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<br />Scoping Summary Report <br /> <br />determine if revisions to monthly reporting requirements should be made. Monthly <br />estimates and projections would be made for large-scale users. <br /> <br />4. Commellt: The policy needs to adequately address implementation, monitoring and <br />enforcement issues such as the following: clarification regarding the definition of <br />inadvertent overruns, source and quality of payback water; enforceability; accounting <br />during shortage conditions; s-year policy review; environmental review of payback <br />plans; public availability of results of lOP reviews; and, fulfilling trust responsibilities to <br />Tribes with Colorado River water rights. <br /> <br />The policy also needs to be clarified regarding the following areas: maximum volume of <br />overrun water involved; payback time frames; accounting method; accounting <br />procedural handbook or similar documentation that includes description and definition <br />of terms used; payback options for contracts that hold only surplus water contracts; <br />applicability of the policy to Arizona and Nevada Colorado River water contractors; <br />payback options when proposed extra-ordinary conservation measures are not feasible; <br />and, circumstances other than surplus or flood releases where payback would be <br />forgiven. <br /> <br />Reclamatioll's Respollse: The draft EIS will include an lOP Appendix which will provide <br />examples of how the lOP will be implemented. We agree that the final policy must <br />address terms, methods and procedures as mentioned above. <br /> <br />5. Comment: How will the water savings that result from extra-ordinary conservation <br />measures be measured and verified. <br /> <br />Reclamation's Response: Examples of how water savings will be measured and verified <br />will be provided in the lOP Appendix to the draft ElS. While the extra-ordinary <br />conservation would be monitored and verified, the final measure of the effect of the <br />extra-ordinary conservation would be the reduction in diversions less return flows of the <br />entitlement holder. For the payback to occur, tlle extra-ordinary conservation must be <br />monitored and verified, and the district's diversion mimiC;: rphlTn flow must hp P<111r11 tQ.. <br />or below its entitlement minus the extra-ordinary water savings. <br /> <br />6. Comment: How does the lOP address the relationship to non-contracted Colorado River <br />users. <br /> <br />Reclamation's Response: Reclamation is developing an Accounting Surface procedure for <br />determining which users of well water. that are presumed to be pumping Colorado <br />River water, would need Colorado River water use contr . However, the well data <br />and tec ca stu ies are still being compiled, Reclamation expects to initiate a public <br />process within the next one to two years to establish tllis procedure. If and when these <br />users are determined to be using Colorado River water and a contract is executed for <br />such use, the lOP would apply to that use. <br /> <br />14 <br /> <br />lA, lOP a/ld Related Federal Actions E1S <br />