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H. ESA Compliance. ESA compliance for South Platte Basin future depletions in Colorado will <br />conform to the Program document. New water related activities in the South Platte Basin <br />conforming to the criteria listed below are covered by this portion of the Colorado plan for future <br />depletions: <br />1. The new water related activity is operated on behalf of Colorado water users, except <br />the provisions of sub-paragraph H 5 below shall govern federal projects; <br />2. Depletions caused by the new water related activities began after June 30, 1997. <br />3. New water related activities would not be covered by this plan after the average annual <br />water supply to serve Colorado's population increase from "Wastewater <br />Exchange/Reuse" and "Native South Platte Flows" exceeds 98,010 acre feet during the <br />February-July period described below. The 98,010 acre-foot figure represents gross <br />water deliveries (supplies) to meet new demands for an average hydrologic year, and is <br />not a consumptive use or diversion limitation. In analyzing proposed new water related <br />activities, only those supplies resulting from diversions to storage or wastewater <br />exchange and reuse during the period from February through July will be counted toward <br />the 98,010 acre-feet. In the event that a new water related activity is not covered by <br />Colorado's plan pursuant to this subsection I.H.3, Colorado and the activity's proponent <br />can consider amendments that will allow Colorado's Plan to provide ESA compliance for <br />the activity as provided in Section E of the Program document. <br />4. The Colarado plan for future depletions does not cover the construction of a major on- <br />stream reservoir located on the main stem of the South Platte River anywhere <br />downstream of Denver, Colorado. In addition, the Colorado plan for future depletions <br />does not cover hydropower diversion/return projects that divert water including <br />sediments from the main stem of the South Platte River anywhere downstream of Denver, <br />Colorado and return clear water to the South Platte River. <br />5. New Federal depletions within Colorado may be covered by the Colorado plan for <br />future depletions in the discretion of Colorado as set forth in the Federal Depletion Plan. <br />The ESA compliance covered by this plan only concerns consultation on the target species. To <br />the extent that a federal nexus activity has potential impact "non-target" listed species, then <br />impacts to those species must be addressed in that federal project's BO required by ESA. <br />For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply: <br />Covered means in compliance with the Endangered Species Act with regard to potential impacts <br />to the least tern, piping plover, whooping crane and pallid sturgeon in and along the central and <br />lower Platte River in Nebraska, for the duration of the First Increment. <br />Cumulative means total changes or total new activities, based on average project operations <br />relative to conditions existing at the time the Platte River Cooperative Agreement was signed <br />(July l, 1997).