Call to Order

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

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

There were no corrections or additions to the September 13, 1999, Land Committee (LC) minutes. The minutes stand approved.

Executive Director Report

Dale Strickland gave a report on the October 15, 1999, Governance Committee (GC) meeting:

Water Action Plan Committee

Strickland stated the Water Action Plan Committee is currently discussing draft proposals presented by Wyoming, Nebraska and Dan Luecke of the Environmental Defense Fund. Each proposal suggests how to develop the Action Plan and how the balance of the First Increment of water might be provided.

Other topics discussed included major concerns addressed for the need of projects to extend longer than 13 years, third party impact issues, the need for detail on projects, proportionality, loss of future opportunities for offsetting future depletions, the need for institutional protections, and a budget cap for the Program.

A process was approved by the GC for identifying and implementing demonstration projects.

Migratory Bird Issues

Strickland reported the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is currently working with Canadian officials on ways to control the snow goose population. Blanket permits have been issued to many states by the FWS to deal with Canada goose populations. However, to date, the Nebraska Game and Parks has not identified a problem in central Nebraska. The National Wildlife Health Center reported that there have been no documented cases of disease transmission from waterfowl to humans. The E. coli and avian cholera strains in birds are different than those effecting humans.

Carroll Sheldon read a statement to the GC concerning data collected on waterfowl disease and transmission to humans.

Water Management Committee

Peer review of the Draft Water Conservation/Supply Report was completed and submitted to the committee. Strickland explained Boyle Engineering is currently revising the draft based on the peer review and other comments received on the draft.

The existing Tracking and Accounting procedures used by CO, WY, and NE would be used as is or modified for the Program. Water may be released from the Environmental Account in the coming spring and the Cooperative Agreement will need to track that water.

Technical Committee

Strickland stated concerns were brought to the GC on "other species of concern" which should get attention in all three states. It was determined Program monitoring and research should focus only on the central Platte River region.

Finance Committee

Strickland reported invoices have been received from all entities involved totaling $26,261.02 for distribution.

Questions were taken with discussion following. Strickland noted future meeting dates scheduled.

Carroll Sheldon - Committee on Pollution by Waterfowl

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.)

Sheldon noted five Nebraska counties have unanimously passed a resolution regarding the subject (see attachment). Strickland said that the FWS had responded to Sheldon in a letter from Ralph Morganweck regarding the transfer of waterfowl disease to humans and migratory bird issues (see attachment). Questions were taken with discussion following.

Hydrologist Report

Duane Woodward, CPNRD; Mike Slifer, USGS; and Doug Druliner, USGS, presented information and data collected concerning the Platte River and groundwater flows from Lexington to Chapman, NE. A variety of maps and hydrographs indicated water table surface levels, well measurements, land and water elevations, and transects. Woodward stated data is still being collected in an effort to determine groundwater and flooding issues. It was pointed out that the Platte River is a gaining river west of Kearney and appears to be neither a gaining nor losing river east of Kearney. Although the river does gain water to the south and east of Kearney and Grand Island. A member of the audience voiced that flooding issues need to be fully understood and answered before the Plan is in place. This comment was addressed with further questions taken and extensive discussion following. It was pointed out that the proposed Program is not now and has not in the past increased flows in the Platte River or its tributaries.

Subcommittee Reports

Mapping

Larry Wells reported work continues behind-the-scenes. The subcommittee has been working with various groups, including the Technical Committee (TC), Water Committee (WC) and Third Party Impacts subcommittee to compare and contrast data. This is to ensure accuracy and therefore can be used by all.

No subcommittee meeting dates have been set at this time.

Habitat Criteria

Mark Czaplewski stated the subcommittee met last on November 2, 1999, at the Chamber Center in Kearney, NE.

Czaplewski reported work continues on the drafting of the Habitat Management Methods document. The subcommittee provided comments and revisions on the first chapter of the document. The second chapter has also been drafted - dealing with the Literature Review of habitat management methods, which should be out for review by mid-November. The document will be completed after a technical workshop scheduled for February 16 & 17, 2000. Workshop discussions and recommendations will be factored into the final report as appropriate.

Czaplewski also noted the subcommittee, through the Habitat Protection Planning Taskforce, has been working on the Draft Habitat Protection Plan - a joint work product with the Technical Committee. This is an effort to develop some direction for habitat acquisition and protection efforts for the proposed Program. The first draft of the document is a detailed outline needed for the NEPA/EIS analysis. This goal is ultimately to furnish the document once other pieces of the proposed Program are determined. Czaplewski stated draft copies of this document are available. The subcommittee has reviewed the draft and recommended to the LC it be forwarded on to the GC for their review. The document will be presented to the GC at their upcoming meeting.

A Draft Buffer Zone document has been put together by the subcommittee with copies available upon request.

Upcoming meetings were announced.

Third Party Impacts

Lisa McDonald, Hazen and Sawyer, presented the Third Party Impact Draft Report for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Plan. Questions were taken with extensive discussion following. Copies are available upon request. Comments to the Draft Plan must be submitted to McDonald or Shared Staff Services by November 30, 1999.

No future meeting dates have been scheduled at this time.

Land Ownership Entity

Paul Matson stated the subcommittee met last on September 20, 1999, at the Chamber Center in Kearney, NE.

The final copy of the White Paper from Conservation Partners will be available soon. Copies will be made available upon request.

The Facilitated Workshop has been scheduled for January 31, 2000, and February 1 & 2, 2000, at the Quality Inn in North Platte, NE. Meeting times are to be determined. A panel of twenty-four has been selected, varying from farmers, landowners, water users, government officials, etc. Presently, Collaborative Decision Resources Associates (CDR) is interviewing the invited participants to identify key issues, gathering input of the interests associated with those issues and individual solutions. Discussion.

No future meeting dates have been set at this time.

Other Business

Upcoming Events *

Nov. 17, 1999 - Water Action Plan, LCCC, Cheyenne, WY
Nov. 18, 1999 - GC, LCCC, Cheyenne, WY, 8am
Dec. 6, 1999 - Habitat Criteria, Kirk's Restaurant, Lexington, NE, 10 am
Dec. 6, 1999 - Habitat Protection Taskforce, Kirk's Restaurant, Lexington, NE, 3 pm
Dec. 6, 1999 - LC, Kirk's Restaurant, Lexington, NE, 7 pm
Dec. 16, 1999 - Water Action Plan, FWS Regional Office, Lakewood, CO
Dec. 17, 1999 - GC, FWS Regional Office, Lakewood, CO, 8 am<
Jan. 20, 2000 - Water Action Plan, North Platte, NE
Jan. 21, 2000 - GC, North Platte, NE, 8 am
Jan. 31, 2000 - LOE Facilitated Workshop, Quality Inn, North Platte, NE
Feb. 1 & 2, 2000 - LOE Facilitated Workshop, Quality Inn, North Platte, NE

*All meeting dates and times are subject to change.

Adjournment

Nelson adjourned the meeting at 10:15 p.m.