WSP05450

• File Number: 8220.114.I
• Description: Dolores Participating Project
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 2/1/1995
• Author: USDOI-BOR
• Title: Draft Environmental Assessment - Proposal to Modify Operation of McPhee Reservoir and Acquire Additional Water for Fish and Wildlife Purposes
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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Reclamation and the DWCD for long-term operation of the managed pool:

c) Fish and Wildlife managed pool water year changed - The water
year for the managed pool would be changed from November 1-0ctober 31 to
April l-March 31. This is different from the other Project water users,
whose water year begins November 1. The District would implement an
accounting mechanism for the fish and wildlife pool water year similar
to the accounting system for other Project water users. The benefit of
changing the water year would be that planning for the quantities and
duration of releases from the fish and wildlife managed pool for the
coming year would occur when the best information concerning the extent
of the spring runoff is available.

d) Managed pool not counted against during spills - Depletion of
the fish and wildlife managed pool would not occur during any period
when water is released from McPhee Reservoir, whether an actual spill or
in anticipation of a spill.

. 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.

2. ALTERNATIVE 2:

a) MODIFY RESERVOIR OPERATION
b) ACQUIRE AT LEAST 7,200 AF ADDITIONAL WATER FOR
MANAGED POOL
c) MANAGED POOL WATER YEAR CHANGED
d) MANAGED POOL NOT COUNTED AGAINST DURING SPILLS
e) MANAGED POOL WOULD NOT SHARE SHORTAGES DURING DRY
YEARS

a) Modify the operation of McPhee Reservoir - This is the same as
under Alternative 1.

h) Acquire additional water for fish and wildlife purposes - This
is the same as under Alterative 1.

Other managed pool considerations - These considerations are added
to this alternative to enhance the long-term 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 under
Alternative 1.

d) Managed pool not counted against during spills - This is the
same as under Alternative 1.

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