EA 2003 Water Year AOP - Laserfiche WebLink

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Summer (June-Septem6er): If drought conditions persist, flows during summer 2003 are expected to be similar to those in 2002. Even if hydrologic conditions improve during the water year, it is doubtful that much water will reach the central Platte River during the summer months due to the Districts' anticipated operations for full irrigation deliveries and maximization of storage. Tentative plans are to augment extremely low flows during the plover and tern nesting season (June 1 to August 15) to maintain a forage base of macroinvertebrates and fish. Final plans to augment during this period will be based, in part, on an early spring fish survey to determine the functional presence or absence of the fishery as it relates to tern forage. Flow augmentation will occur for this purpose if terns remain in the area and it appears as though there may be an adequate distribution and quantity of forage fish in the river. If terns leave the area, presumably due to the absence of an adequate forage base, augmentation may not be necessary. However, consideration will also be given to the presence/absence of plovers and the availability of suitable riverine foraging habitat. If plovers remain in the area and are involved in nesting activity, some level of augmentation may be necessary to maintain macroinvertebrate communities within the river channel for shorebird foraging. If EA releases are made during this period and CNPPID's hydrocycling operations will result in fluctuating EA releases at the J-2 return, the potential effects on the fish and macroinvertebrate communities will be considered. If the Service believes that fluctuating EA releases from the J-2 return are negating anticipated benefits from flow augmentation, then suspension of EA releases may be necessary. Until there is a better understanding of CNPPID's hydrocycling operations, the EA Manager is to be notified, in advance, of all hydrocycling operations that may affect EA releases. Further investigation into this issue and coordination with CNPPID will be undertaken prior to the summer augmentation period. Carry Over: Carry Over of EA water from one water year to the next allows for use of the EA during the early months of the non-irrigation season before additional water is accumulated or to accumulate adequate volume for other purposes, especially if EA contributions are at a minimum during the non-irrigation season. With anticipated very dry hydrologic conditions in the 2003 water year, limited EA volume, and augmentation needs, EA water may be in short supply by September of 2003. As the water year progresses, hydrologic conditions, EA releases, and EA volume will be closely monitored to detertnine how much water can or should be retained in Lake McConaughy for Carry Over purposes. Water Yeaz 2003 EA AOP 8 January 30, 2003