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77 L , CHAPTER IV ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES developments might adversely affect three reaches important for ' endangered fish recovery: the Yampa River, lower White River, and the Colorado River mainstem below Palisade, Colorado. Under the Proposed Action, projects causing potentially adverse ' depletion impacts and which require Federal authorization can offset these impacts through a monetary contribution under Section 7 consultation. Contributions will fund recovery measures such as purchase of water rights to offset depletion ' impacts where needed. Project sponsors will not be required to offset depletion impacts by changing project design or operation. Moreover, it is likely that the permitting process ' for these future projects will be facilitated by the ability to accept contributions toward recovery, since it will no longer be necessary to develop case-by-case reasonable and prudent alternatives for each proposed project to offset depletion ' impacts prior to permitting. 2. Water Rights The potential Federal-State conflict over instream flows for endangered fishes made it imperative that the Proposed Action directly address the manner in which protection of flows for listed species will affect the existing water rights system. The Proposed Action is clear on several points regarding the acquisition of water rights to protect instream flows: a. The acquisition of water rights and conversion to instream flow rights will occur under the individual States' water rights programs. ' The establishment of instream flow rights will not affect existing uses of the water, but it may affect the ability of existing water right holders to transfer or change their pattern of use, which is an effect any water right holder has on other right holders. In addition, should the Proposed Action be implemented, Section 7 consultation will not affect the ability of water developers to use their water rights because of depletion impacts from their project. ' b. The Secretary will not condemn water rights for instream flows. ' c. In order to maximize the benefit realized from water rights acquisition it will be combined with other.forms of instream flow protection (e.g., release of stored water, alternate points of diversion, etc.). 1 3. Water Ouality ' Because assumed reservoir flow changes are expected to be minor, no substantial change in water quality is expected. Increased flows during otherwise low flow periods may dilute concentrations of salts and other ' contaminants but probably will not change the total stream loading (i.e., tons of salt per year). Some water temperature changes may occur, particularly below Flaming Gorge Dam. IV-A-7