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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2) to create or enhance wetland habitats on the TRSW A and PESW A in a manner that
is consistent with the purposes for which these SW As were acquired and developed
by the Colorado Division of Wildlife; and !

3) to contribute to that portion of Colorado'slTamarack Plan, as described in Tab 3A
of the Cooperative Agreement (Appendix \\), to be located on the TRSW A and
PESW A in a manner that is consistent with the purposes for which these SW As
were acquired and developed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

NEED:

1) The CDOW has identified at least four spe~ies of minnows native to the South Platte
River Basin in Colorado whose population$ have declined to the point that the
CDOW has designated them pursuant to Colorado law as threatened or endangered
species. This project is designed to provide water flows that benefit these species by
improving water flow conditions within and through their habitats.

2) The augmented stream flows from this project are needed to protect riparian
wetland habitat such as wet meadows and Warm water sloughs that exist on the
lower South Platte River and at the TRSW{\ and PESWA.

3) An outdoor laboratory in the form of an artificial stream is needed to study habitat
needs and propagation techniques for several declining native species of the Platte
River Basin in Colorado.

4) The United States Fish and Wildlife Servic~ (USFWS) has identified three species of
birds(Whooping Crane, Least Tern, and Piping Plover) and one specie of fish (Pallid
Sturgeon) within the Platte River Basin as llither threatened or endangered under
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Tbis project will contribute to the Tamarack
Plan and thereby incidentally benefit tbese $pecies by reducing shortages to target
flows in the "associated habitats." ,

5) This augmentation may also protect existin~ water supplies which are used for
various purposes including agricultural, ml/nicipal, domestic and wildlife
management within the South Platte Basin In Colorado by crediting augmentation
water to replacement for depletion. i

III. PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVE
PROPOSED ACTION: COMPLETE PROJECT i
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The TRSW A and PESW A have tremendous potential for the development of managed