Reconnaissance-Level Water Action Plan

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Power Interference: This project has several operational and contractual considerations that will need to be addressed, including how saved water is released, and how existing and new contractual arrangements with power generators can be executed. La Prele Reservoir: Further analysis of the seepage from La Prele Reservoir is needed to determine whether a temporary storage contract in a downstream reservoir such as Glendo Reservoir is necessary to fully realize the yield associated with this project. C. Process for Advancing Water Conservation/Water Supply- Projects The potential projects identified in Table II -1 have been evaluated at a reconnaissance level and will be funded for advancement to the feasibility level unless the Governance Committee decides otherwise. As more in -depth analyses of project yields and costs are completed, the Governance Committee may choose to replace projects in the Water Action Plan with alternative projects. Each state has expressed its desire to reserve the right to add or remove projects from consideration in the future if an issue arises that cannot be resolved. Circumstances that might result in projects being added to the Water Action Plan include insufficient yield to meet the water goals of the Program. A project can be removed from the Water Action Plan if the project is not implementable within the first increment (13 years), generates significantly less yield than was anticipated, is too expensive, is unacceptable to the Governance Committee for other reasons, or if an agreement cannot be negotiated with the project sponsor. New projects may or may not require a supplement to the Programmatic EIS. Elements of the Water Action Plan will be subject to site specific National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and ESA review as appropriate. The following process will be used to add new projects for consideration and to advance projects, including those identified in the initial list, from conception of an idea, through reconnaissance study, through identification for feasibility study, through feasibility evaluation, to acceptance or rejection for implementation, and through implementation. 1. ADDING PROJECTS TO THOSE IDENTIFIED FOR FEASIBILITY STUDIES. a. Anyone can propose to the Governance Committee an additional water conservation/supply project to be considered. b. Any proposal to consider an additional project must be accompanied by a reconnaissance study by the project sponsor or a concept for a reconnaissance level study by the Program for that project. The Governance Committee will address funding by the Program if reconnaissance studies were not funded by the project sponsor or others. The reconnaissance study shall include, at a minimum: i. preliminary estimates of shortage reduction; i1 . preliminary estimates of cost, including any financial or other incentives necessary to implement the project; iii. preliminary identification of legal, socioeconomic and institutional impediments, compatibility with existing law, and any changes in law necessary to implement the project; iv. preliminary identification of beneficial and adverse environmental impacts, including impacts on surface water, groundwater, water quality, vegetation, wildlife, and on -site threatened and endangered species; V. preliminary identification of water availability based on historical flows and program projects; vi. preliminary assessment of relation of project yield to other program projects; \\DN00 \E- DRIVE \PROJECTS\Platte \Work Products \Task 9 \wape report (Version 7).doc