Final Minutes
Land Committee Meeting

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Vernon Nelson at 7:05 p.m.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

There were no corrections or additions to the August 15, 2001, Land Committee (LC) meeting minutes. The minutes stand approved.

Executive Director Report

Dale Strickland reported that the proposed Program is scheduled to be available for review by the three state legislatures by the 2003 sessions. However, sediment/vegetation issues have been causing some delays in preparation of the Draft EIS and may delay this schedule. Parsons Engineering has been hired to work with the EIS technical team to help resolve issues and uncertainties on sediment and in-channel vegetation. The Governance Committee (GC) held a workshop on the issue November 27th. The GC asked the Parsons/EIS Technical Team for a list of prioritized studies dealing with the sediment/in-channel vegetation issue by December 7th. This list will be reviewed by the GC and discussed at a workshop scheduled for December 11-12 in Denver, CO. The GC meeting originally scheduled for December has now been rescheduled for January 17, 2002, in Scottsbluff/Gering, NE.

Strickland responded to an article published by the Kearney Hub concerning the increase in the proposed Program's budget. Originally, the budget was estimated for $75 million, however this figure did not include the cost of inflation, monitoring and research, and many other variables. The GC has requested a better estimate from the executive director by July 2002. Strickland stated that while information is still being gathered, a preliminary estimate of the budget compiled approximately one year ago was $125 million. He pointed out that this estimate is very preliminary and is still not indexed for inflation.

TNC Proposal

Details of the TNC proposal are still being compiled. The proposal should be ready for LC approval in January 2002.

Good Neighbor Policy

A Draft Good Neighbor Policy was presented for LC approval. The policy was reviewed and discussed in detail. A few issues were raised including some concern over wording in the document and the lack of definitions. An individual requested that the term "Program" be defined. It was pointed out that this would be part of a much larger document that would contain a description of the Program. Another person suggested adding the phrase "attempt to measure" before the phrase "pre-existing conditions", and adding the phrase "in a timely manner" to the end of the third bulleted paragraph. The same individual suggested that an attorney review the policy. Strickland indicated that several attorneys had reviewed the document including a Nebraska attorney, Jim Cook.

Strickland indicated that he would pass these comments to the subcommittee working on the document and any revisions in the document will be discussed with the LC at their January 2002 meeting. The revised draft policy will be included in the mailing before the January meeting. The policy will be presented to the GC for final approval at their January meeting.

Habitat Protection Plan

Nelson reported the Habitat Protection Plan is still in draft form. It is anticipated the draft will be ready for review by early-January. Once ready for review, the Plan will be accessible by checking the platteriver.org website or by calling the LC secretary's office.

Other Business

Jim Tierney shared an article from the Denver Post regarding the Platte River. It was an article on "Baseline Research Data: Mark Twain Quote". Roughing It, by Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) was first published in 1871, which dates this research back at least 130 years. " . . . Crossing of the South Platte," alias "Julesburg," alias "Overland City, . . . " p. 42; "We came to the shallow, yellow, muddy South Platte, with its low banks and its scattering flat sand-bars and pygmy islands-a melancholy stream straggling through the center of the enormous flat plain, and only saved from being impossible to find with the naked eye by its sentinel rank of scattering trees standing on either bank. The Platte was 'up,' they said-which made me wish I could see it when it was down, if it could look any sicker and sorrier. They said it was a dangerous stream to cross, now, because its quicksands were liable to swallow up horses, coach, and passengers if an attempt was made to ford it." p.43 (see attachment).It referred to how Mark Twain originally described the Platte River, compared to how it is seen today.

Nelson reported that Carroll Sheldon is working on a Peer Review Committee. He will give a report at the next LC meeting.

Upcoming Meetings

The next LC meeting has been scheduled for January 8, 2002 at the Buffalo County Extension Building in Kearney, NE. The meeting will begin promptly at 7 p.m.

The next GC meeting will be held January 17, 2002.

Adjournment

Nelson adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.