Final Minutes
Land Committee Meeting

January 10, 2000, 7 p.m.
Holiday Inn
Kearney, Nebraska

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Rhodell Jameson at 7:05 p.m.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

Carroll Sheldon requested a correction to the December 6, 1999, Land Committee minutes. Based on the corrections requested by Sheldon and what occurred at the November 9 and December 6, 1999, meetings, the minutes for the November 9th meeting page 2 should read: Carroll Sheldon read into the minutes the statement on the pollution and contamination by waterfowl he presented to the Governance Committee (GC) at their October 15, 1999 meeting. Sheldon called for a vote of support for the statement and for the GC to proceed to correct these problems nationwide. While no official tally of votes was made, an overwhelming majority of the people present at the meeting voted in favor of Sheldon's statement and request.

Note: Sheldon estimated that 75 out of 85 people, or approximately 90%, in the audience voted in favor of this statement by a showing of hands.

There were no other corrections or additions to the December 6, 1999, Land Committee (LC) minutes. The minutes stand approved.

Sheldon stated that he and others feel the Draft Third Party Impact Study was inadequate and that comments should be collected for a period of at least 6 months. Therefore, they will protest the Draft Study as it is now and will seek delay of the Final Report.

Executive Director Report

Dale Strickland reported two federal officials involved with Cooperative Agreement (CA) work are stepping down. Patty Beneke, Assistant Secretary of the Interior--Water and Science, is resigning from the position. Until a replacement is determined, Larry Todd from the Bureau of Reclamation will act as the Bureau of Reclamation representative on the GC. Todd has acted as Beneke's alternate and has attended most of the meetings in her place. Jim Lutey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Denver, CO, is also retiring. Strickland expressed gratitude to both individuals for their contributions to the CA and proposed Program.

Water Action Plan Committee

Strickland explained the three states of Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming are still trying to reach agreement on the list of alternatives for water shortages proposed for the Draft Water Action Plan. The three states have proposed alternatives for further consideration as part of the Water Action Plan. Dan Luecke, Environmental Defense Fund, proposed minor additions to the plans that would achieve the remaining 60,000 to 80,000 acre-feet needed by the proposed Program. Luecke also suggested a trust fund be established to provide funds for funding additional alternatives if they are needed by the proposed Program. While many details are still being sorted through, Boyle Engineering was asked by the committee to compile the details on the states' proposed alternatives for use by the EIS Team to analyze potential cumulative impacts of the list of alternatives. The work by Boyle will be completed and reported at the upcoming January GC meeting.

Also being discussed at committee level is the existing Nebraska State water law for the protection of new water. This law needs to be tested to determine whether or not the law protects flows from Wyoming and Colorado designated under the proposed Program for habitat areas of central Nebraska.

Water Management Committee

Strickland reported the Water Conservation Water Supply report is completed.

At this point, discussion is being held on incorporating tracking and accounting methods for evaluation purposes of monitoring and research of program water and testing of Nebraska's ability to protect Program water.

Technical Committee

Strickland explained the committee has been working on an Integrated Monitoring and Research component of the proposed Program, which details an extensive list of items that may need to be measured to evaluate the proposed Program. The GC has expressed the concern that the list is too long and too costly. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working on a document to provide information they feel is necessary to evaluate biological response to the proposed Program. This is expected by March 2000. After the information is received, the committee will reevaluate the list.

A demonstration project proposal completed by the TC, relating to evaluating the management of the Cottonwood Ranch project. The committee feels it is necessary to evaluate methods of monitoring and research at the site.

Finance Committee

Strickland stated the GC approved $30,630 in disbursements for the month of December 1999.

Strickland explained the committee asked him to evaluate all habitat program proposals and determine their costs in a draft program budget. Rough and tentative estimates are $49 million more than the $75 million budget contained in the CA. However, major factors are still unknown that will impact the budget and none of the estimates are considered final. All committees have been charged with trying to reduce estimated Program costs.

Questions were taken with discussion following.

Subcommittee Reports

Mapping

Larry Wells reported the 1998 land use/land cover is completed and is still undergoing accuracy assessment. While the accuracy assessment level is currently at 87%, it is being fine-tuned.

The FWS is developing digital data layers. One is being conducted for the pallid sturgeon, whooping crane observation site, least tern, and piping plover.

The subcommittee will be meeting with the Technical Committee (TC) to continue work on a GIS manual.

Habitat Criteria

Mark Czaplewski reported the subcommittee has not met lately but is in the 'working' process. The "Habitat Management Methods" document continues to be on schedule, with the Draft revised. The Final document will be completed after the February 16 & 17, 2000, workshop. Workshop plans are set with agenda items and invitees determined.

Czaplewski gave an update on the Habitat Protection Planning Task Force, a joint endeavor of the subcommittee and TC. The Task Force has developed a "Habitat Protection Plan", which has been forwarded to the GC. They are now working on comments received by the GC, with the hopes of a final product completed soon.

No future meetings have been set at this time. The subcommittee will likely meet again after the February 16 & 17, 2000, workshop.

Third Party Impacts

Lisa McDonald noted that copies of the Third Party Impact Draft Report for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Plan was completed in early November are available upon request by calling the Shared Staff Services office. The comment period for the study was extended through December. The subcommittee is currently integrating the comments received. The Final Report is scheduled to be presented to the GC at their upcoming January meeting. McDonald stated an executive summary of the Final Report would be included in the February LC newsletter.

A summary of mitigation strategies was reviewed. Questions were taken with discussion following.

Land Ownership Entity

No report given.

The Facilitated Workshop has been scheduled for January 31, and February 1 & 2, 2000, at the Quality Inn in North Platte, NE. Meeting times are to be determined.

Other Business

Vernon Nelson gave a presentation on Water Leasing Analysis for Phelps, Gosper and Kearney Counties. The Nebraska Water Leasing Committee assembled the presentation material. Nelson explained the function of the committee, stating their main purpose is to explore different price ranges of what it would take to lease surface water per year, per acre on available farm ground. Questions were taken with extensive discussion following.

Upcoming Events

January 19, 2000 Water Management Quality Inn North Platte, NE 1 pm

January 20, 2000 Water Action Plan Quality Inn North Platte, NE 9 am

January 21, 2000 GC Quality Inn North Platte, NE 8 am

January 25-26, 2000 TC CNPPID Ogallala, NE TBD

January 31, 2000-February 2 LOE Facilitated Workshop Quality Inn North Platte, NE TBD

February 16&17, 2000 Habitat Management Methods Workshop, Whooping Crane Trust Office, Alda, NE TBD

February 22, 2000 Water Management LCCC Cheyenne, WY 1 p.m.

February 23, 2000 Water Action Plan LCCC Cheyenne, WY 9 a.m.

February 24, 2000 GC LCCC Cheyenne, WY 8 a.m.

March 21,2000 Water Management TBD Kearney, NE 1 p.m.

March 22, 2000 Water Action Plan TBD Kearney, NE 9 a.m.

March 23, 2000 GC TBD Kearney, NE 8 a.m.

April 25, 2000 Water Management TBD Lakewood, CO 1 p.m.

April 26, 2000 Water Action Plan TBD Lakewood, CO 9 a.m.

April 27, 2000 GC TBD Lakewood, CO 8 a.m.

*All meeting times are subject to change.

Jameson stated that a February LC meeting will not be held, unless necessary. LC newsletters will continue to be mailed monthly.

Adjournment

Jameson adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.