Final Minutes
Land Committee Meeting

Central Platte NRD
Grand Island, Nebraska

Open House and Information Session

No minutes taken. A public "question and answering" session with each subcommittee was held from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Vernon Nelson at 8:10 p.m.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

There were no corrections or additions to the January 10, 2000, Land Committee (LC) meeting minutes. The minutes stand approved.

Executive Director Report

Dale Strickland noted that since the last LC meeting, several Governance Committee (GC) meetings have been conducted. A number of activities are currently occurring designed to pull together the documents describing the proposed Program for the purpose of preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and to prepare for implementing the approved Program.

Water Action Plan Committee

Strickland gave a brief background explanation of the Water Action Plan and Future Depletions Plan for the three states of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. Colorado already has a Future Depletions Plan approved by the GC, while Wyoming and Nebraska are currently in the process of developing plans. Strickland stated that Nebraska's Plan would most likely not be finalized until mid-2001, due to the continuing development of the COHYST Study.

Strickland explained the Water Action Plan describes the potential source of water for reducing shortages to target flows. It includes a list of water supply alternatives for the three states and the three state projects (now estimated to yield 80,000 acre/feet of water) for the proposed Program. Through committee work, a Draft Water Action Plan document addressing this issue is now finished and is under review in the three states.

Technical Committee

The Technical Committee (TC) has finalized the Integrated Monitoring and Research Component (IMRC) of the proposed Program, which details an extensive list of items that may need to be measured to evaluate the proposed Program. The TC is working with the Fish and Wildlife Service to integrate the indicators of biological response (R3-1) and baseline (R1-1) into the IMRC.

Strickland explained that the LC has completed most of the products they were charged to do by the GC. However, the LC should remain in place and active until the proposed Program is accepted and signed by the four parties involved. The LC will continue in the Program as a Land Advisory Committee. This recommendation came from the Land Ownership Entity Facilitated Workshop that was held in North Platte at the beginning of 2000.

Finance Committee

Strickland noted that the budget is an area of the concern for the GC. In 1997, it was estimated that the cost of the entire Program for the first increment would be $75 million. However, rough estimates now indicate that the Program may cost approximately $125 million. The GC is trying to develop a more accurate estimate of potential Program costs. Once a decision is reached, the GC will determine how to proceed with funding of the Program.

Questions were taken will extensive discussion following.

Platte River Public Information

Jerry Vandersnick, Platte River Public Information, reported on a series of meetings he has conducted across the state of Nebraska, with a few still remaining. The goal of each meeting is to provide information and take comments from the public back to state officials and eventually to the GC. Such information has been presented on the EIS Analysis, Cooperative Agreement (CA), Water Action Plan and more. Vandersnick stated he has been pleased with the response received, and asked that comment sheets be returned to him by June 15, 2000. Future Platte River Public Information meetings will be conducted as needed, with the possibility of another series being held in August or September.

Vandersnick encouraged all to take and read the available GC Outreach Committee brochures and recent fact sheet.

Questions were taken with discussion following.

Chairmen's Report

Nelson gave a brief summary of the last GC meeting held in Cheyenne, WY and the topic of mitigation for direct losses. While there is a "Good Neighbor Policy" already in place by law, Nelson felt there should be a more detailed policy for the proposed Program for property damages directly caused by the implementation of the Program. This policy is intended to address instances, if any, when Program activities on Program lands have unintended consequences on neighboring lands. With the assistance of a local attorney, Nelson developed a draft list of examples of direct damages that would be compensated in the amount of actual property damages by the Program. Nelson shared the draft list and encouraged feedback from the public. The draft list will be presented to the GC at their upcoming June meeting. Discussion followed.

Subcommittee Reports

Land Ownership Entity

Paul Matson gave a brief overview of the primary objectives for the Land Ownership Entity subcommittee. Matson thoroughly reviewed a detailed organizational flow chart stemming from the subcommittee's Facilitated Workshop held in early 2000. It was explained that the Land Advisory Committee (LAC) would provide policy recommendations, course of action recommendations, work with sub-contractors, and communications to and from local interests and other stakeholders. Members on the committee will include: one representative each from Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Bureau of Reclamation, USFWS, and the local utilities. Also included will be an environmentalist and three local Nebraska representatives. He mentioned that a charter for the LAC is being developed. Questions were taken with extensive discussion held.

Third Party Impacts

Lisa McDonald, Hazen and Sawyer, stated final touches are being applied to the Third Party Impact Final Report for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Plan. Reports should be finished by the end of this week and will be made available through her office or the Shared Staff Services office. Copies of the Executive Summary were made available at the time or could be obtained from the Shared Staff Services office. Further discussion was held.

Habitat Criteria

Mark Czaplewski reported the Draft Habitat Management Methods Document for Least Terns, Piping Plovers, and Whooping Cranes is complete and available for public comment. Czaplewski stated that the subcommittee met a number of times to develop the draft document with several revisions made. It was the subcommittee's recommendation to the LC to forward the draft document to the GC for their approval. Discussion followed.

Czaplewski gave an update on the Habitat Protection Planning Task Force, a joint effort of the subcommittee and the TC. The Task Force has developed a detailed working outline, entitled the Draft Habitat Protection Plan, which has been tentatively approved by the GC. Czaplewski reported the group met earlier in the day, adding more to the Draft Plan. From the meeting, assignments and deadlines were given to Task Force members. Work products will be forwarded to Strickland's office for compilation. The next Task Force meeting has been scheduled for July 26, 2000, in Kearney NE. Meeting time and location is still to be determined.

Carroll Sheldon

Carroll Sheldon briefly gave information regarding a plan to form a Peer Review Committee under the umbrella of the GC. It is anticipated that 20 members will make up the committee, including farmers, attorneys, accountants, etc. The purpose of the Peer Review is to review all documents in the proposed Program. Sheldon stated he intends to ask the GC at their upcoming June meeting for $500,000 for the formation and expenses of the committee.

LC Update on the Cooperative Program

Nelson stated while no other LC meetings will be held for a few months, work will continue with the LC, including the distribution of the monthly newsletter. It is anticipated that the next LC meeting will be held late fall or winter 2000, or sooner if the need arises.

It was announced the next GC meeting would be held June 29, 2000, at the Ramada Inn, Ogallala NE at 8 a.m.

Adjournment

Nelson adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.