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10 <br /> Of this total amount of water, 70,000 acre feet will be provided by water projects in each of the <br /> states: the Tamarack Project in Colorado, an environmental storage account in Lake <br /> McConaughy in Nebraska, and a storage account in an enlarged Pathfinder Reservoir in <br /> Wyoming. Project operations for all three projects will be coordinated through an <br /> environmental account manager, to ensure optimal management and reregulation of river <br /> flows. <br /> The Tamarack Project will be located at the Tamarack Wildlife Area between Sterling and <br /> Julesburg, Colorado. It will divert water from the South Platte River physically and legally in <br /> excess of needs in Colorado through participating ditches and wells, in order to recharge water <br /> to groundwater aquifers. This recharge will be timed so that the water will return to the river <br /> in times of shortages, thereby providing additional flow when needed at the habitat. <br /> The balance of the water needed to meet she Program water goal will be provided through as- <br /> yet unspecified water conservation and supply projects in the basin. These projects will be <br /> identified through a water conservation/water supply study to be conducted during the <br /> Cooperative Agreement period, and paid for by the three states and Interior. <br /> Program Goals in the first Increment—New Water Projects. In addition to mitigating the effects <br /> of existing water related activities, the Program will serve as the reasonable and prudent <br /> alternative to mitigate the effects of new water development in each of the three states. Unlike <br /> the program for existing water projects,this will not involve a land element. Each of the states <br /> will develop its own program, which will reflect the unique circumstances of water <br /> development in that state. Each state will also mitigate the effects of all water development <br /> activities, not just those which require federal permits. <br /> Nebraska and Wyoming do not have specific program proposals for new depletions. During <br /> the term of the Cooperative Agreement, these states will monitor all new water development <br /> and use activities in that state and develop a method, including needed legislation, to address <br /> those impacts. Therefore,Nebraska will be required to address the impacts of additional well <br /> development in that state commencing from the date of the Cooperative Agreement. <br /> Colorado has developed a specific program to mitigate the effects of new water development <br /> on flows in the South Platte Basin in times of shortage to the habitat. Although there is <br /> potential for additional irrigation development, new development in the South Platte Basin in <br /> Colorado will mostly be driven by population growth. The Colorado framework links the <br /> anticipated impacts of water development to increases in population. In this way,the full range <br /> of water sources to be developed will be considered. <br /> Front Range water development and use will utilize different sources of supply, which will <br /> have varying effects on river flows downstream near the state line. Some water sources, such <br /> as transbasin diversions, add water to the system. Development of other sources, such as native <br /> flows, decrease river flows. The Colorado program looks at six basic sources of water supply <br /> that will be developed to serve new population: <br />