Comments on Draft EIS

• File Number: 8461.100
• Description: Adaptive Management Workgroup
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 9/17/2004
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Comments on Draft EIS
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Board Memo

-3-
4. The Colorado plan for future d(
on-stream reservoir located on the
downstream of Denver, Colorado.
)letions does not cover the construction of a major
nain stem of the South Platte River anywhere
- Tamarackl I
The DEIS at 3-25 through 26 summarizes Colora
forth in Attachment 5, Section 3 of the Proposed ]
fair general reflection of the tenor of the project, t
• The summary did not reflect that re-timing of
estimated to develop an average annual yield,
flow shortages and after any canal
's initial project (Tamarack I) as more fully set
gram document. Although the summary was a
summary was misleading in the following ways:
tream flow that results from Tamarack I is
' at least 10,000 acre-feet during times of target
has occurred.
The summary did not reflect that water rights fpr the operation of the components of Tamarack I
will be obtained and exercised under Coloradol law for beneficial uses in Colorado.
• Other portions of the DEIS confused the in
Attachment 5, Section 3 of the Proposed Pi
accretions will not be protected from diver:
is intercepted by Colorado canals it will be
Cooperative Agreement and will not count
• The summary did not reflect operational cr
by the Governance Committee members. '
ional protection intended for Tamarack I water.
n document clarifies that any Tamarack I
by other Colorado water rights, but if that water
unted for, reported to other parties to the
rds satisfying Colorado's obligations.
for the Tamarack I project that was negotiated
criteria are summarized by stating that:
In operating Tamarack I Colorado will
a good faith effort to minimize canal
interception. All such facilities will be op ated by Colorado and its water users in
compliance with the requirements of the S uth Platte River Compact and for Program
purposes during times of excesses to target flows.
Tamarack I facilities may also be operated for urposes other than the Program, subject to
requirements of state law and the South Platte iver Compact, so long as (1) such operation does
not interfere with the use of those facilities for the purposes described in this plan or Colorado's
new depletion plan and (2) any associated new depletions are mitigated in accordance with
Colorado's new depletion plan.
Consistent with Section E.2.a. of the Program ocument, as long as Tamarack I is constructed
and operated as described herein, the target flo shortage reduction credited to Tamarack I
individually or to the three initial water project collectively will not be reduced even if the real
time frequency and magnitude of flows in exc ss to targets at Grand Island causes Tamarack I to
produce an average annual yield that is less th n that projected under historic flow conditions,
regardless of the reasons for the change.
2. The DEIS does not do an adequate job de:
the value of an adaptive management pro€
jointly implemented program could react 1
to the species or habitat using a variety of
ribing the benefits of a cooperative program and
am. The DEIS fails to adequately highlight how a
, adjust to, and if necessary offset negative trends
ianagement tools.
The DEIS portrays several "action altei
different focus or approach. The DEIS
cooperative approach in other contexts
" to the Proposed Program "emphasiz[ing] a
out that "agreement of all parties to a
not be inferred." That statement is correct.
Flood Protection • Water Project Plaiuiing and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection • Conservation Plaiuung