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. . .' Yuma Desalting Plant Readiness Assessment On November 4, 2002, Board staff and I were briefed by Reclamation's Ywna Area Office staff regarding the current state of readiness of the Ywna Desalting Plant (YDP). Reclamation staff and a technical consultant are in the process of completing a final report which describes the current state of readiness ofYDP. Currently, Reclamation has evaluated the readiness ofYDP based upon a least-cost estimate and a highest-cost estimate; and at operational increments of one-third, two- thirds capacity, and full plant operation. The readiness assessment identifies the following key costs associated with YDP start-up, operation, and maintenance: . To replace design deficiencies, the costs are estimated to be nearly $15,000,000; . To start the YDP up for the first time, the costs are estimated to be approximately $26,000,000; . The annual costs associated with YDP operation and maintenance are estimated to range between approximately $1,500,000 (ready-reserve), $13,000,000 (one-third capacity), $20,000,000 (2/3 capacity), and nearly $24,000,000 (full capacity); . At full plant operation, the cost per acre foot of product water ranges from a low of $305 to a high of$480; . At full plant operation, the reduction of salinity of the Colorado River at NIB ranges from a reduction of 13 ppm to 0 ppm; Yuma Desalting Plant Report to Congress In early November, I received a copy of Reclamation's latest iteration of the report to Congress regarding modifications to Title I of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (P.L. 93-320). As we have discussed at previous Board meetings, this report details Reclamation's proposed methods for addressing the Mexican Treaty obligation and water quality issues. Specifically, Reclamation is evaluating methodologies and authorizations for ensuring that they are able to continue to meet both water quantity and quality aspects associated with annual deliveries to Mexico. In the Report, Reclamation continues to advocate the utilization of a combination of measures to off-set releases from mainstream reservoirs to make-up the water currently bypassed to the Cienega de Santa Clara via the MODE. These combined measures include the following: (1) leasing of water from willing sellers, (2) investing in advanced irrigation techniques to reduce water lIses, and (3) obtain non-system water supplies from groundwater or other sources. New sections of the report to Congress describe the recently coinpleted cost estimates contained within the YDP readiness assessment, described above. Reclamation expects to release thc revised report to Congrcss to interested stakeholders for a 30-day comment period. After the comment period, Reclamation will finalize the report and submit it to Congress. Reclamation anticipates submitting the final report to Congress by the end of the Calendar Year. Additionally. it is my understanding that Reclamation Commissioner, John Keys, is tentatively scheduled to hold a meeting with interested stakeholders on this issue at the annual meeting of the Colorado River 4 "