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<br />.' <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Babbitt), indicated in his speech at the 1996 Annual Conference of the Colorado River Water Users <br />Association that he intends to release the 1997 AOP with a surplus declaration, since the conditions <br />of an abundant water supply are similar to those in 1996, when a surplus was declared. However, <br />he further indicated that conditions of abundance will not always prevail, and water users in the <br />Lower Basin cannot rely on surpluses being available in the future. <br /> <br />At previous Board meetings, we have discussed Citrus Heights Ranches' application to <br />amend its Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow for increased groundwater pwnping as well as <br />its proposal to indemnify various parties concerning the origin of the groundwater until the issue <br />regarding the origin of the groundwater underlying its property is resolved. Included in the Board <br />folder is a copy of the indemnification agreement whereby Citrus Heights Ranches has requested the <br />"Accommodating Parties" to execute the agreement in order to allow the CUP to be apl'roved <br />without prejudice. <br /> <br />On December 19th, Reclamation issued a News Release stating that Reclamation has <br />questioned lID's 1997 request for delivery 00.3 mar of water for beneficial use. In its release, <br />Reclamation indicated that it has completed a water assessment report raising concerns about lID's <br />water use, and the extent to which lID's water use meets beneficial use standards. The lID has <br />questioned the validity of the report, and in fact, released its own News Release stating that <br />Reclamation issued its report prematurely. The lID said it has prepared its own 60 page report <br />questioning the data in Reclamation's report, which provides a rebuttal to each of Reclamation's <br />issues. A copy of both News Releases are included in the Board folder. <br /> <br />On January 8, 1997, Reclamation issued a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for review <br />and comment on backwater restoration and enhancement of the Imperial Division of the Lower <br />Colorado River. In addition to the DEA, Reclamation issued a preliminary "Backwater Restoration <br />and Enhancement Plan." The deadline for comments to be received by Reclamation is February 13, <br />1997. <br /> <br />The purpose of the plan is to restore the wetland/aquatic habitat on the Lower Colorado River <br />to the pre-I 984 conditions which were lost due to flooding. The project area is located near Yuma, <br />AriWIIlI and includes both sides of the river and extends from Imperial Dam to the northem <br />boundary of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. Reclamation will fund 50 percent of the cost <br />of the project with the additional 50 percent of the funds coming from other sources. The Arizona <br />Water Protection Fund has already advanced funds to begin work on the Arizona side of the river. <br /> <br />This action is not a Reclamation mitigation responsibility, but a coordinated interagency <br />effort of the Ariwna Game and Fish Department, Arizona State Lands Department, California <br />Department ofFish and Game, California Department of Parks and Recreation, the U.S. Bureau of <br />Land Management, Reclamation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. <br /> <br />2 <br />