Final Minutes
Land Committee Meeting
May 27, 1999/7:00 P.M.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Vernon Nelson at 7:10 p.m.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

There were no corrections or additions to the April 7, 1999, Land Committee (LC) minutes. The minutes stand approved.

Cooperative Agreement Review

Dale Strickland discussed the first quarter funding agreement for July, August and September 1999, which will be submitted for tentative approval by the Finance Committee (FC) and final approval from the FC and Governance Committee (GC) at their upcoming meeting. The final funding agreement will be given to the Nebraska Community Foundation as a funding authorization instrument for LC reimbursements. Strickland stated the reimbursement authorization will be set at a specific level, but the LC is not expected to spend up to that level unless necessary. If the reimbursement level is surpassed, another authorization request will be required. All subcommittees agreed the set reimbursement level was adequate for the coming quarter.

Strickland reviewed work schedules for each subcommittee:

Discussion was held on requesting the Technical Committee's assistance with protocols on the Draft Report of the Recommendation of Criteria for Program Habitat Conservation. Assistance would be beneficial to the subcommittee.

Carroll Sheldon - Discussion of Proposed Committee

Alan McKelvie read a letter on behalf of Carroll Sheldon stating he has continued work on the development of the issue of contamination and pollution by waterfowl, but has no report to give at this time. A full report will be given at the next LC meeting.

Sheldon's letter also stated he is currently gathering opinions on the Draft Report of the Recommendation of Criteria for Program Habitat Conservation and would like a delay in the upcoming Habitat Criteria meeting. Opinions gathered will be reported at the next LC meeting. Sheldon will be advised to speak with Habitat Criteria Subcommittee chair Don Batie.

Subcommittee Reports

Mapping

Larry Wells announced the Bureau of Reclamation currently finished the draft product regarding owned and leased land by bridge segments. Landowners will receive the draft product to ensure accuracy. Wells also reported the EIS team has worked on eight proposed high resolution sites involved with the Cooperative Agreement program. Wells will mail out 100 to 200 scale maps upon request.

Wells explained the comparison of river flows can be found on the USGS web site at http://mcmcweb.er.usgs.gov/platte. The subcommittee is looking to add additional information to the web site in the near future.

Habitat Criteria

Mark Czaplewski, Central Platte NRD, reported at the latest GC meeting that the FC approved West, Inc., to provide assistance with the subcommittee's project work and related documents. Czaplewski explained reports are being completed and subcommittee work is moving forward.

Czaplewski stated Batie reviewed in detail the Draft Report of the Recommendation of Criteria for Program Habitat Conservation at the last LC meeting. Batie is currently incorporating changes made in the language of the document and the preparation of a cover letter.

Third Party Impact

Subcommittee co-chairs deferred their report to the contractor completing the Third Party Impact study.

Land Ownership Entity

No report given.

Third Party Impact's Study Plan for Phase II

Lisa McDonald, Hazen and Sawyer, summarized the draft work plan for Phase II with a slide show presentation. Questions were taken with an extensive discussion following. McDonald will also present the draft work plan to the Governance Committee at their upcoming meeting. Comments to the plan must be submitted to McDonald by June 4, 1999.

Groundwater Flooding

Richard and Nancy Carl of Doniphan, Nebraska, were given the opportunity to express their concerns on the constant water problems they have been experiencing at their home and property. Strickland explained the CA is trying to design the program to avoid making the flooding worse or possibly reducing flooding as a by-product of reregulation of river flows by decreasing water during the high flow periods and increasing river flows during low flow periods. Strickland clearly stated the program is still under development with studies and implements being analyzed and the program has had no impact of river flows as of this date. LC members answered their questions with extensive discussion following.

Open Committee Discussion

Discussion continued on Platte River water issues.

Upcoming Events

Nelson stated the LC will not meet until August 1999. At the July GC meeting, the August 1999 LC meeting date will be set. Newsletters will be mailed throughout the summer providing updates of subcommittee activities and their meeting dates. Information can also be obtained from the website address http://www.platteriver.org.

Rhodell Jameson encouraged the attendance of subcommittee meetings if there are any questions or concerns that individuals may have.

Extra copies of the Central Platte NRD's newsletter were made available for the taking.

Adjournment

Nelson adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.