WSP02691

• File Number: 8460.500
• Description: Platte River Recovery Plan
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 7/1/1997
• Author: Colo. Neb. Wyo
• Title: Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species Habitats Along the Central Platte River, Nebraska
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR PLATTE RIVER RESEARCH
AND OTHER EFFORTS RELATING TO ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITATS
ALONG THE CENTRAL PLATTE RIVER, NEBRASKA

AITACHMENT IT

WATER CONSERVATION/SUPPLY COMPONENT

I. GENERAL

To assist in meeting the instream flow objectives of a basin-wide Program and in
keeping with the Milestones for the Cooperative Agreement, an incentive-based water
conservation/supply component will be developed over the three-year period of the
Cooperative Agreement for implementation ,in a Program. Such a . water conservation/
supply component will require a plan that clearly identifies goals and time lines .to
conserve and supply water that would result in a quantifiable net water benefit for the
target species (net reduction in shortage to target flows) to be applied to the overall
water goals of the Program. Acceptable water conservation/supply practices, priorities
and economic incentives will be developed by the Water Management Committee with
approval of the Governance Committee and implemented in compliance with the
applicable provisions of federal and state law as part of a Program.

The opportunities for water conservation/supply vary widely throughout the Platte
River Basin depending on physical, legal, and institutional factors. For some regions,
extensive information is already available on the effects of water conservation/supply
alternatives on streamflows. In other areas, this information is being developed by state
and local entities. The existing expertise of the states, and the fact that the
implementation of water conservation/supply alternatives will require the cooperation of
the states, make it appropriate for the signatories to the Cooperative Agreement to rely
to the extent possible on information provided by the states and by DOl as water
conservation/supply alternatives are identified and assessed for potential inclusion
within a Program. This approach will ensure that available resources are used most
efficiently and not wasted on the pursuit of alternatives that have little or no chance of
success.

II. OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS

The overall objective of developing and implementing a water conservation/supply
component for a Program, 'or the first increment of the proposed Program, is to
produce annually on average at least 60,000 acre-feet of net hydrologic benefits in the
associated habitats for the benefit of the target species.