Statement from ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke and CAP General Manager Ted Cooke in response to the U.S. Department of the Interior announcement of actions to protect the Colorado River system and 2023 Operating Conditions for Lake Powell and Lake Mead

Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) | August 16th, 2022

Statement of Camille Calimlim Touton, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation U.S. Department of the Interior Before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources June 14, 2022

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources | June 14th, 2022

"The Colorado River Basin is in the 23rd year of a historic drought. Both Lake Powell and Lake Mead – the two largest reservoirs in the United States – are at histori

"The Colorado River Basin is in the 23rd year of a historic drought. Both Lake Powell and Lake Mead – the two largest reservoirs in the United States – are at historically low levels with a combined storage capacity of 28 percent of capacity. While Reclamation and its partners have been successful in conserving water in Lake Mead and Colorado River System reservoirs, more needs to be done as the system reaches critically low water levels. The system is at a tipping point. An example of how Tribal Nations and water managers have addressed these conditions is shown in how, over the past 15 years, approximately 4.6 million acre-feet (maf) have been conserved in Lake Mead through voluntary measures by the three Lower Basin States, Tribal Nations, and Mexico. This has been accomplished through the creation of Intentionally Created Surplus, system conservation water, water for Mexico’s water reserve under Minutes 318, 319, and 323, as well as other water conservation efforts. At current water levels, these measures add 70 feet to Lake Mead’s elevation and delayed the first shortage declaration by six years. Over the past few years, Reclamation has worked with the Upper and Lower Basin States, Tribes, and stakeholders on Colorado River Drought Contingency Plans (DCPs), which were implemented in 2019. The DCPs provide a framework for additional actions to help the basin adapt to drought. An example of this is a 2021 Lower Basin Memorandum of Understanding, called the 500 Plus Plan. The plan, developed under both the DCP and 2021 MOU, aims to conserve additional water above what is required under a Lower Basin shortage condition and contributions under the Lower Basin DCP. The 500 Plus Plan parties have identified and are funding projects in each of the three Lower Basin States, and the projects include tribal, agricultural, and municipal water users. On May 3, 2022, Reclamation announced two separate drought response actions that will help increase Lake Powell storage by nearly 1.0 maf over the next 12 months (May 2022 through April 2023). The two actions include: 1. Approximately 500,000 acre-feet of water will be released from Flaming Gorge Reservoir, located approximately 455 river miles upstream of Lake Powell, pursuant to an agreement as part of the Upper Basin Drought Contingency Plan (adopted in 2019); and 2. Another 480,000 acre-feet will be left in Lake Powell by reducing Glen Canyon Dam’s annual release volume from 7.48 maf to 7.00 maf, as outlined in the 2007 Interim Guidelines that control operations of Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam. Regarding current conditions, in March 2022 Lake Powell dropped below elevation 3,525 feet, meaning the reservoir was less than 35 feet above the minimum power pool of 3,490 feet (i.e., minimum elevation at which hydropower can be generated). According to the May 2022 Most Probable 24-Month Study, the April-July runoff forecast into Lake Powell is 3.80 maf, or 59 percent of average. Lake Powell’s water surface elevation is projected to end the calendar year at 3,522.94 feet (22 percent full). Lake Mead is projected to reach an elevation of 1,039.92 feet (27 percent full) on December 31, 2022. While not official until the August 2022 24-Month Study, a shortage condition for the Lower Basin is projected in calendar year 2023. Looking to the future, Reclamation is preparing to develop new operating guidelines given that the 2007 Interim Guidelines expire in 2026. Reclamation is targeting initiating a formal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process in early 2023. Technical information and lessons learned from management under the current guidelines will be very helpful as the basin strives to develop new guidelines that are durable and drought resilient. Additionally, collaboration and involvement by partners and stakeholders (Tribal Nations, States, water districts, etc.) will be paramount for the effort to be successful. Prior to the start of the formal NEPA process, Reclamation is preparing to issue a “pre-scoping” Federal Register notice (targeting the week of June 20) to ask for input on both the stakeholder engagement process and the substantive elements and strategies for post-2026 operations. Despite the actions taken by the Department and Reclamation, significant and additional conservation actions are required to protect the Colorado River system infrastructure and the long-term stability of the system."

