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<br />;~'" <br />-<,,-'"\ <br />,- '.", <br /> <br />Should legislation nonetheless move forward. we would <br />respectfully request that the fOllowing concerns be addressed. <br /> <br />Power Operatinq Criteria--Sections 3 and 5(bl <br /> <br />Sections 3 and 5(b) are the two sections of the bill which <br />are of the most interest to the Basin States' representatives <br />and the Commission. Our major concern is that section 3 of the <br />bill. if it moves forward. be amended to make absolutely clear <br />the distinction between new "power operating criteria" and the <br />existing criteria governing the release and storage of water <br />for compact purposes set forth in section 602 of the Colorado <br />River Basin Project Act of 1968 (the 1968 Act). <br /> <br />It is our understanding that this bill is directed at <br />fluctuations in releases caused by powerplant operations. <br />do not believe that it is. or should be. the intent of S. <br />to alter Glen Canyon Dam's primary purpose of storing and <br />releasing water for compact purposes. This must be made clear <br />in the bill. <br /> <br />daily <br />We <br />2807 <br /> <br />The operation of Glen Canyon Dam is essentially a twofold <br />procedure. First. the monthly and annual volumes of water to <br />be stored and released are determined annually based upon water <br />supply considerations. water delivery requirements. and the <br />avoidance of anticipated spills from Lake Powell ("spills" <br />being "flood releases" in excess of powerplant capacity). <br />These determinations. which are set forth in a projected plan <br />of operation each year (the annual operating plan or AOP). are <br />governed by. among other things. the Colorado River Compact. <br />the criteria set forth in section 602 of the 1968 Act. and the <br />"Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado <br />River Reservoirs" (the Coordinated. Long-Range Operating <br />Criteria) promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior in 1970 <br />pursuant to section 602(b) of the 1968 Act. <br /> <br />Second. given the monthly volumes of water to be released. <br />within-the-month (i.e.. daily and weekly) fluctuations in <br />releases are made in accordance with power generation needs as <br />determined by the Western Area Power Administration. While the <br />operational parameters for fluctuating hydropower releases have <br />been expressly identified (i.e.. there currently are prescribed <br />minimum flows. maximum flows. and maximum rates at which <br />releases may be increased or decreased). formal power operating <br />criteria have not been promulgated. <br /> <br />Monthly and annual reservoir operations at Glen Canyon Dam. <br />which are the operations that pertain to the release and <br />storage of water for compact purposes. are the items of <br />critical importance to the Basin States' representatives and <br />the Commission. Restrictions on within-the-month fluctuations <br />for power releases. and on minimum and maximum flows are of <br />concern only if those restrictions interfere with the total <br />volume of water to be released in any given month or year. <br /> <br />-2- <br />