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<br />. . <br /> <br />Pitt et aI, August 2001. Replacing the Bypass Flow On The Colo,ado River <br /> <br />(Empidonax trailii), and endangered species. Reduced flooding in the Colorado River delta will <br />also impose hann on the River's estuary and the near,shoni marine habitats that provide critical <br />breeding area for the totoaba (Cynoscion macdonal~ii), and the vaquita porpoise (phoceana <br />sinus), both of which are endangered as well. Furthermore, depletion of flows to the Colorado <br />River delta will further reduce the ability of local coquuunities, including the native Cucapa, to <br />. continue their traditional, river-based practices such as: fishing. <br /> <br />CONCLUSION <br /> <br />At some time in the future, BOR may no longer be abl~ to take credit for water conserved by <br />lining the Coachella Canal and will be obligated to fin~ a new way to replace the bypass flow. <br />At that time, BOR must look carefully at the economi~ and environmental costs of any bypass <br />flow replacement options. This paper demonstrates th*t by leasing water from the Wellton- <br />Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District and securing temporary rights from Arizona to pumped <br />groundwater in the Yuma area, BOR can replace the bypass flow with minimum economic costs: <br /> <br /> <br />C 'st er acre-foot <br />$ 5 Ius incentive <br />$370 <br />$200 <br />, <br /> <br />The leased water alternative also provides some environmental benefit in the improvement of <br />water quality in the Cienega de Santa Clara. YDP operation and offstream storage both will <br />result in unacceptable hann to Colorado River delta ecosystems. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />14 <br />