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<br />. would be subject 10 adjustment during the interim period based on changes in Upper Basin <br />demand projections. When flood control releases are made, any and all beneficial uses would be <br />met, including unlimited oft:stream storage. When Lake Mead water levels are below the lowest <br />surplus trigger elevation, surplus water would not be made available <br /> <br />6. Shortage Protection Ahernativc: The Shortage Protection Alternative is based on <br />maintaining an alTDunt of water in Lake Mead necessary to provile a normal armual supply of <br />7.5 maf for the Lower Division, !.5 maf fur Mexico and storage necessary to provide an 80 <br />percent probability of avoiding future shortages. The surplus triggers under this alternative range <br />from an approximate Lake Mead initial elevation of l126 feet ms! to an elevation of 1155 feet msl <br />at the end of the interim period. At Lake Mead ecvations above the surplus trigger, surplus <br />conditions would be detennined to be in effect and surplus water would be available for use in tbe <br />Lower Division states. Below the surplus trigger elevation, surplus water would not be n-ade <br />available. <br /> <br />V, Basis For Decision <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Reclamation selected the Basin States Ahernative as its preferred ahernative based on <br />Reclamation's detennination that it best meets all aspects of the purpose and need for the action, <br />including the need: to remain in place fOr the entire period of the interim guidelines; to gamer <br />support among the Basin States that win enhance the Secretary's ability to manage the Colorado <br />River reservoirs in a IlIlI1ner that balances all existing needs fur these precious water supplies; <br />and, to assist in the Secretary's efforts to insure that California water users reduce their over <br />reliance on surplus Colorado River water. Reclamation notes the important role of the Basin <br />States in the statutory framework for administration of Colorado River Basin entitlements and the <br />signiflcance that a seven-state consensus represents on thi; issue. With respect to the infonmtion <br />within the scope of the proposed action, Reclamation found the Basin States Alternative to be a <br />reasonable alternative and fully analyzed the environmental effects of this ahemative in the FEIS. <br />The ilentified envirornnental effects of the Basin States Ahernative are well within the range of <br />anticipated effects of the alternatives presented in the DEIS and do not affect the environment in a <br />manner not already considered in the DE 15. Thus, based on all available information, this <br />alternative is the most reasonable and feasible ahemative. <br /> <br />VI, Public Response To Final Environmental Statement <br /> <br />Following the Federal Register NOlice of Availability for the FEIS on December 15,2000, and as <br />of Friday at 7:00 PM (EST), on January 12,2001, Reclamation had received one letter supporting, <br />the preferred ahernative in the FEIS, one letter from the Ten Tribes Partnership, one letter from a <br />Non-goverrunental Organization and four letters and approximately 7,517 email comrrents <br />entited "Stop Daffilge to the Colorado River Delta" comm:nting on the FEIS. The erroil foml <br />letter appears to be based upon infonnation rmde available by Environmental Derense as posted <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />7 <br />