Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species Habitats

• Description: Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research ‎(aka Platte River Recovery Implementation Program or PRRIP)‎ and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species Habitats Along the Central Platte River, Nebraska
• State: CO
• State: NE
• State: WY
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 7/1/1997
• Author: Platte River Endangered Species Partnership ‎(aka Platte River Recovery Implementation Program or PRRIP)‎
• Title: Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species Habitats Along the Central Platte River, Nebraska
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Contract/Agreement

10. "EA" means Environmental Account, an annual account of water in •
Lake McConaughy, or other Approved Storage Facilities, available for release
for environmental purposes during the October 1 to September 30 water year.
11. "Current Regime of the River" means the flow characteristics of the
North Platte, South Platte and Platte River drainage which are available under
existing conditions, as defined by the Governance Committee, determined in
accordance with procedures to be adopted pursuant to the MOA. The principal
purpose will be to serve as a reference point for determining whether and how
relevant flow characteristics are changed by the MOA or future developments.
12. "EA Manager ". means an individual designated by the Regional Director
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ( "FWS ") to manage and coordinate
operations of the EA and to be responsible for calling for releases from the EA
pursuant to such contracts as may be executed to meet the objectives of the
MOA.
13. - "New Water" means water which is not included in the Current Regime
Of the River, but which is the result of the management and operation of the
MOA and. is available for storage in the EA.
B. The EA makes storage in, and water from, Lake McConaughy or other •
Approved Storage Facilities available for instream flow releases and allows the manager
of the EA the flexibility to make releases that are most efficient for accomplishing the
goals set by the Governance Committee.
C. This document describes how water contributed becomes part of the EA.
Contributions to the EA, defined in paragraph II.B, may be from Colorado, Wyoming,
Nebraska and/or from water conservation/supply activities carried out under the MOA,
or from other sources approved by the Governance Committee.
D. Nothing in this document shall preclude any entity from exercising its state
water rights to ensure those water rights are not reduced, relinquished or extinguished
by failure to use.
E. Consistent with the guidelines below, and to the extent possible, water released
from the EA should be used for as many beneficial uses as possible.
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