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<br />\ . <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Colorado River Operations <br /> <br />Yuma Desalting Plant Report to Congress <br /> <br />In early November 2002, Reclamation released its latest draft of a report to Congress <br />regarding modifications to Title I of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (pL. 93-320). <br />This report and the accompanying Yuma Desalting Plant Readiness Assessment report have been <br />discussed at previous Board meetings. The report to Congress details Reclamation's proposed <br />methods for addressing the Mexican Treaty obligation and water quality issues in the Lower Basin. <br />Specifically, Reclamation is evaluating methodologies and authorizations for ensuring that it will <br />be able to continue to meet both water quantity and quality aspects associated with annual deliveries <br />of water to Mexico. In this Report, Reclamation continues to advocate the utilization of a <br />combination of measures to off-set releases from mainstream reservoirs to make-up the water <br />currently bypassed to the Cienega de Santa Clara via the MODE. These combined measures include <br />the following: (1) leasing of water from willing sellers, (2) investing in advanced irrigation <br />techniques to reduce water uses, and (3) obtain non-system water supplies from groundwater or other <br />sources. <br /> <br />Sections of the report to Congress describe the recently completed cost estimates contained <br />within the Yuma Desalting Plant Readiness Assessment report. This Assessment Report has been <br />made available to Board members. The readiness assessment report identifies key costs associated <br />with YDP start-up, operatioo, and maintenance: <br /> <br />I. To replace design deficiencies, the costs are estimated to be nearly $15,000,000; <br />2. To start the YDP up for the first time, the costs are estimated to be approximately <br />$26,000,000; <br />3. The annual costs associated with YDP operation and maintenance are estimated to range <br />between approximately $1,500,000 (ready-reserve), $13,000,000 (one-third capacity), <br />$20,000,000 (2/3 capacity), and nearly $24,000,000 (full capacity); <br />4. At full plant operation, the cost per acre foot of product water ranges from a low of$305 <br />to a high of $480; <br />5. At full plant operation, the reduction of salinity of the Colorado River at NIB ranges <br />from a reduction of 13 ppm to 0 ppm; <br /> <br />The Colorado River Board staff and others have commented on Reclamation's preliminary <br />draft Report to Congress. After receiving those comments, Reclamation has revised the report and <br />prepared a draft that is currently undergoing public review. Reclamation has scheduled a meeting <br />on February 25, 2003, to discuss the comments that were received and to begin its formal review of <br />this report before it is transmitted to Congress. A copy of Reclamation's February 2, 2003, draft <br />Report is included in the Board's handout material. Comments on this draft of the Report to <br />Congress are due by March 7, 2003. <br /> <br />2 <br />