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See other minutes at: Governance Committee / Land Committee / Water Management Committee / Water Action Plan Committee

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Final Minutes
Technical Committee Meeting

January 25 and January 26, 1999
University of Nebraska Kearney
Kearney, Nebraska

Call to Order

Jay Maher called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m. Dale Strickland introduced Clayton Derby and briefly explained his background and duties with the Technical Committee (TC). Minutes from the December meeting were discussed and revised to indicate that the FWS is initiating work on Milestone R3-1 and will coordinate with the TC. After revision the minutes were accepted by consensus that they were an accurate representation of the December TC meeting.

Peer Review Work Plan

TC Documents

Dale noted that the Peer Review Work Plan is to initiate the peer review process and it will also be used for identifying budget needs that the TC will have. Jim Lutey reported that the FWS recently received the report from Woodward-Clyde consultants. This report will fulfill R1-1. There was discussion regarding the appropriateness of peer review of this document, and consensus was reached that the report should be peer reviewed. Jim noted that FWS is planning an internal review and an "administrative review"from the TC. The report will be ready for TC review by mid-February. The group agreed that peer review should be recommended but not until internal review by FWS and TC review is completed, approximately mid-April.

The question regarding having individuals involved in the Glen Canyon project giving a presentation to the TC was brought up. Dale agreed to contact Curt Brown regarding having the consultants give a presentation at one of the next two TC meetings.

There was discussion of options for peer review of the FWS's whooping crane model used in determining target flows. Those options are review of old (current) model, review of a revised model, or no review. Consensus was reached to recommend peer review of the model being used in nine months (October).

Consensus was reached that the basis for the temperature components target flows needs peer review. The Peer Review Group will determine what went into the temperature component and what needs to be peer reviewed. Three possible documents suggested by Mark Czaplewski were K. F. Dianan's 1992 Master's Thesis, Univ. of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Study, and an EPA report from B. Zander. This will be recommend for peer review within six months.

Kevin Urie expressed that Colorado does not support peer review at this time of Target Flows or any of the components that determine Target Flows. After further reflection, by the Technical Committee, it was determined that consensus was not reached on these topics.

The environmental account (EA) will not be used to cause flooding but flooding pulse flows will occur naturally. The EA may be used to supplement lower peak flows, but never to a point above flood stage. There was consensus that peer review should be started in the next 12 months regarding the basis for pulse flows. The TC identified those documents used in the 1994 workshop between FWS and outside "experts"for recommendation for peer review.

The issue of whether there were "other components"used in determining target flows and not identified in the Work Plan was discussed. Dave Carlson suggested the IFIM model, fish model, and wet meadow model as possibly needing peer review but as a lower priority.

In regard to the remaining products in Milestone R2-1 that might need peer review, Dale suggested waiting until the TC has decided which protocols are needed. Sharon Whitmore indicated that the FWS would report on their progress for Milestone R3-1 at the next TC meeting.

WMC and LC Documents

Information for Water Management Committee products needing peer review were provided by John Lawson to Clayton before the meeting. John recommended the Boyle Report and components used in the draft Action Plan be reviewed. This process should start eight months from now.

It is unknown at this time what Land Committee documents will need peer review. The TC reached consensus that at a minimum an Administrative Review should be recommended for the Habitat Criteria Guidelines. There was much discussion on the meaning of Milestone L3-2. Specifically if Protocols were to be reviewed or if the Management Plans were to be peer reviewed. A decision on this was delayed until documents are developed.

Pilot Projects

There was a discussion on possible Pilot/Demonstration projects needing peer review. The Nebraska Pilot Project will need legal review and not necessarily peer review. Consensus reached that protocols for pilot projects should be peer reviewed as appropriate.

General

The Joint Study was suggested for possible peer review. TC has one week to submit additional items for peer review.

Charter

Jay handed out two draft copies of a charter, one with a membership list and one without. Jay advocated for no set membership but Dale noted that the GC wants the TC to use the membership set in the September GC minutes, as modified by the TC recommendations. The initial membership can be changed using an addendum. The committee decided a revised membership list was needed and one was drafted. Additions to the draft charter included wording to help safeguard against members taking advocacy positions for their particular group and wording to encourage all members to attend meetings or send a representative. The subcommittee will make revisions and present at the next TC meeting. The Charter will be presented to the GC at their March meeting. Any comments are due to Jay by Feb. 5.

