Lower Colorado River Operations Program
Contact: Robert Walsh, (702) 293-8421
The President's FY 2009 budget request for the Lower Colorado River Operations Program (LCROP) is $16.4 million. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, has the unique role of "water master" for the lower Colorado River. LCROP includes river operations, water service contracting and repayment, decree accounting, oversight of hydropower activities, and fulfilling the requirements of the Secretary's role as water master. Reclamation will complete the guidelines for the coordinated management of Lakes Powell and Mead under low reservoir conditions and for Lower Basin shortages in FY 2008.
The request also includes funding to continue work on development and anticipated implementation of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP). This unique partnership is designed to provide 50 years of Endangered Species Act coverage and will conserve 26 species along the lower Colorado River from Lake Mead to Mexico, including the endangered razorback sucker, bonytail, southwestern willow flycatcher, and Yuma clapper rail.