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<br /> <br />-,...-~ . <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />"The Law of the River," the AOP was developed with "appropriate consideration of the <br />uses of the reservoirs for all purposes, including flood control, river regulation, <br />beneficial consumptive uses, power production, water quality control, recreation, <br />enhancement of fish and wildlife, and other environmental factors" (Operating Criteria <br />Article I(2)). <br /> <br />Since the hydrologic conditions of the Colorado River Basin can never be completely <br />known in advance, the AOP addresses the operations resulting from three different <br />hydrologic scenarios, the probable maximum, most probable, and probable minimum <br />reservoir inflows. River operations under the plan are modified as required during the <br />year as runoff predictions are adjusted to snowpack and climate variability. <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />Upper Basin Delivery. - Glen Canyon Dam will be operated to meet the minimum <br />objective release of 8,230,000 acre-feet for water year 1991 in accordance with Article <br />lI(b) of the Operating Criteria. <br /> <br />Lower Basin Uses. - Hoover Dam releases (including pumping from Lake Mead) will <br />be sufficient to satisfy up to 7,500,000 acre-feet of reasonable beneticial consumptive <br />use requirements by mainstream users in the Lower Basin during calendar year 1991 in <br />accordance with Article lII(a) of the Operating Criteria and Article ll(B)(1) of the <br />Decree in Arizona v. California. Because Arizona and Nevada will not fully consume <br />their respective apportionments pursuant to Article U(B)(l), California will be allowed <br />to utilize apportioned but unused water from these States, in accordance with Article <br />II(B)(6) of the decree in Arizona v. California; provided that, the calendar year 1991 <br />consumptive use by mainstream Lower Basin users does not exceed 7,500,000 acre- <br />feel. <br /> <br />Mexican Water Treaty Delivery. - The guaranteed annual quantity of 1,500,000 acre- <br />feet of water will be delivered to Mexico during calendar year 1991 in accordance with <br />Article 15 of the 1944 Mexican Water Treaty and Minute No. 242 of the IBWC. <br /> <br />Reservoir Operations. - Because of the vacant storage space in the Colorado River <br />system reservoirs at the beginning of water year 1991, no t100d control releases are <br />anticipated from Hoover Dam pursuant to the Hoover Dam Flood Control Regulations, <br />and no releases are contemplated from Glen Canyon Dam to avoid anticipated spills or <br />to equalize active storage in Lakes Mead and Powell. Water releases from each of the <br />Colorado River system reservoirs will be in accordance with minimum tlow <br />requirements, reservoir operating criteria, target storage elevations, and with the <br />exception of Fontenelle, all releases will pass through the powerplants. The resulting <br />operation will provide benefits to all the authorized project purposes at each of the <br />reservoirs. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />- <br />