WSP03527

• File Number: 822.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Plan - Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2003
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Annual Operating Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

I

I

lower Basin Reservoirs

I
I

PUrSU3n1 to the Operating Criteria and consistent with the Decree. water shall be released or pumped
from Lake ~tead to meet the following requirements:

I
I

(a) \9";''';' U.S.-~1exico Water Treaty obligations;
(b) Reasonable beneficial consumptive use requirements of mainstream users in the Lower
Division States;
(e) Net river losses;
(d) Net reservoir losses;
(e) Regulatory wastes; and
(f) Flood control.

I

The Operating Criteria provide [hat after the commencement of deJi\"cry of mainstream water by
means of the CAP. the Secretary will determine the extent to which the reasonable beneficial
consumptive use requirements of mainstream users are met in the Lower Division States. The
reasonable beneficial consumptive use requirements are met depending on whether a nonnal,
surplus. or shortage condition has been dctemlined. The nonnal condition is defined as annual
pumping and release from Lake Mead sufficient to satisfy 7.500 maf(9.251 mcm) of consumptive
use in accordance with Article IlI(3)(a) of the Operating Criteria and Article I1(B)(l) of the Decree"
The surplus condition is defined as annual pumping and release from Lake Mead sufficient to satisfy
in excess of 7.500 maf(9.251 mcm) consumptive use in accordance with Article I1I(3)(b) of the
Operating Criteria and Article II(B)(2) of the Decree.

I

I
I

I
I

The Interim Surplus Guidelines. which became effective February 26, 2001 and were first utilized in
CY 2002. serve to implement the narrative provisions of Article I1I(3)(b) of the Operating Criteria
and Article II(B)(2) of the Decree for the period through 2016. These specific interim surplus
guidelines will be used annually by the Secretary to detcnnine the quantity of water available for use
within the Lower Division States.

I
I

Article II(B)(6) of the Decree allows the Secretary to allocate waterthat is apportioned to one Lower
Division State. but is for any reason unused in that State. to another Lower Division State. This
detcrnlination is made for one year only and no rights to recurrent use of the water accrue to the state
that receives the allocated water. As provided in the Interim Surplus Guidelines. Section 1(8).
before making a detemlination of a surplus condition under these Guidelines. the Secretary will
determine the quantity of apportioned but unused water from the basic apponionments. based on the
best available information at the time. Reclamation does not anticipate any available unused
apportionment for calendar year 2003 at this time. However. if any unused apportionment is
a\"ailable the Secretary shall allocate any a\'aila~lc unused apportionment for calendar year 2003 in
accordance with Article 11(8)(6) of the Decree and Section 1(8) of the Interim Surplus Guidelines"

I

I
I

Consistent with Section 7 of the Interim Surplus Guidelines. the AuguSl24-~tonth Study was used to
project the January I. 2003. Lake :-'1ead reservoir water surface elevation. Based on this projection.
the Full Domestic Surplus will govern releases for use in the Stales of Arizona. ;..!evada and
California during calendar y"ear 2003. as defined in Section 2 of the Interim Surplus Guidelines.

I

December 13.2002

24

I