Difference between revisions of "2027-2028 Operating Guidelines"
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| + | ==2027-2028 Operating Guidelines== | ||
Several reservoir and water management decisional documents and agreements that govern the operation of Colorado River facilities and management of the Colorado River are scheduled to expire at the end of 2026. These include the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead (2007 Interim Guidelines), the 2019 Drought Contingency Plans, as well as international agreements between the United States and Mexico pursuant to the United States-Mexico Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande (1944 Water Treaty). | Several reservoir and water management decisional documents and agreements that govern the operation of Colorado River facilities and management of the Colorado River are scheduled to expire at the end of 2026. These include the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead (2007 Interim Guidelines), the 2019 Drought Contingency Plans, as well as international agreements between the United States and Mexico pursuant to the United States-Mexico Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande (1944 Water Treaty). | ||
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| − | ! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;"> | + | ! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Framework</h2> |
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| + | ==Lake Powell operations:== | ||
| + | |||
| + | For the August 24-Month study, perform Exhibit Runs using the following potential release volumes [with LTEMP monthly volumes] in descending order to determine an initial Water Year release volume that maintains a minimum Lake Powell elevation of 3510' throughout the WY. [[File:LakePowellOperations.png|right|400px]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Upper Elevation Range: === | ||
| + | If the October 1 elevation is at or above 3565' start with a release volume of 8.23 maf | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Mid-Elevation Range: === | ||
| + | If between 3540' and 3565' start with release volumes of 8.0 maf, then 7.5 maf, then 7.0 maf the release volume will be the first that maintains 3510' throughout the WY | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Low Elevation Infrastructure Protection Range: === | ||
| + | If below 3540' start with a release volume of 7.0 maf | ||
| + | |||
| + | If the August 24-Month study with a release volume of 7.0 maf shows elevations below 3510' during the WY follow the Determinations Table: | ||
| + | *Release volume will be between 6.0 and 7.0 maf | ||
| + | *Move monthly volumes from October through April to May through September to maintain at least 3510' in March of the current WY | ||
| + | *Run two 24-Month Studies for release volumes of 6.0 maf and 7.0 maf | ||
| + | *In the 6.0 maf run, include supplemental releases from CRSP Upper Initial Units for May of the current year through April of the following year | ||
| + | *Determine March elevation for the 7.0 maf run | ||
| + | |||
| + | If the March elevation is: | ||
| + | * >3510' then the release is 7.0 maf and there are no releases from the CRSP upper units | ||
| + | * <3510' then determine what releases from the CRSP upper units coupled with reductions in Powell releases (down to 6.0 maf) will keep the March elevation above 3510' | ||
| + | |||
| + | From October to April, evaluate monthly projections. | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Adjust release volume down to no less than 6.0 maf to avoid falling below 3510' through March of the following WY | ||
| + | *Adjust release volume up if projected to end the current WY is above 3565' such that half the difference in volume from the projected September 30 Lake Powell storage at elevation 3565' is added to the release. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Extraordinary Circumstances:=== | ||
| + | If Lake Powell is projected to decline below 3500' in March of the following year (see Sec. 5.1.D) | ||
| + | |||
| + | Consult with Basin States | ||
| + | *If the volume needed to protect 3500' in March of the following year is >2.0 maf | ||
| + | *If any Basin State believes there is inequity between volumes available in the CRSP Upper Units and reductions in Powell releases | ||
| + | *If Powell releases <6.0 maf are needed to maintain 3500' in March of the following year | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Lake Mead operations:== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Elevation between 1125' and 1220' (full pool)=== | ||
| + | If the most probable rises above 1125' in the next 12 months[[File:LakeMeadOperations.png|right|700px]] | ||
| + | *Consult to increase apportionment above 6.25 maf | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Shortage Condition Determination and Lower Basin Reductions: Elevation between 1010' and 1125'=== | ||
| + | Lower Basin Reductions | ||
| + | *Apportion 6.25 maf (1.25 maf reduction) | ||
| + | *Conserve an additional 700 kaf voluntarily | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Elevation between 895' (dead pool), 950' (minimum power pool), and 1010'=== | ||
