The Bureau of Reclamation today announced the public availability of a Scoping Summary Report on the development of Lower Basin shortage guidelines and coordinated management strategies for the operation of Lakes Powell and Mead under low reservoir conditions. These actions are designed to improve the Interior Departments annual management and operation of key Colorado River reservoirs. In addition, these actions are designed to delay the onset and magnitude of shortages and maximize the protection afforded to water supply, hydropower production, recreation, and environmental benefits by water storage in Lakes Powell and Mead.

At the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, Reclamation initiated a public scoping process in September 2005 to obtain public input on the potential scope of these management strategies. This report summarizes the issues raised during that process and describes the Interior Departments assessment of the environmental analysis that will be included in the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS).

The Scoping Summary Report can be reviewed on the Bureau of Reclamations website at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/strategies.html. To obtain a printed copy of the report, please contact Nan Yoder at telephone (702) 293-8500; facsimile (702) 293-8156; e-mail: strategies@lc.usbr.gov.

Written comments should be sent to: Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region, Attention: BCOO-1000, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470; facsimile at (702) 293-8156; or e-mail at strategies@lc.usbr.gov.