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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I foregone. This includes the potential value of reducing the Nation's costs in meeting requirements of the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, reuse, hazardous waste management clean up, and in augmenting water supplies. Restarting Prohibitively Costly. After having recently completed construction and initiated operation under this alternative, the Desalting Plant would now be disassembled. The structure of the Desalting Plant would remain and a portion of the Desalting Plant would continue to be used for the Yuma Projects Office (YPO); however, uncontrolled deterioration would be expected. Contracts would be cancelled, and the Reclamation staff expertise in desalting would be lost. The time and costs for restarting the Desalting Plant in the future (about 6 years and $70 million) would likely be prohibitive, making this form of non-operation a permanent decision. This alternative would also appear illogical in view of recent activities to complete construction and begin operation of the Desalting Plant. Opposition From Basin States and Mexico The Basin States and Mexico would protest this action very strongly. Their arguments would focus on: Intent of the Congress The Basin States would argue that Congress authorized and appropriated funds for construction.consistent with the authorizing Act so as not to diminish water appropriated to the Basin States in meeting the 1944 Treaty obligations to Mexico and that Congress intended for the Desalting Plant to be operated once construction was completed for conservation of the water of the Basin States. Future Hydrology Is Presumed The previous discussion on Uncertain Risks to States Water Supply presumes that the 85 years of recorded Colorado River flows are representative of long-term conditions. In 1974, the average of the Colorado River hydrology was significantly less than it is today. This is in part due to the fact that from 1983 through 1986, the Colorado River experienced the 4 wettest years on record. These high- flow years may add an upward bias to the Colorado River hydrologic analysis. In addition, while hydrologists would argue the accuracy of tree ring studies, some Basin States have expressed concern that such studies suggest the possibility that the last 85 years may be much wetter than normal and not representative of long-term Colorado basin water supply. Hence, the risk of shortage may be much greater than the historical river hydrology indicates. Currently the reservoir~ on the Colorado River are drawn down having experienced the 6 driest years on record. 20