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Phase Two. Under the Proposed Program, future depletions in each of the three states <br /> are allowed if the depletion impacts of these projects to the Target Flows are mitigated. <br /> In Colorado,the impacts caused by future depletions will be mitigated through a plan <br /> proposed by Colorado and already accepted by the Governance Committee. This future <br /> depletions program is known as Phase Two of the Tamarack Plan. Phase Two of the <br /> Tamarack Plan is described in Appendix A, Tab 3B of the Proposed Program and is <br /> summarized in the briefing paper prepared by the Colorado Department of Natural <br /> Resources in May, 19972. <br /> The infrastructure developed and utilized by Phase One of the Tamarack Plan will be <br /> used in Phase Two, as necessary, to re-regulate water from periods when stream flows in <br /> the critical habitat exceed the Target Flows (net accretions months)to periods when flows <br /> are below Target Flows (net depletions months). This re-timing of flows in Colorado will <br /> mitigate increased shortages to Target Flows in the critical habitat caused by future <br /> depletions in Colorado. While Phase Two of the Tamarack Plan has been accepted by the <br /> Governance Committee, additional reporting and accounting tasks remain to be <br /> completed. <br /> Phase Three. The remainder of Colorado's water-related commitment for the Proposed <br /> Program resulted from the water conservation/water supply study, which was completed <br /> in 2000. The purpose of the study was to identify potential projects located throughout <br /> the Platte River Basin that would provide another 60,000 to 80,000 acre-feet of water per <br /> year to be added to the water developed by three original state projects (70,000 acre-feet <br /> per year) in order to meet the goal of 130,000 to 150,000 acre-feet per year in reductions <br /> to Target Flow shortages. Several projects located in each of the other states were <br /> identified. Only one project was identified in Colorado that was economically and <br /> institutionally feasible, Tamarack Phase Three. Phase Three is intended to produce <br /> another 17,000 acre-feet per year of water in the lower reaches of the South Platte River <br /> in Colorado. This water commitment is in addition to the Phase One commitment of <br /> 10,000 acre-feet. <br /> Managed groundwater recharge for the Program also provides potential benefits that address two <br /> other major issues important to the lower South Platte River in Colorado. The higher <br /> groundwater levels produced as a result of the re-regulation will benefit Colorado's Minnow <br /> Species of Concern. Additionally,the Tamarack Plan will put water in the South Platte River at <br /> times when it is not needed or cannot be utilized to reduce Target Flow shortages. This "new" <br /> water supply will enhance the effectiveness of augmentation plans and provide water for new <br /> uses within Colorado. <br /> 2 <br /> See Appendix 2 <br /> 3 <br />