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8 <br /> Plan the Tamarack Project (described under the Proposed Program, below) and <br /> other water reregulation projects necessary to mitigate the effects on the habitat of <br /> existing and new water uses in Colorado. <br /> Monitor population and water use activities in the South Platte Basin in Colorado, <br /> the results of which will serve as the basis for Colorado's obligations as to new water <br /> uses during the program. <br /> Elect how it will deal with new water development activities in the North Platte <br /> Basin in Colorado (North Park). Options include mitigating impacts in North Park, <br /> in Wyoming, in the South Platte Basin, or not participating in the program. <br /> Obligations of the Other Parties. The other states have similar responsibilities (See Attachment <br /> 1). To the extent that state or federal funds are used, all contributions are subject to legislative <br /> appropriation. In terms of financial contribution: <br /> Nebraska will :make land and water available for habitat purposes, and will <br /> contribute $700,000 in cash. This represents a total cash and property contribution <br /> of about $6 million. <br /> Wyoming will contribute $600,000 in cash. <br /> The Department of Interior will contribute $7.5 million, matching the states' total <br /> cash contribution. Some of this money will be used to fund the NEPA process. <br /> DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM <br /> The Cooperative Agreement anticipates that the states and Interior will establish the program <br /> at the end of the three-year Cooperative Agreement period. The Proposed Program is attached <br /> to the Cooperative Agreement. It will be analyzed as the proposed alternative in the ESA and <br /> NEPA processes against other alternatives, including a "no action alternative." After ESA and <br /> NEPA review, the FWS may propose modifications to the Proposed Program. These will be <br /> negotiated through the Governance Committee. If the parties do not enter into an agreement <br /> establishing a program,the FWS will reinitiate its original consultation on any and all permits <br /> and activities that have relied on the interim protections offered under the Cooperative <br /> Agreement. <br /> Term of the Program. The Program will extend indefinitely, but will be implemented in <br /> increments. The first increment will be from ten to about thirteen years. The exact duration <br /> of the first increment will be determined by the Governance Committee during the <br /> Cooperative Agreement period, based on the budget and schedule to complete activities, and <br /> the time needed to see a biological response at the habitat from the mitigation activities. The <br /> parties will negotiate a second increment, and any activities to be implemented, based on the <br />