Colorado River Management Section

Current Issues

On December 13, 2007, the Secretary of the Interior signed the Record of Decision for the Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lakes Powell and Mead.  It is the first agreement that allocates Colorado River water during shortage and it begins a new era that emphasizes conservation and augmentation of the river to meet water demands.

Colorado River Interim Guidelines
  An important part of the seven States' proposal for the Secretary's guidelines involves the concept of "Intentionally Created Surplus" (ICS). ICS means that a water contractor may add water to the system through conservation or importation and the Secretary will release water in the future to the Lower Division State (Arizona, California or Nevada) that added the water.
  The Record of Decision (ROD) contains a Forbearance Agreement with Nevada and California that will allow creation and release of ICS and domestic surplus deliveries under certain, specific conditions, by forbearance of the three States from claiming their rights to another State's ICS or domestic surplus.  Forbearance authority is needed from the Arizona Legislature in order to proceed with the agreement.

The agreement will have no negative impact on any Arizona water user.  See the ROD .    

Colorado River Management Working Documents

Annual Operating Plan
      Year 2006 http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/AOP2006/AOP06_final.pdf
      Year 2007 http://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/rsvrs/ops/aop/aop07_draft.pdf

Arizona Colorado River Shortage Sharing Stakeholder Workshops

Revised Policy Regarding Transfer of Central Arizona Project Municipal and Industrial Water Subcontract Entitlements
      Substantive Policy Statement adopted 02/27/06 (745KB)
      Department's response to public comments (627KB)

Colorado River Transfer Policy
       Policy and Procedures for Transferring an Entitlement of Lower Basin Colorado River Water Within the State of Arizona

Overview

Introduction

Water Supply and Availability

Central Arizona Project

Future Distribution of Water

Water Quality

Law of the River

Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program