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Contemplated Water User Benefits of Proposed Stakeholder Group Wild & Scenic Management <br /> Plan <br /> The overarching goal of the SG Plan is to "balance permanent protection of the ORVs <br /> [Outstandingly Remarkable Values]; certainty for the stakeholders; water project yield; and <br /> flexibility for water users." <br /> A. A federally-driven management plan would not share that key goal. <br /> II. Deferral of Suitability: The full SG will recommend that the BLM defer a finding of"Wild & <br /> Scenic suitability"while the Plan is in place, virtually eliminating the threat of a congressional <br /> Wild and Scenic Designation. <br /> III. Participation in the SG Plan is entirely voluntary. <br /> A. Stakeholders can withdraw from participation at any time. Uncommitted funds <br /> contributed by the withdrawing party would be returned. <br /> B. The Plan does not establish or anticipate any independent affirmative obligation on water <br /> users to curtail diversions or release stored water. In effect, the Plan provides that water <br /> users will examine possible cooperative measures. <br /> IV. ORV protection is premised on existing Colorado law, standard river operations, and <br /> cooperative/voluntary measures. <br /> A. The Plan contains four long-term protection measures: <br /> 1. A CWCB instream flow. <br /> 2. Delivery of water to existing downstream demands (e.g., Green Mountain <br /> Reservoir releases to meet Cameo demand). <br /> 3. Delivery of water pursuant to a downstream call (e.g., curtailment of junior <br /> diversions or reservoir replacement releases to meet a Shoshone call). <br /> 4. Deliveries to the 15-Mile Reach from upstream reservoirs. <br /> B. Cooperative measures - stakeholders will cooperate on resource protection measures, <br /> when available. <br /> 1. Cooperative actions will not be taken that impair a water provider's ability to <br /> meet its water supply commitments. <br /> 2. The SG Plan has no substantive action-forcing mechanisms. Cooperative <br /> measures are, by definition, voluntary. <br /> C. Elevation Process. Resource Guides do not affect water diversions. Instead, the Plan <br /> uses the Resources Guides as "gut-check"mechanisms to: <br /> Page 1 of 2 <br />