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<br />U,!.'/ /1.11 <br />. 1,.4 t J <br /> <br />.> <br /> <br />acre-feet per year. The Colorado River Water Conservation District believes these two <br />practices are an unnecessary and wasteful use of Colorado Ri ver water that should be <br />discontinued. If they were discontinued, that would significantly increase flows in the <br />Colorado River at a time that is critical to the recovery efforts for the four endangered <br />fish. <br /> <br />Coordinated Facilities Operations Study (CFOPS) <br /> <br />The Coordinated Facilities Study is a key part of the IS-Mile Reach Programmatic <br />Biological Opinion. A consulting team headed by Leo Eisel at McLaughlin Water <br />Engineers was selected to perfonn the study on March 30, 1999. Other members of the <br />team included Jim Lochhead at Brownstein, Hyatt and Farber; Resource Engineering of <br />Glenwood Springs; and Riverside Technology of Fort Collins. During Phase I of the <br />study, Leo Eisel moved to the consulting finn of Brown and Caldwell and a subcontract <br />between Brown and Caldwell and McLaughlin Engineering was executed that kept Leo <br />Eisel in the led role. The actual contract is between the McLaughlin Water Engineers and <br />the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Upper Colorado River Recovery Program <br />funds are being used for the study and those funds are being managed for the Recovery <br />Program by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. An Executive Committee <br />chaired by the Colorado Water Conservation Board is managing the study. The purpose <br />of the CFOPS is to identify alternatives for supplying an average of 20,000 acre-feet per <br />year to the IS-mile reach to assist in the recovery of endangered Colorado River fish. <br />The study is to look at all alternatives, including the operations of both east slope and <br />west slope projects. This investigation includes at least parts of the concerns expressed in <br />the Helton & Williamsen study. However, the CFOPS investigation is limited by the <br />willingness of participants to allow such an investigation (alternatives are voluntary) and <br />such investigation is further limited to alternatives that will not impact project yield. The <br />Phase I report is complete and the Phase II effort officially began on October 13,2000 <br />and will take approximately 40 weeks to complete. <br /> <br />South Platte Decision Support System Feasibility Study (SPDSS) <br /> <br />The SPDSS Feasibility Study seeks to detennine the purposes for, uses of, users, <br />components, data requirements, costs and schedule for developing a SPDSS. This is a <br />state contracted $100,000 feasibility study that has been in-place since August 24, 2000. <br />The consulting team is led by Leo Eisel of Brown and Caldwell. Other members of the <br />consulting team include Helton & Williamsen (surface water model), CDM (groundwater <br />models), Riverside Technology (GIS development and overall project integration), and <br />Leonard Rice Consulting\Bishop-Brogden (consumptive use model and overall water <br />budget). Contractors were asked specifically during the selection process whether or not <br />they had any potential conflicts of interest that the selection panel should be aware of, <br />and none of the contractors indicated any such potential conflicts. <br /> <br />The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD)is concerned that during <br />the identification of information for inclusion in the SPDSS that Helton & Williamsen <br />may have another agenda that is adverse to their interests. Furthennore, Helton & <br />Williamsen are in a position of influencing the development of SPDSS in a manner that <br />could be adverse to the NCWCD's interests. Helton & Williamsen deny they have any <br />conflicts. <br /> <br />South Platte Sustainment\Small Reservoir Study <br />