OCR Text |
Show from the Colorado River Development fund to the Upper Colorado River Basin fund, in lieu of application of said amounts to the purposes stated in section 2 (d) of the Boulder Canyon Project Adjustment Act, until such reimbursement is accomplished. To the extent that any deficiency in such reimbursement remains as of June 1, 1987, the amount of the remaining deficiency shall then be transferred to the Upper Colorado River Basin fund from the Lower Colorado River Basin development fund, as provided in paragraph (d) of section 403. TITLE VI - GENERAL PROVISIONS: DEFINITIONS: CONDITIONS SEC. 601. (a) The Secretary shall promulgate equitable criteria for the coordinated long-range operation of the reservoirs constructed under authority of this Act, the Colorado River Storage Project Act and the Boulder Canyon Project Act, consistent with the provisions of those statutes, the Boulder Canyon Project Adjustment Act, the Colorado River compact, the Upper Colorado River Basin compact and the Mexican Water Treaty. Such criteria shall be prepared and reviewed annually after an exchange of views in writing with the official representatives of each of the seven Colorado River Basin States and the parties to contracts with the United States affected by such criteria. (b) In the preparation and subsequent execution of the criteria, the following listed order of priorities shall govern the storage of water in storage units of the Colorado River storage project and releases of water from Lake Powell: (1) Releases to supply one-half the deficiency described in article III (c) of the Colorado River compact, if any such deficiency exists and is chargeable to the States of the upper division, but in any event such releases, if any, shall terminate when the President issues the proclamation specified in section 305 (b) of this Act. (2) Releases to comply with article III (d) of the Colorado River compact, less such quantities of water delivered into the Colorado River below Lee Ferry to the credit of the States of the upper division from sources outside the natural drainage area of the Colorado River system. (3) Storage of water not required for the releases specified in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) to the extent that the Secretary, after consultation with the Upper Colorado River Commission and representatives of the three lower division States and taking into consideration all relevant factors (including, but not limited to, historic streamflows, the most critical period of record, and probabilities of water supply), shall find to be reasonably necessary to assure deliveries under subparagraphs (1) and (2) without impairment of consumptive uses in the upper basin pursuant to the Colorado River compact: Provided, That water not so required to be stored shall be released from Lake Powell; (i) to the extent it can be reasonably applied in the States of the lower division to the uses specified in article III (e) of the Colorado River compact, but no such releases shall be made when the active storage in Lake Powell is less than the active storage in Lake Mead, (ii) to maintain, as nearly as practicable, active storage in Lake Mead equal to the active storage in Lake Powell, and (iii) to avoid anticipated spills from Lake Powell. (c) Section 7 of the Colorado River Storage Project Act shall be administered in accordance with the foregoing criteria. SEC. 602. (a) Rights of the upper basin to the consumptive use of water apportioned to that basin from the Colorado River system by the Colorado River compact shall not be reduced or prejudiced by any use thereof in the lower basin. (b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter, amend, repeal, modify, or be in conflict with the Upper Colorado River Basin compact provisions (63 Stat. 31 on page 33). SEC. 603. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, in constructing, operating, and maintaining the units of the project herein and hereafter authorized, the Secretary shall be governed by the Federal reclamation laws (Act of June 17, 1902; 32 Stat. 388 and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto) to which laws this Act shall be deemed a supplement. 60 |