The April 15, 1998, meeting of the Land Committee was called to order by its Co-Chairman, Dr. Joe Jeffrey, at 7:20 p.m. Attendance was recorded by a sign-in sheet, the original of which was kept by the Secretary of the meeting. The Chairman informed the body that the secretary of the committee was unable to attend and Jim Doyle was appointed acting secretary

The minutes for the March 19, 1998 meeting were read. One addition was made concerning the report of Roger Bauer. The following words were added, to wit: "Carroll Sheldon asked to be a member of the third party impacts subcommittee and advised of the work of eight Platte River basin counties in developing land use plans." The words "at Lincoln" are deleted from the minutes where they appear concerning the report given by Mr. Roger Bauer. The minutes of the March 19, 1998 meeting were approved as amended.

The Chair recognized the attendance at the meeting of Mr. Dale Strickland, the Executive Director of the Governance Committee, Mr. Randy Christopherson, United Statues Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, and Dr. Ray Supalla, Economist from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Mr. Paul Tebbel gave a report for the Information and Education Subcommittee. In response to local counties, involvement in land use planning activities and issues, presentations by Jay Maher of Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District were made to four counties in the central Platte basin. Mr. Tebbel advised that one of the functions of the outreach committee was to pre-review, accuracy, information to be distributed to the public. Later in the meeting Mr. Tebbel advised that Tri-Basin and Central Platte Natural Resources District had assembled a list of landowners. Tri-Basin listed landowners who lived within three miles of the Platte River. Central Platte's list was of landowners and operators within one mile on either side of the river. CPNRD was asked to compile the names of landowners within three miles of either side of the Platte River and to advise the committee when the information would be available.

Mr. Larry Wells gave a report for the Mapping Subcommittee. The subcommittee needs additional information before it is ready to specify a budget requirement. Mr. Mark Czaplewski, a member of the Mapping Subcommittee, displayed and described a map depicting the locations of existing habitat lands owned, leased or for which habitat easement were obtained.

Mr. Don Batie gave a report on the habitat criteria and distributed a draft and revised report on recommendations for criteria. An extensive discussion of the habitat criteria ensued. Mark Brohman moved that the words "on program lands" be added to and the word "are" be stricken from the leading sentence under II entitled Encouraged/Acceptable Management Practices on page 2 of the Recommended Criteria. The motion died for lack of a second. Further detailed discussion of the criteria ensued. At the conclusion of the discussion it was moved by Brent Lathrop and seconded by Gary Lingle that the recommendations of the Criteria Subcommittee be approved and the draft recommendations of criteria be submitted to the Governance Committee for further action. The motion was voted on and passed.

Mr. Jim Lundgren, on behalf of the Third Party Impacts Committee, introduced Dr. Raymond Supalla, who discussed development of the scope of work for third party impact studies. An extensive discussion of third party impacts and the nature of the work required of the economists followed. The Third Party Impacts Committee was directed to develop a detailed and specific request for proposal identifying the issues to be researched, the objectives of the research, how the research can be compatible with NEPA, and whether the research would be consistent with the needs of the Cooperative Agreement parties. The Land Committee Chairman requested the group draft a request for proposal and submit the request to the body at the next meeting of the Land Committee. Dr. Raymond Supalla offered his assistance, which was accepted by the group, and Mr. Dayle Williamson offered. the help of an economist from the Natural Resources Commission.

Mr. Paul Matson reported on an April 1, 1998, meeting held of the Land Ownership Research Subcommittee. The consensus of the subcommittee was that not less than one half of the membership of the governing body of the ownership entity would be landowners in the affected area. The subcommittee is continuing its research and developing "conceptual organizational documents" which will be continued at the next subcommittee meeting. The next meeting of the Land Ownership Research Subcommittee is scheduled for May 11, 1998, at 2:00 p.m.at 1400 East 34th Street, Kearney, Nebraska, which is the Buffalo County Extension Office.

Next followed brief discussions of the Land Committee timelines, schedule and budget issues.

The Chairman reviewed upcoming events, including the meeting of the Governance Committee in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on April 21, 1998. Mr. Lundgren advised the group the habitat criteria would be submitted to the Governance Committee at that time. A discussion then ensued about defraying the expenses of those individuals traveling to Cheyenne to present the habitat criteria draft recommendations. Mark Peyton moved, and it was seconded by Paul Matson, that the Chairman request from the Governance Committee reimbursement for the expenses of the presenter of the habitat criteria report. The motion was voted on and passed.

The next meeting of the Land Committee will be May 19, 1998, at the Kearney Ramada Inn at 7:00 p.m. The June meeting of the Land Committee will be June 18, 1998, at Central Platte Natural Resources District in Grand Island, Nebraska, at 215 North Kaufman, at 7:00 p.m. There being no further or other business before the meeting, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Doyle, Acting Secretary