Demonstration Programs
Intentionally Created Surplus
The Bureau of Reclamation has signed an agreement with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for a demonstration program that will help determine if creating "surplus" water in Lake Mead can be used as a long-term water management tool on the lower Colorado River. The demonstration program will allow Metropolitan to leave water in Lake Mead in 2006 and 2007 that the district would otherwise use. This water - called "Intentionally Created Surplus" or "ICS" water - is defined as water that has been conserved through an extraordinary conservation measure, such as land fallowing.
The links below offer more information about this activity:
Reclamation and the Imperial Irrigation District have also entered into an agreement for a similar demonstration program:
- Agreement with Imperial Irrigation District (PDF, 501 KB)
System Conservation
Reclamation has also implemented a demonstration program to help determine whether voluntary system conservation through the use of land fallowing could be used as an interim and supplemental measure to reduce water supply impacts that would otherwise occur in Colorado River reservoirs.
Reclamation will continue the Demonstration Program for System Conservation (Demonstration System Conservation Program) through December 31, 2010. This policy became effective January 1, 2009, and extends the Policy that became effective on May 26, 2006, that ended on December 31, 2008.
- Extension of Policy Establishing a Demonstration Program
for System Conservation of Colorado River Water (PDF, 493 KB) - Policy Establishing a Demonstration Program
for System Conservation of Colorado River Water (PDF, 681 KB)
