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. , W'.. e e OJ2174 CHAPTER IT PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES A. INTRODUCTION Reclamation developed and evaluated a range of alternatives to the proposed action. Only the proposed action and the no action alternative are feasible for implementation. B. ALTERNATIVES PROPOSED ACTION Modify the operation of McPhee Resen-oir - Reclamation proposes to modify the operation of McPhee Reservoir by changing from the 197i DPRlFES downstream rel~se t:riteria of 78. 50, or 20 cfs LQ a managed pool of water available from stora~ for do.....nstrearn rei~se for tish and wildlife purposes.. An interagency team would manage 'reieases from the pool to provide seasonally fluctuating downstream flows for the benefit of downstream fish and wildlife resources. Releases would be made by DWCD under direction by Reclamation. For water accounting purposes. releases will be measured at the parshall flume installed in the Dolores River below McPhee Dam. This modification would req'.Jire a separate operating agreement between Reclamation and DWCD pursuant to Article 9 of D\\'CD's repayment comrac:. .,.r #0 Acquire at least 7.200 AF of additional water for fISh and ~ildlife purposes - ~~on l'roooses to a~~ ~.I~ t~f "" 0; z..-200 AF of water to establish a 0001 of stora2e in McPhee Reservoir with a total Bnnual volume of ~~c.500 AF v Y ~ 7 2 ~o Tor ciownstream release from McPhee Reservoir to the Dolores River, Thi,s volume has been recommended as a .... --!"--C;/)~ suitable goal by several resource management agencies and Trou~ Unlimited. Tne 1.200 A:: would be a.ciried to the ~ l /'1/1" Irs 25 ,400 AF. of .Proj~ water :ese~ed by the United States ror fish and wildlife purposes and the up to 3,900 AF of 3 I /",i7 water reaulrea to satlSfv seruor C1ov.nstream water n"hts. fiS- ,. ~ Additional water for the managed pool will be acquired in three increments: 5" ~oD 2'3' 9Po ...---:J"ScP -2 'i, I1D~ 3 y<;" ,;; . Z-V ~3, (f ( jJ7L Increment I (3,900 AFi - The DWCD has agreed to provide 3,900 AF or water annually, subject to payment by Rechunation. to increase the pool of water reserved by the United States for fish and wildlife purposes to 29.300 AF. TIus water would be added to the ujl!2. 3,900 AF of water for senior downstream water rights fO'r h total managed pool of u~o 33,200 AF. The acquisition of this 3,900 AF of additional water would resolve the discrepancy in the original project operation stUdy regarding the average annual volume of Project water required frolD storage to fulfill the 19i7 DPRlFES dov.nstream water release criteria. Reclamation will solely fund the acquisition of this increment of water. Increment IT (3,300 AFi - Tne Ute Mountain Ute Tnbe has agreed to provide 3,300 AF of water, on a lease basis for up to 5 years, to increase the pool of water reserved by the United States for fish aod wildlife purposes from 29.300 AF to 32,600 AF.1 Reclamation would fund the lease arrangement. Tbis water 'Water to make up:; .300 AF of the fish and wildlife pool does not now exist. To acquire. lease. develop or otherwise OOLa!" an addition:J 3.300 AF of water fc~ the 3:,60u AF fish and wi.idiife pool. the cooperative effor. of fecier.<1. state. and local ~:l:-'~es is needed. Tr.e 2.c~L.lisitio:1 of l.~:r :;dditiom! ; .jOQ AF does not h~Ye acquisition p:-iority ove: "'ate: to mee: other Dolores ~iec: purposes. Tn.: 2.ccuisitio:: an': IT'..:l:'.3.gc:nen; of :.~.is additior.:ti ....'3.te~ jor the fish an': wiidiife pool requires: the identification 2!1C l:'"lvoivcr:-:e:1: C:. L...:t~;"'est~ ?~;~ie:;;. t~~ s:;-'u::tt.:~:1g c-: the pardes effon~. the idt:'~:i:::~lion 2.r1C 2..n2.iysis of patent:s: water source~. corHribu~icr. anc rr:an3.gemen~ e:fort.s of the p:;.nicipants. E