Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS) program, according to CAP spokesman Mitch Basefsky.


Established in 2007, the ICS address- es water shortages and the coordinated operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead in several ways, such as fallowing in exchanges for credits, conveyance of non-Colorado River for credit, funding of water use efficiency projects for credit and “extraordinary conservation” mea- sures that increase Lake Mead levels. Water shortages from a persistent


drought in the Southwest have nega- tively impacted the level of Lake Powell, and if dry conditions continue then the drought could threaten operations of the Glen Canyon Dam hydroelectric power plant relied on by 5.8 million customers. Te problem is a looming concern for


reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin upstream from the Lake Powell. Tose reservoir managers face the possibility of having to deliver water downstream to boost levels and avert a shutdown of the plant.


“Education and awareness of the pilot projects may be equally as beneficial as the projects themselves. We have to be sure people have the real facts of what we are trying to do, buy in to the process and then document the benefits.”


– Bruce Whitehead, Southwestern Conservation District


Allowing Lake Powell to fall below the minimum power pool has numerous dire consequences, said Ted Kowalski, chief of the Interstate, Federal & Water Information Section for the Colorado Water Conservation Board.


“Funding for operation and main- tenance of the primary Colorado River Storage Project Act irrigation projects, derived from Glen Canyon Dam hydro- power revenues would dry up.” Kowalski said. “Te Basin Fund also is used to fund critical environmental programs such as the Salinity Control Forum, the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, and the San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Imple- mentation Program.” Reduced capacity to make releases


from Glen Canyon Dam threatens com- pliance with Colorado River Compact obligations. Te result could be litiga- tion and curtailment of water use within the Upper Basin states, which include Colorado. Tus, Colorado and the other basin states have “rolled up their sleeves” and initiated contingency planning negotiations, Kowalski said. “In the Upper Basin, the contingency plan consists of three prongs: increased weather modification, extended opera- tions demand management, which is


8 • Colorado River Project • River Report • Winter 2014-2015


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