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<br />. <br /> <br />, <br />- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />A Century of <br />Water for the West <br />1902-2002 <br /> <br />Lower Colorado Regional Office <br />Boulder City, Nevada <br /> <br />For Immediate Release <br />July 3, 2003 <br /> <br />Contact: Bob Walsh <br />702-293-8421 <br />702-591-0029 (Cell) <br /> <br />RECLAMA nON ISSUES BENEFICIAL USE DETERMINA nON <br /> <br />The Bureau of Reclamation's Lower Colorado Regional Director, Robert Johnson, today issued <br />Reclamation's initial determination ( www.usbr.gov/lc/regionliid417.htm) of the amount of <br />Colorado River water needed for the beneficial use needs ofthe Imperial Irrigation District (lID) <br />for calendar year 2003. <br /> <br />In a July 2,2003 letter to IID, Jolmson stated, "Reclamation's estimated water requirement for <br />irrigation and potable [municipal] uses for UD for 2003 is 2,824,100 acre-feet of Colorado River <br />water to be diverted at Imperial Dam, This determination approves approximately 91% of the <br />Colorado River water ordered by lID for use in 2003," <br /> <br />The report also includes numerous recommendations of conservation andoperating practices lID <br />could implement now and in future years to reduce its use of Colorado River water, "Many of <br />these practices are commonplace throughout the west and could be of great benefit to the District <br />and its customers, Reclamation remains committed to work with Imperial to provide teclmical <br />assistance that could truly make a difference," Bob Johnson said. <br /> <br />On April 17, 2003 the U.S, District Court for the Southern District of Cali forma ordered <br />Reclamation to conduct a new and meticulous review under Title 43, Part 417 of the Code of <br />Federal Regulations to determine the amoW1t of water needed within the District for irrigation <br />and mW1icipa1 uses during 2003, <br /> <br />"This determination was made following a detailed technical review of the specific factors <br />identified in the Part417 regulations, as well as the process required by the Court's order, I <br />believe that we have produced a thorough and fair analysis of lID's water use for 2003, and we <br />look forward to any written conunents lID may have on this determination," Jolmson continued, <br /> <br />In accordance with the regulations, this determination will be final in 30 days, unless the District <br />submits objections in writing to Reclamation, If the District submits any written objections, <br />Reclamation has an opportunity to modify its determinations. If the District continues to be <br />dissatisfied with Reclamation's final determination, they may appeal to the Secretary of the <br />Interior, Following a final determination by the Department, and if still dissatisfied, the District <br />may seek fma1 review in court, In the interim, Reclamation will continue to deliver water to the <br />District under the current schedule in compliance with the District Court's Order of March 18, <br />2003, <br />