Laserfiche WebLink
recommendations for the Platte River in the same amount, timing, duration and frequency in <br /> which they occur. Land acquisition and a sediment augmentation component may also be a <br /> required component of mitigation for federal authorizations that do not have the benefit of a <br /> recovery program. Fulfillment of these requirements may, for some projects, simply not be <br /> possible. For many others, these requirements have delayed permitting and compromised <br /> water yield and cost-effectiveness of the projects. <br /> What the Program Does <br /> The States of Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming and the U. S. Department of the Interior <br /> entered into the 13-year first increment of a comprehensive basin-wide Program effective <br /> January 1, 2007 to address habitat needs of the endangered species in the central and lower <br /> Platte River basin. This cooperative basin-wide approach is an equitable and effective means to <br /> resolve conflicts and provide greater certainty that the Platte River will continue as a reliable <br /> water source for both wildlife and the many people who reside and use water in the basin. The <br /> commitment of resources to the Program to preserve and enhance the habitat of the species <br /> allows water use and development activities in each of the three states to continue, in <br /> compliance with the ESA and in accordance with state water law and entitlements under <br /> interstate compacts and decrees. <br /> The Program commits lands, water and management of those resources toward helping <br /> address the habitat needs of the species. As a water goal, the Program commits to reduce <br /> basin-wide shortages by an average of 130,000 to 150,000 acre feet per year in lieu of the FWS <br /> requirement to replace 417,000 acre feet of shortages to the FWS "target flows." The Program <br /> also has committed to obtain land, or interests in land, in an amount of 10,000 acres in the <br /> central Platte River. This water and land will be managed under the Program on behalf of the <br /> species and will constitute the mitigation needed to offset the impact of existing water projects <br /> on the Platte River species and habitat during the 13-year first increment of the Program. ESA <br /> compliance for future water related activities is afforded under the respective state plans to <br /> mitigate the effects of new water development. The operation of the Program past the first 13- <br /> year increment is not currently defined and, as provided in the first increment agreement, will <br /> be negotiated among the Program interests at the end of the first increment. <br /> For Colorado, the Program is designed to provide regulatory compliance under the ESA <br /> for both existing and prospective new water uses within the South Platte River basin1. This <br /> compliance is needed for water providers to meet the water supply needs of the urban, <br /> agricultural, and industrial sectors of this rapidly changing and growing part of the state. The <br /> Program: <br /> The Program is also designed to address ESA compliance for existing and new water uses occurring within defined <br /> consumptive use baseline allowances in the North Platte basin of Colorado <br /> 3 <br /> SPWRAP <br />