OCR Text |
Show PART VI STREAM MANAGEMENT Initial Filling Criteria The Secretary of the Department of Interior has been operating the regulatory facilities under his initial filling criteria published in the Federal Register on July 19, 1962 (27 F.R. 6851). Inasmuch as long-range operating criteria have, for all practical purposes, now replaced the initial filling criteria, detail discussion will be reserved for the long-term operating criteria. Long-Range Operating Criteria Public Law 90-537, The Colorado River Basin Project Act, required the Secretary to adopt criteria for long-range operations under guide- lines set forth in the Act not later than July 1, 1970. On June 9, 1970, there were published in the Federal Register "Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs." In promulgating the long-range criteria the Secretary, over the objection of Upper Colorado Basin interests, retained from the original filling criteria charges against the Upper Basin for deficiencies in generation of firm power at the Hoover Powerplant incident to the initial filling of the Upper Basin storage reservoirs. At the option of the Secretary, the deficiency charges are to be met by either energy generated at the Upper Basin powerplants or energy purchased from funds out of the Upper Basin Account. The Secretary has indicated that, since all Upper Basin power is now covered by contract, future deficiencies will be supplied from power purchased with funds from the Upper Basin Account. P.L. 90-537 provides that such funds be replaced at the rate of $500,000 per year from the Colorado River Development Fund supplied by Hoover powerplant revenues and any amounts unpaid after 1987 be taken from the Lower Basin Account. There are no pro- visions for reimbursement for energy generated at the Upper Basin powerplants for the deficiency purposes. The lorxg-range criteria provide the guidelines and regulations for coordinated operations for various purposes of the reservoirs of the Colorado River Storage Project in the Upper Basin and Lake Mead in the Lower Basin. Such operations are to be administered consistent with applicable Federal laws, the Mexican Water Treaty, interstate compacts and decrees relating to the use of the waters of the Colorado River. A formal review of the operating criteria will be made by the Secretary at least every five years with the states participating. Annual reports on past and contemplated annual operations are to be trans- mitted to the Congress and the Governors of the Colorado River Basin States. 26 |