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.. Implementation and Operation of the Tamarack Plan January 7,2002 Draft Description of the "Tamarack Plan" The Tamarack Plan will contain numerous managed recharge projects on state wildlife areas (SW A) like the Tamarack Ranch State Wildlife Area, on private lands and in private ditches. The Tamarack Plan has three separate water components, or phases, that were negotiated by Colorado. Each phase was developed as the result of a particular need of the Proposed Program. Phase I. During the Cooperative Agreement negotiations, Colorado agreed to reduce the Target Flow shortage, on average, by 10,000 acre-feet per year to mitigate for the impacts caused by Colorado's water related activities in existence prior to July 1997. This reduction to shortages is known as Phase I of the Tamarack Plan. Phase II. Under the Proposed Program, future depletions in each of the three states are allowed if the depletive impacts of these projects to the Target Flows are mitigated. Phase II of the Tamarack Plan will provide the water to mitigate impacts to the species of interest from those new water related activities in Colorado that elect to participate in the Tamarack Plan, based upon Colorado's "Future Depletion Plan"approved by the Governance CoIIllIlittee. Phase III. The remainder of Colorado's water commitment to mitigate the impacts of Colorado's water related activities in existence prior to July 1997 was determined by the "Water ConservationlWater Supply Study" conducted by the Cooperative Agreement signatories. Phase III ofthe Tamarack Plan was identified by this study and tasked with reducing the Target Flow shortages, on average, by 17,000 acre-feet per year in the lower reaches ofthe South Platte River in Colorado. This Colorado commitment is in addition to the Phase I commitment of reducing Target Flow shortages, on average, by10,000 acre-feet per year. In committing water to the Proposed Program, Colorado must establish the ways and means to develop, monitor, and administer that water within Colorado water law in perpetuity. How Colorado will meet this commitment has not been finalized. In addition, there are numerous issues related to water development and operation that must be considered when fulfilling this commitment. The following presents one proposal as to how that commitment might be accomplished. This proposal is intended to initiate and frame discussions related to development and operation of the Tamarack Plan. Tamarack OM&R plan: version 01/01/2002 1