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2015-16 Annual Operating Plan for the Drinking Water Project
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As required by the 2004 Biological Opinion issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Water Authority issues an Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for its Drinking Water Project (DWP). This report is submitted to the FWS in May of each year to describe the Water Authority's planned DWP operations from April of the current year to March of the following year (operating year). The goal of the report is to provide the FWS an estimate of the maximum amount of surface water diversions that are planned for the year as the FWS is concerned about water operations that affect endangered species in the Middle Rio Grande (MRG).
If there are issues that arise during the irrigation season that affect the Water Authority or river operations in general, then the FWS along with other parties in the MRG, are informed via the scheduled conference calls that occur during the irrigation season. Any adjustments made to releases or diversions will be coordinated through these ongoing coordination efforts. The conference calls have been a very effective tool in coordinating ongoing efforts in managing the river.