Storing and managing water for the environment is more efficient than mimicking natural flows

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | June 27th, 2024

Storing Water for the Environment: Operating Reservoirs to Improve California’s Freshwater Ecosystems

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | August 23rd, 2022

Large reservoirs like those that rim the Central Valley are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate. They provide multiple benefits includi

Large reservoirs like those that rim the Central Valley are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate. They provide multiple benefits including water supply, hydropower, flood management, and recreation. However, construction and operation of these reservoirs have also imposed significant environmental costs, including native fishes’ loss of access to high-quality habitat above dams and degradation of freshwater ecosystems below them. Moreover, regulatory uncertainty for water users is rising as these ecosystems decline. California needs a new approach for managing environmental water in its large reservoirs, particularly as the climate warms and droughts become more intense.

Streamlining Restoration Project Consultation Using Programmatic Biological Opinions

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) | April 24th, 2012

NOAA Fisheries Northwest Region supports efforts to restore the ecological function of our region’s habitat. Restoring habitat contributes to the recovery of species cu

NOAA Fisheries Northwest Region supports efforts to restore the ecological function of our region’s habitat. Restoring habitat contributes to the recovery of species currently protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), ensures that critical habitat designated under the ESA will serve its intended conservation role, and advances the conservation and enhancement of essential fish habitat (EFH) designated under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).

Suisun Marsh Monitoring Program Annual Data Summary Water Year 1999

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 31st, 2001

This report summarizes data collected in the Suisun Marsh during Water Year 1999 (October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999) pursuant to the following agreements, perm

This report summarizes data collected in the Suisun Marsh during Water Year 1999 (October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999) pursuant to the following agreements, permits, and water rights decisions: • State Water Resources Control Board Decision 1485, August 1978 (SWRCB 1978); • State Water Resources Control Board Order WR 95-6, 1995 (SWRCB 1995a); • Suisun Marsh Preservation Agreement, 1987 (USBR and others 1987); • Suisun Marsh Monitoring Agreement, 1987 (DWR and others 1987); • San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission Permit No. 35-78 (M) Amendment 7, 1997 (for construction of the initial facilities, namely the Roaring River Distribution System, Morrow Island Distribution System, and Goodyear Slough Outfall) (BCDC 1997); • San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission Permit No. 4-84 (M) Amendment 4, 1991 (for construction of the Suisun Marsh Salinity Control Gates) (1991); and, • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Permit No. 16223E58 (for construction of the Suisun Marsh Salinity Control Gates), Special Condition 1, 1986 (USACE 1986). This report fulfills a portion of the annual reporting requirements of the above-listed, agreements, permits, and water rights decisions as detailed in Table 1. Remaining reporting requirements will be fulfilled in other Department of Water Resources (DWR) and/or University of California Davis reports. DWR and the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) primarily collected data summarized in this report. The data include • general hydrologic data; • continuous channel water specific conductance and tidal height measurements; • marsh-wide vegetation survey update; • waterfowl abundance; and • salt marsh harvest mouse occurrence.

Summary of Draft Environmental Impact Report Peripheral Canal Project

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | August 1st, 1974

Summary of NMFS BiOp RPA Actions for Water Year 2014

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | October 30th, 2014

Summary Report on the Transactions of the Smelt Working Group in Water Year 2014

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | August 29th, 2014

The Bay‐Delta Fish and Wildlife Office (BDFWO) has prepared this report to summarize the implementation the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) biological opi

The Bay‐Delta Fish and Wildlife Office (BDFWO) has prepared this report to summarize the implementation the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) biological opinion on the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) Long‐term Operations (BiOp) in Water Year (WY) 2014. In addition to background information pertinent to implementation of the BiOp , this report provides a summary of the transactions of the Smelt Working Group (SWG), as well as water operations and during WY 2014. The SWG is a technical team that evaluates biological and technical issues regarding Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) and develops recommendations for consideration by the Service during implementation of the BiOp’s Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) actions. During WY 2014 the SWG made no recommendations for more restrictive water operations and the Service issued no determinations to reduce water exports.

Summary Report on the Transactions of the Smelt Working Group in Water Year 2018

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | November 1st, 2018