WSP05296

• File Number: 8210.140.20.A
• Description: Colorado River - Colo River Basin - Orgs/Entities - CRBSF - California - Colo River Board of Calif
• State: CA
• Date: 12/9/2003
• Author: Gerald Zimmerman
• Title: Executive Directors Monthly Report to the Colorado River Board of California
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Lower Colorado Water SUDDlv Proiect (LCWSP)

The City of Needles (Needles) is continuing to execute subcontracts with Project
beneficiaries to receive Project water. As of December I ", subcontracts for 308 acre-feet of current
use and 567 acre-feet of future use have been executed. The initial 2004 water order placed for
Project water by the City of Needles for Project beneficiaries was 649 acre-feet and BLM 517
acre- feet.

With regard to the concept of Advanced Delivery, two alternatives are now being considered
for the Project. The first alternative is basically an exchange and forbearance arrangement, while
the second alternative is selling water at near market prices, Discussions with potential customers
who would receive this water are being held to determine their interest in pursuing each of these
alternatives. Also, discussions are being held with Needles and Reclamation on the mechanics of
implementing these alternatives.

In order to implement either of these alternatives, Needles' original contract will have to be
amended to accommodate development of Phase 2 of the Project. This amendment is currently
being reviewed by Reclamation and CRB staff.

At last months Board meeting, it was reported that staff was working on developing criteria
for the water quality of the well field water that is acceptable to I1D and CVWD, The Board's stafT
has reached agreement with the technical stafT ofIID and the CVWD on the proposed criteria. These
criteria will be discussed with the agency managers and Board members,

Blythe Energy Project Phase II

On November 18, 2003, the California Energy Commission (CEC) released its Blythe II
Preliminary Staff Assessment (PSA) for agency comments, The PSA contains the CEC staffs draft
environmental, engineering, and public health and safety evaluation of the Blythe Energy Project
Phase II. Comments are due by December 18, 2003,

The CRB staff has reviewed the PSA and has noted that the CEC staff has analyzed the
BEP II water use and its proposed Water Conservation OfTset Program (WCOP) and concluded that
there would be significant impact to California's use of Colorado River water, Therefore, the CEC
staff has recommended an alternative cooling option. The report also outlines information that is
needed to complete the review ofWCOP,

A summary ofCEC staff recommendation and WCOP requirements are listed below:

Recommendations - Because the BEP II project as proposed by the Applicant would cause
significant impacts to water supply and its uses, and would not conform to applicable Laws,
Ordinances, Regulations, Standards and State policy, and there is a feasible alternati ve to the
use of Colorado River groundwater, stafThas recommended that the project be amended to

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