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<br />II. THE PLAN <br /> <br />A. Principles <br /> <br />The South Platte River System serves as water supply and delivery system that results in <br />streamflows different from natural streamflow regimes. This Plan was developed to take <br />advantage of those differences and will be implemented within the principles stated here~ <br /> <br />· Operate water supply facilities in ways that will not cause participating water users to <br />lose or adversely impact existing or future water supply~ All operations under this <br />Plan are first subject to this principle being met. <br />· Operate water supply facilities in ways that maintain and in some cases enhance the <br />trout fishery and whitewater recreation. Recognize that the Forest Service designated <br />the trout fishery an "outstandingly remarkable value" on the mainstem and whitewater <br />recreation an "outstandingly remarkable value" on the North Fork. <br />· Provide a dynamic plan that is refined and continued through time~ <br />· Plan does not promote or restrict development of water systems but provide goals and <br />commitments for operating water systems. <br />· There will occasionally be conflicts between the operating objectives and operators <br />will need to choose among tradeoffs in making their operating decisions. <br />· Due to water rights constraints, government regulations, facility maintenancet <br />emergencies, dam safety concerns, or special requests to alter streamflow outside the <br />normal operationst it might not be possible at times to meet all theiguidelines within <br />this Planf <br />· The Roberts Tunnel will continue to be operated solely for water supply purposes. <br />The seasonal and annual volumes discharged from the Roberts Tunnel will not be <br />changed by operations under this Plan~ <br /> <br />B. Future Water Projects <br /> <br />In coming decades, water system improvements and future importation to the Upper <br />South Platte Basin will alter the hydrologic basis of this Plan. The anticipated growth in <br />Metro Denver is likely to bring more water through the South Platte River reaches of <br />concem4 No one can predict with certainty what the future holds for proposed projects or <br />water rights. It is not the intent of this Plan to promote or restrict the development of <br />water system improvements, enlargements or the introduction of new water from future <br />projects, but it is intended to provide goals for the protection of the existing trout fishery <br />and whitewater recreation values present in the South Platte River. <br /> <br />The concern is that prolonged high flow periods due to new project water may require a <br />larger stream channel to adequately protect fisheries habitat and populations, channel <br />stability, and maintenance of the ecosystem. Future water projects, especially those that <br />will significantly extend bank full stream conditions, will require an analysis by the <br />project proponent of channel capacity related to these values.. <br /> <br />N :\Supply\ Waage\wildscen\attachb.doc <br /> <br />B-4 <br />