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.. . System-Extended Streamflow Prediction (NWSRFS-ESP) conceptual model, which accounts for the current hydrologic status of the Basin. "Unregulated Lake Powell inflow" refers to the depleted runoff inflow to Lake powell without the influence of upstream reservoirs. 1.3 Background "The Law of the River", a collection of interstate compacts, federal legislation, water delivery and power generation contracts, state legislation, United States Supreme Court decrees, federal administrative actions, and a Treaty and other agreements with Mexico, governs the manner in which the Colorado River reservoir system is operated. These documents describe the water and power rights and priorities of the seven Basin States and the entities within those states, and the united States treaty obligation to Mexico. They also describe the procedures to be followed for the storage and release of water, and for flood control as well as other matters. The Secretary of the Interior follows "The Law of the River" in operating the river's rese.rvoirs. In effect, he is the river's watermaster. The Operating Criteria, promulgated pursuant to the 1968 Colorado River Basin project Act, P.L. 90-537, direct the Secretary of the Interior to develop an AOP which reflects "appropriate consideration of the uses of the reservoirs for all purposes, including flood control, river regulation, beneficial consumptive uses, power production, water quality control, recreation, enhancement of fish and wildlife, and other environmental factors." The projected AOP for the current water year is to be transmitted to the Congress and the Governors of the seven Basin states by January 1 of that year. The Secretary is also to advise the Congress and the Governors, by June of the current year, of any changes in the projected AOP that are made to reflect the current hydrologic conditions. The Secretary is guided by the fundamental policy of meeting, to the extent possible, the beneficial water needs of the Basin states, consistent with "The Law of the River". The Secretary of the Inter ior has delegated the actual formulation of the AOP and the day-to-day responsibilities for operating the river's reservoir system to the Bureau. Consistent with "The Law of the River", the Bureau must meet the minimum river flood control requirements, but beyond that it has some flexibility in the manner in which it operates the river. Specifically, for good cause, it can release flows in excess of the minimum required by the regulations, -3-