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<br />7>- <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />CDM Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Larry Clever - Ute Water <br />Charlie Stockton - Ute Water <br />Tom Crumpton - Ute Water <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Tom Charles - CDM 46 <br /> <br />Plateau Creek Pipeline - Core Committee Process <br />Preliminary Staging Concept <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />May 17, 1996 <br /> <br />In response to issues raised at the May 9, 1996 Core Committee meeting, I have prepared a <br />summary of a multi-staged approach to addressing depletions in the IS mile reach due to future <br />Ute Water diversions associated with the Plateau Creek Pipeline. <br /> <br />At the May 9 meeting, the USFWS proposed consideration of incremental staging as a means to <br />allow Ute Water to receive approval under Section 7 of the ESA and proceed with construction <br />of the replacement pipeline. A staged RP A is not a new concept. This approach is the basis for <br />the Wolford Mountain Project Biological Opinion (BO). The objective of a staged RPA is to <br />develop a management strategy that includes identification of future RP A's to offset project <br />depletions, which will increase with future water demands. As shown on Figure 1, project <br />depletions in the next 10 to 26 years (depending on the basis used for target flows) will be within <br />the 1,500 acre-foot threshold which currently allows the recovery program to serve as the RPA. <br />If the endangered fIsh are not recovered as scheduled by the efforts of the recovery program by <br />that time, a future project or planned RIPRAP action item in the IS-mile reach can be identified to <br />offset the additional depletion increment. Similar to the Wolford Mountain BO, all parties can <br />agree to implement new or additional RPA's if sufficient progress is not made by the recovery <br />program at the trigger threshold. Annual project depletions can be monitored by the BLM and <br />reported to the USFWS. <br /> <br />Based on data presented by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, there are numerous future projects <br />with more than enough water to offset Ute Water's projected project depletions and provide <br />additional water for recovery efforts. The Orand Valley Management project is just one example <br />of this type of RP A. This memorandum defmes possible increments for consideration based on <br />Ute Water's projected demands, and the currently accepted hydrology. <br /> <br />Benchmarks for Initial Staging <br /> <br />Ute Water's peak pre-1988 historic use occurred in 1986 and totaled 7,476 acre-feet for the year. <br />The pre 1988 benchmark used in the hydrological summary was established by mutual agreement <br /> <br />O:\8047-110\DOC\51696C.MEM <br />