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Final PSOP Implementation Committee Report 2271 I technical . limitations Page 4 of 23 . Conditions for Re-operations Contracts and the Use of Enlarged Storage-The Preferred Storage Options Plan includes important conditions for the development and use of enlarged storage capacity and re-operations contracting, including the mitigation of potential impacts to the Winter Water Storage Program, commitment to the Arkansas Valley Conduit's use of the outlet works at Pueblo Dam, protection of recreation and wildlife needs, and the monitoring of water quality in the lower Arkansas River. These elements are summarized below. Winter Water Spill Credit-The PSOP includes the Winter Water Spill Credit Program that will provide direct-flow participants in the Winter Water Storage Program with a financial credit when their Winter Water is spilled from storage in Pueblo Reservoir. This credit can be used to buy Project Water or Winter Water storage in future years. The Spill Credit Program is needed to offset impacts resulting from the projected increased frequency in the spill of Winter Water at Pueblo Reservoir, which is due to re-operations contracting. The Spill Credit Program is funded by a surcharge on re-operations contracts. Commitment to the Future Arkansas Vallev Conduit-The Fry-Ark Project authorization included the development of a water delivery pipeline originating from Pueblo Reservoir serving towns throughout the Arkansas Valley all the way to Lamar. The existing outlet works at Pueblo Dam now include capacity for a future Arkansas Valley Pipeline, but the capacity of the outlet works is limited. Because Colorado Springs' future plans include an additional pipeline from Pueblo Reservoir, delivering water from enlarged storage capacity, the PSOP commits participants to preserving capacity in the outlet works for the Arkansas Valley . Pipeline. Long-Term Water QualitLMonitorL!llL- Water users in the Arkansas Valley expressed concerns over the potential impacts of additional storage under re-operations contracts and/or in enlarged capacity. The PSOP commits participants to a long-term water-quality-monitoring program designed to establish a water quality baseline so that changes can be determined and responded to accordingly. Pueblo Dam Flow Management Program - The City of Pueblo is working with state and federal agencies to establish enhanced fishery and recreational opportunities on the Arkansas River below Pueblo Dam to the confluence of Fountain Creek. The City of Pueblo and interest groups were concerned that the storage plans may reduce flow in the Arkansas below Pueblo Dam, thereby impacting their plans. The PSOP commits participants to a voluntary flow management program that would operate Pueblo Reservoir in such a manner as to maintain a minimum target flow of 100 cfs below Pueblo Dam. . Evaluation of the Storage Alternatives-The PSOP also details findings from a series of reports that evaluated the proposed alternatives (Project re-operations contracts and reservoir enlargements). These reports, which were requested by the Storage Study Committee as a part of the development of the PSOP, included: 1) an operations model to determine the ability of the plan to meet projected demands and assess potential impacts to current operations; 2) assessment of potential stream flow and water quality impacts; 3) determination of environmental issues; 4) evaluation of cultural resources; 5) identification of socio-economic issues; 6) investigation of permitting and regulatory issues; and, 7) determination of total project costs including construction and mitigation (wetlands and recreation facilities) costs. These reports were useful in the development of the final PSOP. 3/20/02