WSP02717

• File Number: 822.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Plan - Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2001
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Annual Operating Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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INTRODUCTION

Authority

This 2001 annual operating plan (ADP) was developed in accordance \,,'ith Section 602 of 7he
Colorado Riwr Basin Project Act (Public Law 90-537), and the Criteria/or Coordinated LOJ/g-
Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs Pur~7Jallt to the Colorado Riwr Basin Project
Act of September 30. 1968 (Operating Criteria), promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior
pursuant thereto and other applicable statutes. In accordance with 17Je Colorado River Basin
Project Act and the Operating Criteria, the ADP must be developed and administered consistent
with applicable Federal laws, The Utili=atioll of Waters of the Colorado and TijuQnQ Rivers and
of the Rio Grande, Treaty Between the United States of Americaand ""lexica, signed February 3,
1944 (1944 U.S.~Mexico Water Treaty), interstate compacts, court decrees, and other documents
relating to the use of the waters of the Colorado River, which are commonly and collectively
known as "The Law of the River."

The Operating Criteria and Section 602 of T71e Colorado Riwr Basin Project Act mandates
consultation with representatives of the Governors of the seven Basin States and such other
parties as the Secretary may deem appropriate in preparing the annual plan for operation of the
Colorado River reservoirs. In addition, T7w GrandCanyol1 Protection Act of 1992 (Title XVIII
of Public Law 102-575) requires consultation to include the general public and others.
Accordingly, the 2001 AOP was prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in
consultation with the seven Basin States Governors' representatives; the Upper Colorado River
Commission; Native American Tribes; appropriate Federal agencies; representatives of the
academic and scientific communities, environmental organizations, and the recreation industry;
water delivery contractors; contractors for the purchase of Federal power; others interested in
Colorado River operations; and the general public, through the Colorado River Management
Work Group (CRMWG).

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Purpose

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The purposes of the AOP are to detennine: (1) the projected operation of the Colorado River
reservoirs to satisfy project purposes under varying hydrologic and climatic conditions; (2) the
quantity of water considered necessary as of September 30, 2001, to be in storage in the Upper
Basin reservoirs as required by Section 602(a) of The Colorado River Basin Project Act; (3)
water available for delivery pursuant to the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty and Minute No. 242
of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico (IBWC); (4)
whether the reasonable consumptive use requirements of mainstream users in the Lower Division
States will be met under a "nonnal," "surplus," or "shortage" condition as outlined in Anicle III
of the Operating Criteria; and (5) whether water apportioned to, but unused by one or more
Lower Division States exists and can be used to satisfy beneficial consumptive use requests of
mainstream users in other Lower Division States as provided in the 19M U.S. Supreme Court
Decree in Arizona v. California (Decree).

November 16, 2000