| + | If the most probable falls below 1010' in the next 12 months | ||
| + | *Consult to consider potential actions | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS)=== | ||
| + | Extended through 2028 | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the year ICS is created | ||
| + | *0% deduction of the volume | ||
| + | *3% annual evaporation assessment until delivered | ||
| + | |||
| + | No ICS delivery if Mead is less than 1000' | ||
| + | *Consultation if Mead is between 1000' than 1025' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ICS delivery is limited to 800 kaf (2026-2028) | ||
| + | |||
| + | Limits on annual creation, delivery, and accumulation (see table) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Federally Managed Water Resources Pool (FMWRP)=== | ||
| + | *Indian Water Rights Settlement | ||
| + | *450 kaf within ICS | ||
|} | |} | ||
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| + | *[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/post2026/index.html Reclamation Site: Colorado River Post-2026 Operations] | ||
*[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/post2026/decision-doc/2027-2028OperatingGuidelines_Final.pdf Colorado River Guidelines for Coordinated Operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead for Operating Years 2027 and 2028] | *[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/post2026/decision-doc/2027-2028OperatingGuidelines_Final.pdf Colorado River Guidelines for Coordinated Operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead for Operating Years 2027 and 2028] | ||
| + | *[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/post2026/decision-doc/P26_BiologicalOpinion_Final.pdf Biological Opinion for Glen Canyon Dam Operations (2026–2036)] | ||
*[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/post2026/decision-doc/P26_RecordofDecision_Final.pdf ROD-Decision Framework for Colorado River Guidelines: Coordinated Operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead (2027–2036)] | *[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/post2026/decision-doc/P26_RecordofDecision_Final.pdf ROD-Decision Framework for Colorado River Guidelines: Coordinated Operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead (2027–2036)] | ||
*[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/post2026/final-eis/index.html Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead – Final Environmental Impact Statement] | *[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/post2026/final-eis/index.html Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead – Final Environmental Impact Statement] | ||
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| − | *[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/interimguidelines/seis/index.html Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Near-term Colorado River Operations] | + | *[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/interimguidelines/seis/index.html 2024 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Near-term Colorado River Operations] |
*[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/dcp/index.html Drought Contingency Plans] | *[https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/dcp/index.html Drought Contingency Plans] | ||
*[https://gcdamp.com/index.php/Interim_Guidelines 2007 Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages] | *[https://gcdamp.com/index.php/Interim_Guidelines 2007 Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:26, 11 September 2026
 The post placed in the 1920s by the USGS at "Lee Ferry" marking the division of the upper and lower basins |
2027-2028 Operating GuidelinesSeveral reservoir and water management decisional documents and agreements that govern the operation of Colorado River facilities and management of the Colorado River are scheduled to expire at the end of 2026. These include the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead (2007 Interim Guidelines), the 2019 Drought Contingency Plans, as well as international agreements between the United States and Mexico pursuant to the United States-Mexico Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande (1944 Water Treaty). The Post-2026 process was a multi-year NEPA process that set out to develop long-term successor operating guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead to replace expiring agreements. The process was formally initiated in June 2023 with the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Throughout the process, extensive stakeholder engagement occurred, with a particular focus on developing a range of alternatives over a two‑and‑a‑half‑year period. Six alternatives were developed and evaluated to capture a broad range of operational concepts and potential environmental impacts, though consensus on long‑term operations was not reached. After the publication of the Final EIS on July 31, 2026, the process is concluding with issuance of the Record of Decision on August 21, 2026, which adopts the Preferred Alternative’s "Decision Framework." Pursuant to the Record of Decision, the first set of guidelines—the 2027–2028 Operating Guidelines—were also issued.[1] |
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