WSP06774

• File Number: 8282.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Plan
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 12/14/1999
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: 29th Annual Report and 2000 Annual Operating Plan for Colorado River System Reservoirs
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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THE SECRETARY OF THE: INTERIOR
WASHINQ'-ON

DEC I 4 1900

Honorable Kenny Guinn
Governor of Nevada
Carson City, Nevada 89701

Dear Governor Guinn:

The Bureau ofRecllUllBtion, after consultation ata meeting on August 10, 1999, with representatives
of the Colorado River Basin Sta1es, the Upper Colomdo RiV\:r Commission, appropriate Federal
ageneics, Indian tribes, and other interested patties in Colorado River operations, establisbed the 2000
Annual Operating Plan (AOP) whicb is contained in the enclosed 29'" Annual Report and 2000
Annual Operating Plan for Colorado River System Reservoit1l_ The plan of oper:ution reflects use of
the reservoirs for all PlUpOses consistent with the "Criteria for Coordinated Long-Rsnge Operation
of the Colorado RiV\:r Reservoirs Pur5uant to the Colorado Rivt'I' Basin Project Act of September 30.
1968" (Operating Criteria).

Pursuant to required Secretarial determinations, storage equalization and the avoidance of spills will
control the annual releases from Glen Canyon Dam in accordance with Article 11(3) of the Operating
Criteria unless the minimum objective release criterion in Article II(2) is controlling. If the
equalization criterion is controlIing, Glen Canyon Dam will be operated to release sufficient water
during water year 2000 to equalize, as nearly as practicable, the active reservoir contents of Lake
PoweU and Lake Mead by September 30, 2000.

Taking into account(l) the cxisting";\.1I1er supply conditions in the basin, (2) the most probable near-
term water supply conditions in the basin, and (3) that the beneficial consumptive use requirem.euts
of Colorado River mainstream \lSCI:S in the Lower Division States are expected to be more than 9,250
MCM (7.5 MAF), the slUplus condition is the criterion governing the operation of Lake Mead for
calendar year 2000 in accordance with Article m(3)(b) of the Operating Criteria and Article 1l(B)(2)
of the decree in Arizona v. California. This determination is WIIII1Illtcd based on the current and
projected hydrologie conditions in the Colorado River Basin and water needs in the Lower Division
States, ntili:ring an analysis of future reservoir conditions, Lake Powell releases, and flood control
rclea5Cll. A volume of2,097 MCM (I. 7 MAP) of water will be allowed to be scheduled for delivery
to Mexico during calendar year 2000 in accordance with Article 15 of the 1944 Mexican Treaty and
Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water C.nmm;ssion.