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SECTION 4 <br />MANAGEMENT PLAN ELEMENTS <br />A. Introduction <br />June 30, 2008 <br />This section of the Conceptual Plan presents potential flow - based, land -based and water quality <br />protection measures identified by the Stakeholder Group (Factors 2, 3, 4 and 5). The <br />Management Plan Alternative will incorporate specific protection measures selected among these <br />concepts. <br />B. Flow -Based Protection (Factor 2) <br />While the assessment of ORV flow needs is being completed, the Stakeholder Group will <br />explore implementation approaches for inclusion in the Management Plan Alternative. This <br />section of the Conceptual Plan presents potential flow -based protection measures identified by <br />the Stakeholder Group. The Tier 1 concepts presented below are the five concepts that garnered <br />support by a majority of members of the Stakeholder Group as most promising. Tier 2 includes <br />other concepts that garnered less agreement from the Stakeholder Group; but these concepts may <br />still be considered in developing the Management Plan Alternative. The concepts are not <br />presented in any order of priority within the sections below. Any one or any combination of <br />concepts may be included in the final Management Plan Alternative depending upon what the <br />flow needs are for Segments 4 through 7 and upon the ability to implement the concepts. More <br />detailed descriptions and listings of pros and cons for each concept are included in Appendix B. <br />1. Tier 1 Concepts supported by a majority of Stakeholders: <br />a. Delivery of Water to a Downstream Demand. <br />Water that is made available for streamflow protection would be released into the <br />Colorado River or its tributaries upstream of the protected stream segments. That water <br />would be delivered to a party within or downstream of the protected segments who <br />contracts for the use of the water. This approach could also be used to deliver water to an <br />instream flow right under an agreement with the CWCB. Permanency will depend on the <br />duration of agreements between the source of supply and ultimate water user. Reliability <br />will depend on the ability to "shepherd" the contract water through the entire reach of the <br />protected segments. <br />b. Protection Offered by Existing Senior Water Rights. <br />The existing river operations and water rights administration regime have the potential to <br />maintain ORVs. Established water rights are in place to call for water under dry to <br />average hydrologic conditions. The two main calling water rights on the main stem of <br />the Colorado River are the Shoshone rights and a group of rights known as the Grand <br />Valley rights. The Shoshone rights are capable of diverting water year round (1250 - <br />1408 cfs.); while the Grand Valley rights are irrigation rights that generally divert water <br />between April and October. These are absolute water rights that, under dry to average <br />-19- <br />