the Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA); administration of agricultural
entitlements within the third priority (lID/CVWD); and the creation of underground storage facilities
for the storage of surplus/conserved waters for use during dry periods. Obtaining resolution on, and
reaching agreement among all of the affected parties on these programs, will assist in resolving two
of the three linchpin issues identified in the draft Plan. The three linchpin issues are: I) the
transportation of conserved water through existing facilities of others; 2) reoperation of Lake Mead;
and 3) administration of agricultural entitlements within the third priority.

Concerning the reoperation of Lake Mead, included in the Board folder is a recent letter from
, Mr. James Lochhead to various parties within Colorado, expressing his concern with language in the
MWD/SDCW A agreement related to riverreoperation and the assurance that the CRA would be kept
full through the year 20 15. A meeting of representatives from the seven Colorado River Basin states
has been scheduled for September 21" in San Diego, California. It is anticipated that this issue raised
by Mr. Lochhead along with the progress that has been achieved in development of the 4.4 Plan will
be topics of discussion.

Colorado River Endangered Fish Soccies

The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) Work Group
met July 31, 1998 in Phoenix, Arizona At the request of the Steering Committee, representatives
of the LCR MSCP are meeting with the U.S, Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EP A). A meeting was held with the Corps on July 28, 1998, in
Los Angeles, to brief it on the LCR MSCP program and provide the Corps representatives an

4