2015-02-23_HYDROLOGY - M1997058 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ADMINSTRATION PROTOCOL Augmentation Plan Exchanges Division One — South' Platte River Many of the plans for augmentation operating along the South Platte River include recharge operations where fully consumable water is placed__in recharge sites and then timed back to the river. Some plans include decreed exchanges whereby excess return flows m'ay'be exchanged back up to a headgate or well and �e- diverted. This document provides the protocol water user's must follow in order to operate the 'exchange. This on the South Platte River, however, is specifically designed to address both-decreed and water commissioner approved exchanges associated with plans for augmentation. This protocol is subordinate to any decreed language addressing specific exchange operations. River condition below the exchange: No Call or Free River No exchange may operate unless: F1. The water commissioner has been given at least 48 hours and not more than 7 days advance notice of the intent to operate the exchange. F2. The water commissioner determines there is sufficient exchange potential to operate the exchange. F3. The water commissioner has current accounting and is able to verify that there are excess return flows reporting to the river. River condition below the exchange: Storage Call In addition to the requirements in F1 thru F3, above, no exchange may operate unless: S1.The water commissioner determines that the exchange can be operated without injuring water rights that are senior to the exchange. S2. The storage - season -to -date' (November 1 to the day the return flows report to the river) net impact of the augmentation plan operation on the river is not negative; or, in the opinion of the water commissioner, there is a reasonable expectation the impact will be non - negative by the start of the irrigation season (typically, April 1). S3. The timing of the exchange is limited to the day the excess return flow reports to the river unless the water commissioner agrees that return flows can be consolidated such that a larger diversion over a shorter period of time is made without injuring the calling or other senior water rights. If an aggregated diversion is allowed, the volume of the aggregated diversion cannot exceed the volume of excess return flow reporting to the river during the month the exchange takes place; i.e. excess return flow credits may not be carried over from one month to the next. Administration Protocol - Augmentation Plan Exchanges Revised December l,'2007