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<br />The Stipulation and Agreement also provides that Reclamation will declare surplus water which is in <br />excess of the needs of HUP beneficiaries for a given water year. Water declared surplus might be <br />o delivered through agreements to beneficial uses in Western Colorado. This is to be done in accordance <br />o with the provisions of the HUP Operating Criteria, which are summarized below: <br />.... <br />~., <br />0') <br />(,W Manal!ement of the HUP Under the Ooeratinl! Criteria <br /> <br />The management of the HUP is accomplished through the process defined in Sections 3.d. and 3.e. of the <br />Operating Criteria. This process requires the development of this Annual HUP Operating Plan on or <br />before June 30 of each year. <br /> <br />The Annual HUP Operating Plan is developed by the Bureau of Reclamation, in consultation with the <br />Grand Valley Water Users Association, the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District, the Grand ValleyIrrigation <br />Company, the Oivision 5 Engineer, the Colorado Water Conservation Board and, Fish and Wildlife <br />Service. These entities are collectively known as the 'Managing Entities'. The Managing Entities agree <br />to make a good faith effort to develop an Annual HUP Operating Plan that is unanimously supported. <br />However, the Bureau of Reclamation reserVes the right to establish a release schedule, should unanimous <br />consent be unattainable. <br /> <br />The Annual HUP Operating Plan is based upon actual HUP storage conditions; projected runoff <br />forecasts; operational and climatological conditions; projected irrigation demands; and, 15-Mile Reach . <br />flow needs. It is expressly recognized, however, that in some years, release of the entire HUP by the end <br />of the irrigation season will not be necessary or possible. <br /> <br />On or before June 30 of each year, the Bureau of Reclamation assembles initial information on storage in <br />the HUP and comparative runoff years. Based upon the information assembled, a meeting is held with <br />the other Managing Entities. During this meeting, a review of the forecasts is analyzed, and initial <br />determinations of the level of "checking" required to preserve water in the HUP, as well as any <br />determination of water surplus to HUP beneficiaries needs are made.. . <br /> <br />The HUP operations are reviewed and modified by the Managing Entities as necessary to respond to <br />changing conditions. Subsequent meetings or conference calls are held on an as needed basis to <br />reexamine HUP storage conditions, runoffforecasts, climatological conditions, irrigation demands, 15- <br />Mile Reach flow needs, and other operational conditions. Based upon this information, the Managing <br />Entities adjust the checking. They also determine the water surplus for HUP beneficiary needs, as well <br />as the release of such water. During periods of below average river flows, review meetings. or <br />conference calls may be held as frequently as every week. <br /> <br />This mechanism provides a way to integrate management of releases from the HUP with operation of the <br />Check to accomplish the purposes of the Operating Criteria. The mechanism is also used to integrate <br />releases from the HUP with releases for the endangered fish from other reservoirs including Ruedi !lld <br />Wolford Mountain. <br /> <br />23 <br />