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<br />~ . <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />e) Managed pool would not share shortages during dry years - The <br />managed pool would not share water shortages with other project water <br />users during dry years. <br /> <br />3. ALTERNATIVE 3: <br /> <br />a) MODIFY RESERVOIR OPERATION <br />b) ACQUIRE 3,900 AF OF ADDITIONAL WATER <br />c) MANAGED POOL WATER YEAR CHANGED <br />d) MANAGED POOL NOT COUNTED AGAINST DURING SPILLS <br /> <br />The intent of this alternative is to compare the differences in the <br />environmental consequences of modifying operation of McPhee Reservoir <br />and resolving the 3,900 AF operational study discrepancy by establishing <br />a managed pool of 33,200 AF. <br /> <br />a) Modify the operation of Mcphee Reservoir - This is the same as <br />under Alternative 1. <br /> <br />b) Acquisition of additional water (3,900 AF) for fish and <br />wildlife purposes - Reclamation proposes to acquire 3,900 AF of <br />additional water to increase the volume of the pool of project water <br />reserved by the United States for fish and wildlife purposes from 25,400 <br />AF to 29,300 AF for downstream release from McPhee Reservoir to the <br />Dolores River. This would be added to the water for senior downstream <br />water rights (3,900 AF) for a total managed pool of 33,200 AF. <br />Acquisition of this additional 3,900 AF would resolve the discrepancy in <br />the original project operation study regarding the average annual volume <br />of water required for storage to fulfill the 1977 DPR/FES downstream <br />release criteria. The managed pool would be directed by an interagency <br />team of biologists to allow seasonally fluctuating downstream releases <br />for conservation of downstream fish and wildlife resources. <br /> <br />other managed pool considerations - These considerations are added <br />to this alternative to enhance the long-term operation of the managed <br />pool pursuant to recommendations from the Dolores River Biology Team and <br />the Colorado Division of Wildlife: <br /> <br />c) Managed pool water year changed - This is the same as under <br />Alternative 1. <br /> <br />d) Managed pool not counted against during spills - This is the <br />same as under Alternative 1. <br /> <br />. Portions of the managed pool would share water shortages with <br />other project water users during dry years. The 25,400 AF of <br />Project water currently reserved by the United States for <br />downstream fish and wildlife purposes would share shortages <br />equally with Project irrigation water. The water required to <br />satisfy senior downstream water rights (up to 3,900 AF) would be <br />regulated by the State priority system, and so would not share in <br />shortages. Whether additional acquired water would share in <br />shortages would depend on its origin. For example, acquired <br />Project irrigation water would share in shortages, while acquired <br />municipal and industrial water acquired would not be subject to <br />shortages. Acquired non-Project water would be regulated by the <br />State priority system. This is the same as under Alternative 1. <br /> <br />7 <br />