Implementing Cooperative Agreement Among States of Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, and the Department of the Interior

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0 Interior least tern. 3. Mitigate or offset any impacts on these habitat improvements that might result from new water - related activities in the basin. The first phase of the proposed Program (10 -13 years) would: 1. Reduce shortages to the current target flows by an average of 130,000 to 150,000 acre - feet per year. The proposed Program would: • Restore the original storage capacity of Pathfinder Reservoir in Wyoming. • Establish an environmental water account in Lake McConaughy in Nebraska. • Develop a groundwater recharge and river reregulation project near Tamarack State Wildlife Area in Colorado. These three actions are expected to reduce shortages by approximately 70,000 acre -feet of water. A basinwide study will look for ways to provide an additional 60,000- acre -foot reduction in flow shortages through water conservation and water supply options. 2. Protect or restore (through acquisition, lease, or easement,) 10,000 acres of habitat in the Central Platte River area between Lexington and Chapman, Nebraska. The Nebraska Public Power District's Cottonwood Ranch between Overton and Elm Creek (2,650 acres) will contribute to that goal.' All water conservation, habitat management, leases, easements, or acquisition of lands to meet these goals will be undertaken only with willing sellers and participants. Progress made under this initial phase of the proposed Program will be closely monitored. The cooperating entities will evaluate the results of the first phase and define any subsequent approaches and actions needed to meet the overall goals. 3 In later phases of the proposed Program, the holdings of the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Nature Conservancy, and the Audubon Society, totaling approximately 9,000 acres of habitat, will be included toward the long -term goal of 29,000 acres. in