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d) MANAGED POOL NOT COUNTED AGAINST DURING SPILLS c) MAJOR PORTION OF MANAGED POOL WOULD SHARE SHORTAGES DURING DRY YEARS The intent of this alternative is to compare the differences in the environmental consequences of modifying operation of McPhee Reservoir and resolving the 3,900 AF operational study discrepancy by establishing a managed pool of 33,200 AF. a) Modify the operation of McPhee Reservoir - This is the same as under Alternative I. b) Acquisition of additional water (3,900 AF) for fish and wildlife purposes - Reclamation proposes to acquire 3,900 AF of additional water to increase the volume of the pool of project water reserved by the United States for fish and wildlife purposes from 25,400 AF to 29,300 AF for downstream release from McPhee Reservoir to the Dolores River. This would be added to the water for senior downstream water rights (up to 3,900 AF) for a total managed pool of up to 33,200 AF. Acquisition of this additional 3,900 AF would resolve the discrepancy in the original project operation study regarding the average annual volume of water required for storage to fulfill the 1977 DPRlFES downstream release criteria. The managed pool would be directed by an interagency team of biologists to allow seasonally fluctuating downstream releases for conservation of downstream fish and wildlife resources. Other managed pool considerations - These coasiderations are added to this alternative to enhance the long-tenn operation of the managed pool pursuant to recommendations from the Dolores River Biology Team and the Colorado Division of Wildlife: c) Managed pool water year changed - This is the same as uader Alternative 1. d) Managed pool not counted against during spills - This is the same as under Alternative 1. e) Major' portion of managed pool would share shortages during dry years - Portions of the managed pool would share water shortages with other Project water users during dry years. The 25,400 AF of Project water currently reserved by the United States for downstream fish and wildlife purposes would share shortages equally with Project irrigation water. The water required to satisfY senior downstream water rights (up to 3,900 AF) would be regulated by the State priority system, and so would not share in shortages. Whether additional acquired water would share in shortages would depend on its origin. For example, acquired Project irrigation water would share in shortages, while acquired municipal and industrial water acquired would not be subject to shortages. Acquired non-Project water would be regulated by the State priority system. This is the same as under Alternative I. 4. ALTERNATIVE 4: NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE - OPERATE MCPHEE RESERVOIR BY 1977 DPRlFES WATER RELEASE CRITERIA Reclamation would operate McPhee Reservoir according to the 1977 DPRlFES release criteria of 78, 50, or 20 cfs after expiration of the Interim Operations Agreement (or any extensions). Flows in the Dolores River would be maintained at 78 cfs during wet years, 50 cfs during nonnal years, and 20 cfs during dry years (DPR pg.68-69): . A wet year is considered to begin on May 1 and extend for one year jf the end-of-April content of McPhee Reservoir exceeds 82% of the active capacity. . A nonnal year occurs when the end-of-April content is less than 82% of the active capacity and the March I prediction of the end-of-June content was greater than 45% of the active capacity. 15