WSP05551

• File Number: 822.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Plan - Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2002
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Annual Operating Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

the minimum objective release criterion in Article II(2) is controlling. Under the most probable
inflow scenario, Glen Canyon Dam will release 9.57 MAF (11,800 MCM).

Lower Basin Resen:oirs

Pursuant to the Operating Criteria and consistent with the Decree, water shall be released or
pumped from Lake l\-1ead 10 meet the following requirements:

(a) 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty obligations;
(b) Reasonable beneficial consumptive use requirements of mainstream users in
the Lower Division States;
(e) Net river losses;
(d) Net reservoir losses;
(e) Regulatory wastes; and
(I) Flood control.

The Operating Criteria provide that after the commencement of delivery of mainstream water by
means of the CAP, the Secretary of the Interior will determine the extent to which the reasonable
beneficial consumptive use requirements of mainstream users are met in the Lower Di\-ision
States. The reasonable beneficial consumptive use requirements are met depending on whether
a normal, surplus, or shortage condition has been determined. The normal condition is defined
as annual pumping and release from Lake Mead sufficient to satisfy 7.500 MAF (9,251 MCM)
of consumptive use in accordance with Article 1I1(3)(a) of the Operating Criteria and Article
II(B)(1) of the Decree. The surplus condition is defined as annual pumping and release from
Lake Mead sufficient to satisfy in excess of 7.500 MAF (9,251 MCM) consumptive use in
accordance with Anicle 1JJ(3)(b) of the Operating Criteria and Article Il(B)(2) of the Decree.

The Interim Surplus Guidelines, which serve to implement the narrative provisions of Article
1JJ(3)(b) of the Operating Criteria and Article Il(B)(2) of the Decree for the period when the
Interim Surplus Guidelines are effective, became effective on February 26, 200 I. These specific
interim surplus guidelines v.ill be used annually to determine the conditions under which the
Secretary would declare the availability of water for use v.ithin the Lower Division States.

Article II(B)(6) of the Decree allows the Secretary to allocate water that is apportioned to one
Lower Division State, but is for any reason unused in that State, to another Lower Division State.
This determination is made for one year only and no rights to recurrent use of the water accrue
to the state that receives the allocated water. As provided in the Interim Surplus Guidelines,
Article XI, Section 1(8), before making a determination of a surplus condition under these
Guidelines, the Secretary will detennine the quantity of apportioned but unused water from the
basic apportionments, based on the best available information at the time. Reclamation does not
anticipate any available unused apportionment for calendar year 2002 at this time. The Secretary
shall allocate any available unused apportionments for calendar year 2002 in accordance v.ith
Article XI, Section 1(B) of the Interim Surplus Guidelines,

October 15, 200 I

20