WSP04959

• File Number: 8460.500
• Description: Platte River Recovery Plan
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 8/3/1999
• Author: Colo Div of Wildlife
• Title: Final Environmental Assessment for the Tamarack Managed Groundwater Recharge Project at Tamarack Ranch State Wildlife Area and Pony Express State Wildlife Area
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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modified in any manner that will cause an increase in target flow shortages, and (c)
wells in Nebraska that are constructed, enlarg;ed, improved, or placed into use in whole
or in part after the date of the Cooperative Agreement are operated in a manner that
does not cause an increase in target flow shortages at the critical habitat. Any
replacement of depletions in Nebraska to flows at the critical habitat that is required to
comply with (b) and (c) above shall be from water that is in excess to target flows and
shall not rely upon flows that occur at the Colorado-Nebraska state line resulting from
the operation of the Tamarack Plan or other reregulation facilities for the benefit of the
target species, or from accretions attributable to Colorado's new water related
activities. The analysis of the impacts from wylls in Nebraska to flows at the critical
habitat that is required by (b) and (c) above ana, as provided in Milestone 14-1 of
Attachment I to the Cooperative Agreement, s1pll be provided to the Governance
Committee and shall be based on scientifically');ound assumptions and data which are
independently verifiable and made available to all signatories. If the depletions from
these wells have been q\ll!lltified as provided for above but are not fully replaced,
Colorado will add these depletions back into Grand Island gage flows for purposeS of
detennining when it may operate the Tamarack;Plan without causing an increase in
target flow shortages at the critical habitat. Any party may request that a dispute
regarding the acceptability of information regar~ing these wells be resolved by a
majority of a panel of three experts in groundwater hydrology, one member to be
appointed by the State of Colorado, one membet to be appointed by the State of
Nebraska, and one member to be appointed by the Department of the Interior ("DOl")
who is an employee of the USGS. Pending completion of the dispute resolution process
regarding the acceptability of information concerning these wells, Colorado, in
coordination with FWS, will continue to operate, the Tamarack Plan consistent with and
for the purpose of meeting Colorado's commitm\:nt under the Program, subject only to
the requirements of state law and the South Platte River Compact. . Such continued
operation shall be considered adequate for meeting any Program milestones associated
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with the Tamarack Plan.

C. Components of the Tamarack Plan may also be operated to reregulate flows for
the purpose of providing Colorado's contribuq,on'.to the Program for new depletions as
is described in Appendix A, Tab 3B, of the Prop~sed Alternative. Participating wells
or other water facilities which may contribute to Qle Tamarack Plan may also be
operated for purposes other than the Program, copgistent with Colorado's commitment
under the Program and subject only. to requirements of state law and the South Platte
River Compact.

For the purpose of these criteria, an "increase in target flow shortages" is measured
against the flow conditions which exist as of the date of the Cooperative Agreement.
The Grand Island gage will be compared to routeq amounts of water that would 'be
diverted by the Tamarack Plan. This routed diver~ion will utilize the lag and loss
factors that will be developed by the Water Technical Committee during the

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