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average flow conditions will occur throughout most of the water year. Mountain snow accumulation, and the timing and duration of May and June uncontrolled runoff, will be monitored for opportunities to use EA releases to augment runoff events to improve the magnitude and/or 30-day duration of peak flows. Summer (July-September): To the extent that predictions for summer 2001 are practical, flows are projected to be at or slightly below Service-recommended average flow targets through August. Flows during September are projected to be well below Service-recommended dry flow targets. The dry year prediction indicates that irrigation demand and summer flow conditions could be similar to those experienced in Water Year 2000, which would have resulted in extremely low flow conditions at Grand Island during the summer months without EA releases (e.g., for ten separate days during August and September, 2000, flows at Grand Island dropped below 500 cfs even though 550 cfs was being released from the EA). A portion of the EA will be held in reserve to augment possible low flow events during summer months to maintain fish/aquatic community health and least tern forage base. 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 insure adequate volume is available for other purposes if EA contributions are at a minimum during the non-irrigation season. With the possibility of dry hydrologic conditions in the 2001 water year and predictions of potential long-term dry conditions in the Platte River basin, EA Carry Over is prioritized for the 2001 water year. As the water year progresses, hydrologic conditions, EA releases, and EA volume will be closely monitored with the intent that, if dry conditions prevail, some quantity of EA water will be carried over into Water 1Tear 2002. Water Year 2001 EA AOP 8 January 3, 2001