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Water Land The long -term goal is "sufficient" flows for the four target species. That amount will be determined as the recovery program progresses and new information is reviewed. During the first increment (10 to 13 years), the goal is to provide 130,000 to 150,000 acre -feet of water per year on average during times when the river's flows are less than the needs of the species. Each of the three states has formulated plans to help reduce water shortages. The first 70,000 acre -feet of water will come from three projects that will store water when flows are higher and return water to the river when additional flow is needed for the benefit of the species. These re- regulation projects are an environmental account in Lake McConaughy in Nebraska, the Pathfinder Dam Modification Project in Wyoming, and the Tamarack ground water storage project in Colorado. Efforts are underway to identify additional water conservation or water supply projects to provide the remaining 60,000 to 80,000 acre -feet of in a cost - effective manner. The recovery program will select only projects involving water users who voluntarily choose to participate in specific incentive -based projects and will not threaten existing water rights. The proposed recovery program has a long -term goal of protecting and enhancing 29,000 acres of habitat -- all of it in Nebraska between Lexington and Chapman -- although the goal may change if justified by new research and management methods developed during the first 10- to 13 -year increment. The habitat goal during the first increment is 10,000 acres, which will require acquisition of about 7,000 additional acres. Some of the land acquired must be restored to become suitable habitat. F Benefits of the Proposed Program - It gives the public a voice in Endangered Species Act compliance. • A basin -wide approach is less expensive and more efficient than an individual project -by- project evaluation under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed recovery program protects all water uses existing before July 1, 1997 and allows for continued water development. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's current flow targets will not be the only source of information used to determine how much water and land is necessary for the listed species; rather, reasonable goals are established for the first increment and a process of adaptive management will determine how much water and land is ultimately necessary. The proposed recovery program fairly distributes responsibility for protecting endangered species and habitat -- no single state or project will be responsible for meeting all the needs of the species. Land and water will only be acquired from willing sellers or lessors.