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<br />OU2234 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />somewhat different than it has been in past years. Based upon Secretary Babbitt's address at the <br />Colorado River Water Users Association annual meeting in December 1997, no formal guidelines <br />or criteria for a surplus condition will be adopted by Reclamation until California has developed its <br />4.4 Plan. Thus, no formal statement of the criteria used by Reclamation for its determination <br />regarding the availability of water to meet the water demands of the mainstream water users in the <br />Lower Basin will be included in the 1999 AOP. Rather, it will contain language justifying <br />Reclamation's determination based upon the existing conditions within the Basin and the impact of <br />such a determination. <br /> <br />FolIowing the May 15110 meeting, written comments on Reclamation's proposed 1999 AOP <br />will be solicited. Those comments wilI be discussed at a second meeting of the Colorado River <br />Management Work Group scheduled for JW1e 30. 1998. The fInal consultation meeting between <br />Reclamation and the Colorado River Basin states representatives wilI be held on August 4, 1998. <br /> <br />The Western Water Review Advisory Commission, on February 19, 1998, approved the <br />distribution of its fInal report entitled "Water in the West: The Challenge for the Next Century." <br />Written comments on the Report by Commission members wilI be published as an appendix to the <br />Report. Apparently, based on the comments that were received on the October 1997 draft of the <br />Report, substantial revisions have been made to the fInal Report. Copies of the fInal Report are <br />expected to be available by JW1e 1998. <br /> <br />Basin States/fribes Discussion <br /> <br />Progress is being made in the development of the Colorado River Board's 4.4 Plan, even <br />though the latest draft of the Plan remains the December 17, 1997, draft. The Agency Managers are <br />continuing to meet to develop recommendations that can be brought to the Board for its <br />consideration. The Agency Managers have held meetings folIowing the February Board meeting and <br />prior to the March and April Board meetings. Also, folIowing the March Board meeting a workshop <br />on the 4.4 Plan was held for the Board members. <br /> <br />In addition to activities of the Agency Managers, Mr. David KelUledy has been meeting <br />separately with MWD and the SDCW A to continue the discussion regarding wheeling water through <br />the Colorado River Aqueduct. He has also met with both lID and the CVWD to open a dialogue <br />between the agencies concerning the administration of the agricultural agencies' priorities for use <br />of Colorado River water. <br /> <br />Reclamation and representatives of the Colorado River Basin states are being kept apprized <br />of the progress being made in development of the Board's 4.4 Plan. A meeting was held with <br />representatives from Reclamation on March 20110 to discuss its perceived role in administration of the <br />water service contracts that each entitlement holder has for the use of Colorado River water. Then <br />on March 23'd a meeting between Reclamation and the State Water Resources Control Board (State <br />Board) was held to discuss their respective responsibilities as they relate to determinations of <br />reasonable benefIcial consumptive use, as welI as opportunities for Reclamation and the State Board <br />to cooperatively work together in making such determinations. <br /> <br />3 <br />