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June 30, 2008 <br />• An augmentation plan to supplement flows obtains more water than under <br />traditional Wild & Scenic Water Right (e.g. Poudre). <br />Cons <br />• An augmentation plan to supplement flows would need cooperation and <br />coordination of water users to provide substitute supplies and pooling of water <br />resources. <br />• Costs to obtain a decree may be high. <br />10. PROTECTION OF BYPASS FLOWS /RELEASES OF WATER <br />I. Basic Concept <br />In the Upper Colorado River and its tributaries, water is "bypassed" or "released" to <br />satisfy conditions of a permit or legislation approving the project. Two examples include <br />Forest Service "bypass" flows of water on the Fraser Basin under the "Amendatory <br />Decision" for the Moffat Project and the "1961 Principles" concerning releases of water <br />from Granby Dam to the Colorado River for the C -BT Project. Once that water is <br />bypassed or released, however, other water users on the stream have the ability to "pick - <br />it- off." Grand County has also acquired and is in the process of acquiring senior <br />irrigation rights for use in its Stream Management Plan. Under this proposal, the bypass <br />flows and releases of water from reservoir and other sources of water for the SMP would <br />be protected either as 1) improvements to or augmentation of CWCB Instream Flows, 2) <br />augmentation of Colorado River District Constant Flows, and /or 3) augmentation of <br />RICD flows through Gore Canyon. <br />II. Benefit to Stream Segment <br />This is wet water in the stream, over and above what would be available for a Wild & <br />Scenic Water Right. This is similar in concept to and could be used in conjunction with <br />the shepherding of water or deliveries of water to a downstream demand, all of which <br />provide additional flows. <br />III. Permanent Flow Protection <br />Protection of bypass flow releases has the potential to benefit Segments 4 through 7. If <br />adjudicated as part of an augmentation plan, these sources of water could enhance flows <br />on a permanent basis. <br />IV. Pros and Cons <br />Pros <br />• Protection of bypass flows can provide additional flows. <br />• With adjudication, bypass flow protection can provide permanent protection. <br />B -15 <br />