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channel. Although the unit cost associated with delivering recharge water by way of pumping is <br /> considerably more (both capital and maintenance)than delivery through a ditch,the accretions <br /> back to the river are identical. Some of the more notable advantages associated with recharge <br /> facilities supplied by pumping plants is the ability to operate in all weather conditions and the <br /> fact it is not necessary to negotiate with a canal and/or irrigation company on terms associated <br /> with diverting and delivering water to a proposed recharge site. To date,the Tamarack Plan <br /> demonstrations have relied solely on a pumping recharge system located on the Tamarack Ranch <br /> State Wildlife Area. <br /> On average,nearly 100,000 acre-feet of South Platte River flows are currently diverted and <br /> placed into off channel recharge facilities annually by canal companies and well users. Although <br /> a portion of this water returns naturally to the river during periods when no water right obligation <br /> exists (winter time accretions),roughly 60 percent returns to the river in the spring and summer <br /> when water demands generally exist. An annual supply of 60,000 (?) acre-feet to the South <br /> Platte River system can be considered one of the larger single supplies developed within the <br /> basin. Biologists have confirmed that the increased year around flows occurring, in part, as the <br /> result of managed groundwater recharge have improved Lower South Platte riparian habitat and <br /> consider such accretions helpful in managing Colorado's minnow species of concern. <br /> Given identical physical parameters,managed groundwater water recharge can perform equally <br /> well on lands held by private individuals or lands owned publicly. Significant consideration, <br /> however, should be given to operational and legal constraints that may vary by location. Since <br /> its inception, it has been envisioned that water development associated with the Tamarack Plan <br /> has and will continue to rely on groundwater management occurring on both public and private <br /> lands. <br /> Groundwater recharge developed on public lands may be developed on parcels owned by the <br /> CDOW, the Colorado State Land Board (CSLB), or other state agencies. To date, all of <br /> Colorado's Tamarack Plan development(demonstration)has occurred on the Tamarack State <br /> Wildlife Area near Crook, Colorado. A detailed discussion regarding land use arrangements is <br /> presented in the following section. Facilities constructed and operated on publicly owned lands <br /> may be constrained by limitations associated with current land use objectives of desired parcel(s) <br /> (example: habitat criteria) or limitations associated with the federal funds utilized to purchase <br /> and/or manage specific state owned/managed lands (federal nexus). The common federal nexus <br /> stems from lands that have been purchased, in part, by federally controlled funds and then <br /> granted to the State. Such transactions typically require the State to obtain federal endorsement <br /> and/or approval of any modifications to property management activities and/or objectives. <br /> Yield developed on private lands will complement the yield developed from public lands. <br /> Although difficult to assess at this time, yield to the Tamarack Plan from private lands could be <br /> as much as 15,000 acre-feet, or 55% of the Tamarack Plan. This assumption does not take into <br /> account operational limitations discussed above or that may develop as the Tamarack Plan is <br /> perfected. Development of managed groundwater recharge on private land will also be <br /> concentrated in the lower reach of the South Platte River. <br /> 11 <br />