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S <br />Prior to the release of the RDEIS, the Commission published a "Section 7 <br />Baseline Flow Scenario Report" in May 1993 for use in the consultation process <br />(Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 1993a). The intent of the report was to <br />characterize conditions that would occur in the absence of Project Nos. 1417 <br />and 1835. On September 30, 1993, the Service commented on the "Section 7 <br />Baseline Flow Scenario Report" and made recommendations regarding certain <br />necessary changes to the section 7 baseline hydrology model (U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service 1993a). The Service comments on the section 7 baseline <br />hydrology model focused on changes to the following: (a) Deer Creek Project <br />depletions; (b) pattern or distribution of irrigation demands; (c) magnitude <br />of irrigation demands; (d) use of the "3 -foot rule;" and (e) adjustments to <br />section gains. <br />In May and August 1994, the Department revised its November 1990 section 10(j) <br />recommendations, (U.S. Department of the Interior 1994a and 1994b) which <br />incorporated pertinent new scientific information. The Department's amended <br />recommendations included updated instream flows for wet, normal, and dry <br />years, and recommendations for pulse flows during the late winter and spring. <br />In August 1994, the Department also submitted its comments on the RDEIS (U.S. <br />Department of the Interior 1994c). The Department indicated that the <br />Commission's preferred alternative in the RDEIS did not: (a) provide adequate <br />protection for the fish and wildlife resources of concern in the Platte River <br />ecosystem; (b) meet ecosystem needs with respect to both instream flows and <br />habitat restoration; and (c) provide an equitable balance between the existing <br />economic values and needs of the federally listed species. The Department <br />also requested that the Commission adequately address the Department's <br />concerns and that necessary modifications be incorporated in the final EIS. <br />The Commission released a supplement to its RDEIS in November 1994 (Federal <br />Energy Regulatory Commission 1994b). The Department provided comments to the <br />Commission in January 1995 (U.S. Department of the Interior 1995a) regarding <br />the supplement and clarified the Department's position relative to its <br />previously proposed modifications to the "Nebraska Plan" which were made in <br />its August 10, 1994, comments on the RDEIS. In general, the Department <br />indicated that its August 10, 1994, suggested modifications to the Nebraska <br />Plan were provided to illustrate that readily achievable modifications are <br />available which would improve the frequency of meeting the Department's <br />instream flow recommendations, despite the imposed constraints identified in <br />the Commission's preferred alternative. The Department also provided comments <br />pertaining to: (a) the Central Platte River Operations Study hydrology <br />simulation model (Opstudy): (b) refinements made to the baseline; (c) modeling <br />refinements to the Platte River Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance Trust, <br />