8279

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8279
• Author: Brown and Caldwell.
• Title: Phase 1 Coordinated Facilities Water Availability Study for the Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River.
• USFW Year: 2000.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

2.2.3 Evaluation and Screening Criteria
' Evaluation and screening criteria are listed in the alternative evaluation matrix (see Table 1).
The matrix lists issues and concerns for each alternative and was used by the Executive
' Committee and the consultant team in screening alternatives for further study in Phase 2. The
issues and concerns listed in the evaluation matrix will be the focus of further investigation in
Phase 2 where the effects and concerns will be quantified.
' Participants in this Phase 1 investigation indicated the importance of three criteria for evaluating
and screening alternatives:
' • Reduction in existing projects' yields is not to occur,
' • Existing projects' operations and maintenance costs should not be increased, and
• Existing projects operational flexibility, and/or reliability are not to be affected.
These criteria are specifically incorporated in the alternative evaluation matrix and are further
discussed below.
' Analysis will be completed in Phase 2 to quantify the following effects on existing projects
resulting from implementation of any of the alternatives to supply the average annual 20,000
acre-feet: (1) reduction in existing projects' yields, (2) increases in existing projects' operations
and maintenance costs and (3) changes in existing projects' operational flexibility and/or
reliability. The purpose of this analysis will be to provide data to facilitate evaluation of the
' individual alternatives. If the effects on existing projects' yields, operations and maintenance
costs and/or project flexibility prove to be significant, the Executive Committee can eliminate the
specific alternatives from further consideration.
' 2.2.3.1 Impact on Existing Projects' Yields
' The term "yield" is used in this investigation to indicate the historic yield of a project under
historic hydrologic conditions and does not refer to the decreed yield of the project's water right.
This definition of yield is used because it is consistent with the planned Phase 2 analysis. In
' Phase 2 of this investigation, extensive analysis will be made to determine the effect, if any, of
implementing the alternatives described in this report on existing projects' yields. These effects
will be determined by comparing hydrologic model simulations with and without the proposed
alternatives. These simulations will use the baseline hydrology as described in Section 2.3.2.
' Preliminary estimates of expected effects of alternatives on existing projects' yields have been
made in Phase 1 and are included in the evaluation and screening criteria (see Table 1).
' As indicated above, Phase 2 investigations will focus on quantifying the effects on existing
project yields from implementation of the alternatives for supplying the average 20,000 acre-feet
per year.

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