Monitoring and Research

EIS and Program Needs, Relationship of Milestones

Dale pointed out that the EIS Team does not need specific protocols but rather the approach or framework that will be used for monitoring and research. Dave Carlson will put this together and Dale will review before the next TC meeting. Dale also discussed the needs of the Program compared to those for the EIS. Whereas the EIS needs are more general the Program needs are more specific. Dale and Clayton will put together a "Concept"map for the Program needs. Jim Lutey will handle writing-up the relationships between R1-1, R2-1, and R3-1.

Subcommittee Reports

Informal Peer Review

Mark Peyton reported on the Research and Monitoring Objectives for terns and plovers and Jeff Lucas reported on the "other species". Both have been informally peer reviewed and are ready. Sharon Whitmore reported that there might be some changes to the pallid sturgeon Objectives based on informal peer review and Jim Jenniges said there has been no response from Jane Austin regarding informal peer review of the whooping crane Objectives. Jim will try to contact Jane again.

Clayton will receive the revised versions from the Working Groups and format for consistency. The entire TC will review again before Dale or Jay bring it before the GC.

Protocols

Definition/Outline

Dale went over the definition that he came up with and minor typos were pointed out. Consensus was reached that the Outline stands and will go to the next GC meeting. Clayton will distribute a clean copy to the TC.

Identification of Protocols

It was agreed that the category "Review of Existing and New Information"is important and should be done, but should be removed from the research and monitoring protocol lists.

Jeff Lucas agreed to talk with the GIS people and figure out which protocols are needed. He and others noted that the Federal Protocols/Standards might be adequate.

Bob Swanson briefly described current USGS protocols for flows and noted that the states, ACOE, and BOR likely have similar protocols. These may be adequate for flows but protocols may need to be developed for "other physical components". The identification of existing protocols and those that need to be written is needed.

There was discussion regarding protocols needed for vegetation monitoring and monitoring for other channel characteristics. It was decided that each Working Group (crane, sturgeon, tern and plover, and other species) should recommend what protocols are needed for their species using the Objectives Lists and report back at the next TC meeting. Because of his commitment to look into GIS needs, Jeff Lucas relinquished his chair of the Other Species working group to Jan McKee.

Clayton will email Research and Monitoring Protocol Categories to the entire TC as a .rtf file. If there are problems individuals should contact him directly.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

The next meeting will be at the USFWS Regional Office in Lakewood, CO from 1:00 -5:00 p.m. on March 2 and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on March 3. The meeting will be in the third floor conference room. Street address is 134 Union Blvd., Lakewood, Colorado.

The April meeting will in the Hershler Building, Room 1699, April 13 and 14. Times will be similar to the previous few meeting and will be finalized at the March meeting.

Adjourn -12:15 p.m.

 

Name

Jay Maher, CNPPID

Jim Jenniges, NPPD

Mike Drain, CNPPID

Sharon Whitmore, USFWS, Grand Island

Rhodell Jameson, Land Committee Co-Chair

Mike Fritz, NE Game and Parks Commission

Mark M. Peyton, CNPPID

Mark M. Czaplewski, Central Platte NRD

Bob Henszey, Platte River Trust

Kevin Urie, Denver Water/Colorado Water Users

Jim Lutey, USFWS, Denver

Jeff Lucas, Tri-Basin NRD

Bob Swanson, USGS, North Platte

David Carlson, FWS, Grand Island

Clayton Derby, Exec. Director, GC

Dale Strickland, Exec. Director, GC

Jon Wade, WY Water Development Commission

Dave Felley, USFWS-Wyoming ES

Joe Gabig

 

Name

David Carlson, FWS, Grand Island

Jon Wade, WY Water Development Commission

Jim Jenniges, NPPD

Kevin Urie, Denver Water/Colorado Water Users

Mark Czaplewski, Central Platte NRD

Mark M. Peyton, CNPPID

Larry D. Wells, Land Committee, Mapping Chair

Mike Fritz, NE Game and Parks

Jim Lutey, USFWS, Denver

Jan McKee, USFWS, Denver

Dave Felley, USFWS, Wyoming

Sharon Whitmore, USFWS, Grand Island

Robert Swanson, USGS, North Platte

Jeff Lucas, Tri-Basin NRD

Bob Henszey, Platte River Trust

Jay Maher, CNPPID

Dale Strickland, Executive Director, GC

Clayton Derby, Executive Director, GC