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h . . likely be designated as the single fish and wildlife management entity responsible for controlling the managed pool. This modification would require a separate operating agreement between Reclamation and DWCD. This modification in operation would not occur until the initial 3,900 AF of additional water is acquired (see below) . b) Acquire at leaet 7,200 AF of additional water for fish and wildlife purposes - Reclamation proposes to acquire additional water to increase the total annual volume of a managed pool to at least 36,500 AF for downstream release from McPhee Reservoir to the Dolores River. This volume has been recommended as a suitable goal by several fish and wildlife management agencies and Trout Unlimited. The present pool consists of 25,400 AF of project water reserved by the United States for fish and wildlife purposes and up to 3,880 (rounded to 3,900) AF of water (Beegles, 1994) required to satisfy senior downstream water rights. The water needed to satisfy senior downstream water rights holders provides beneficial flows for fish and wildlife resources. Additional water for the managed pool is identified in three increments. The timing of acquisition of the increments (I, II, and/or III) could occur separately or simultaneously. Potential sources of this. water could be unused Project or non-Project municipal and. industrial (such as Cortez or Dove Creek) or agricultural irrigation water (such as the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company (MVIC)). Increment I (3,900 AF) - Reclamation would acquire an additional 3,900 AF of water to increase the pool of water reserved by the United States for fish and wildlife purposes to 29,300 AF. This would be added to the water for senior downstream water rights (up to 3,900 AF) for a total managed pool of 33,200 AF. The acquisition of this 3,900 AF of additional water would resolve the discrepancy in the original project operation study regarding the average annual volume of project water required from storage to fulfill the 1977 DPR/FES downstream water release criteria. Increment II (3,300 AF) - Reclamation would acquire an additional 3,300 AF of water to increase the pool of water reserved by the United States for fish and wildlife purposes from 29,300 AF to 32,600 AF. This would be added to the water for senior downstream water rights (up to 3,900 AF) for a total managed pool of 36,500 AF. Acquisition of this increment would achieve the goal of a managed pool of at least 36,500 AF. Reclamation estimates that acquisition of this increment could be completed from 6 months to 5 years after Reclamation's decision to proceed with this alternative. This increment of additional water may be considered a project enhancement. Increment III - Reclamation would continue to investigate and pursue acquisition of additional water to increase the pool of project water reserved by the United States for fish and wildlife purposes to more than 32,600 AF and the total volume of the managed pool to more than 36,500 AF. It is likely that additional available sources of water for this increment could not be identified until the Dolores Project has been in full operation for some period of time. This increment of additional water may also be considered a project enhancement. . Reclamation estimates that the identification, negotiation and acquisition of this water could take place in five or more years, and.that the amount of water available may vary from year to year. Other managed pool considerations - These considerations are incorporated into this alternative pursuant to the recommendations of 5