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<br />002528 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Basin would have been 8,041,020 acre-feei, 541,020 acre-feet more than is being delivered under a <br />normal condition. The additional water obtained under a full domestic surplus would have gone to <br />MWD, 504,020 acre-feet, and Southern Nevada Water Authority, 37,000 acre-feet <br /> <br />Reclamation's "Era of Limits" Symposium <br /> <br />Included in the Board folder is a copy of the agenda for Reclamation's kickoff meeting related <br />to the "Era of Limited Water Supply" held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 15, 2003. Representatives <br />of the Colorado River Basin States and water users attended the meeting along with senior staff from <br />Reclamation's Lower Colorado Regional Office and the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, <br />Bennett Raley. Reclamation provided an overview of the Law of the River, and historic river <br />management and operations. Reclamation spent a considerable amount of time discussing current <br />issues, including the following: (l) Contracting and unauthorized uses; (2) Decree accounting and <br />consumptive use requirements; (3) Beneficial use requirements and water conservation; (4) Water <br />availability and uses; (5) Yuma Desalting Plant operations; and (6) Water ordered, but not taken. <br /> <br />Assistant Secretary Raley provided an overview of the Administration's perspective on many <br />of the current Colorado River Basin water management issues, including the importance of getting all <br />of the parties to agree on a mutually acceptable Quantification Settlement Agreement He also indicated <br />that the Departmcnt of the Interior and Reclamation will be taking a more visible role in managing the <br />Colorado River in accordance with the laws that govern its operation and management <br /> <br />During the afternoon session, I participated in a panel discussion with Tom Carr from the <br />Arizona Department of Water Resources and Jim Davenport from the Colorado River Commission of <br />Nevada providing a states' perspective. I indicated that until recently Section 5 contractors had not <br />been injured if unauthorized diversions occurred; if over deliveries were made to Mexico; if water use <br />was not delivered in strict compliance with Section 5 contracts; and if accurate Article V Decree <br />accounting records were not kept However, with the existing reservoir conditions and the water <br />demands on the reservoir system, that condition no longer exists. As a result, Reclamation must move <br />toward implementation of new administrative practices and water policy initiatives that better manage <br />the available water supply. However, prior to their implementation, these administrative practices and <br />water policy initiatives must be fully coordinated with the Basin states and water users. I indicated that <br />I believe that we can provide insight on how they can be best structured. I also indicated that the <br />Colorado River Board and agencies in California stand ready to work with Reclamation to move <br />management of the available water supply from the Colorado River into a new era. <br /> <br />Revised Colorado River Water Orders <br /> <br />In late-April the Department of the Interior sent revised 2003 water order letters to Imperial <br />Irrigation District, Coachella Valley Water District, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern <br />California. The revised water orders are the result of the recent decision in the United States District <br />Court in the Imperial Irrigation District vs. Department of the Interior lawsuit Under the revised water <br />order approvals, Imperial Irrigation District will receive 3.1 million acre-feet, Coachella Valley Water <br />District will receive 238,200 acre-feet, and the Metropolitan Water District will receive 592,500 acre- <br /> <br />3 <br />