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

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DRAFT Minutes
Technical Committee Meeting

April 13-14, 1999
Herschler Building
Cheyenne, Wyoming

NOTE: This document is a DRAFT, based on one person's notes of the meeting. The official meeting minutes may be different if corrections are made by the committee before approval. Final Minutes will be posted after approval at the next Technical Committee Meeting.

Call to Order

Jay Maher called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m., welcomed the attendees, and introductions were made.

Agenda and Minutes

Jay briefly discussed changes to the agenda and asked if there were any other changes. Jay announced that Josh Korman from Ecometrics was not going to be giving a presentation on the Glen Canyon Project because of the cost and lack of a Technical Committee (TC) budget. Both Jay and Dale Strickland asked if the committee wished to pursue having a presentation on the Glen Canyon Project. The committee felt that the presentation would be useful and would like the have the presentation if it can be combined with some EIS Team activities to lower the cost. Dale and Jay will continue to look into it.

Minutes from the March 2-3 meeting were discussed and minor edits were made. After revisions the minutes were accepted by consensus.

Jay informed the TC that Larry Wells had provided him with information pertaining to aerial photography, LIDAR, and other topics that he had downloaded off the Internet.

Jeff Lucas announced that he is leaving the Tri-Basin NRD and will not be a member of the TC.

Status Reports

Peer Review

Dale briefly discussed preparations for peer review of the Boyle Report. Clayton Derby has talked with John Lawson, Water Management Committee (WMC) Chair, regarding what the committee is envisioning for peer review for the Boyle Report. John indicated they were anticipating peer review of the report itself as well as supporting documents. The FWS and TC will most likely be faced with the same decisions for what and how to peer review the Baseline Document from Woodward-Clyde. Clayton will keep the TC appraised of our progress on peer review tasks.

Objectives for Monitoring and Research

Clayton has reduced the "long version" of the Monitoring Protocol Categories to a "short version" that resembles the Research Protocol Categories in format.

Subcommittee Reports

Charter

Jay distributed the Draft TC Charter to the Governance Committee (GC) at the last meeting in Kearney, Nebraska. He has not received any comments to date from the GC.

Jay went over his comments/suggestions for the Draft Charter. This led to a discussion and further edits from the entire group. Some of the items discussed included, but were not limited to, 1) do members serve as individuals or as representatives from organizations, 2) should the chair be appointed by the GC or elected by the TC, and 3) what "voluntary" and "appropriate technical training and experience" were referring to in paragraph 6 under Committee Makeup. The TC was able to reach consensus on all of the suggested changes. Jay is still attempting to confirm the membership list and is still waiting for replies. Terry Schaffer from Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center was added to the membership list. Clayton made the changes and distributed a revised draft during the meeting. Jay will distribute the revised Charter to the GC and ask for approval at the next GC meeting.

Technical Committee Schedule

Jim Lutey distributed a draft time schedule for activities related to the TC. He briefly explained how the Milestones fit together and the need to show how they will be accomplished in relation to one another. Jim noted that the Baseline Document (R1-1) will be available in early August for peer review but the TC may want to wait until documents for other Milestones are also completed. Jim also noted that when the draft Baseline Document is available for TC review in June there will be holes (sediment, hydrology, water quality), and that they will need to be completed before the document is ready for peer review. Jay asked if the first draft from Woodward-Clyde to the FWS would be available to the TC with the updated version and Jim responded that it could be. Dale noted that the WMC is using a three-pronged approach in addressing review of the Boyle Report: 1) committee review, 2) independent peer review, and 3) review by states. All three reviews are occurring simultaneously and something like this could be done for the Baseline Report.

The issue on how critical it was to have the Baseline Document ready for peer review by early August was discussed. If the document were not needed then, it would be beneficial to allow the TC more time for review than three weeks. It was decided that a sixty-day review period for the TC would be more reasonable, the schedule will be revised accordingly. Dale noted that the EIS Team's need for baseline is different than the Program's baseline need.

Jay suggested that everyone look over the schedule and provide comments to Clayton or Jim Lutey by May 3.

Dale identified the need for the TC to start thinking about what specific activities are going to require funding (i.e., peer review, workshops, protocols). The TC will require a spending agreement and/or approved contracts for these expenditures. The approval process could take approximately 2 months.

Habitat Criteria

The issue of the allocation of purchased/leased habitat among the target species and the role of the Land Committee's (LC) Habitat Criteria scoring systems were discussed. The criteria that the LC is working on does not establish what lands will be purchased but rather how to judge land. It was also noted that the habitat criteria scoring systems is only a small part of Milestone L2-1 and several subcommittees are working on L2-1. The TC felt that it would be appropriate to offer assistance to the Habitat Criteria Subcommittee as the subcommittee continues to work on its L2-1 tasks.

EIS Team Needs

Dave Carlson briefly went over what Curt Brown's needs for the EIS. At the last meeting Sharon Whitmore had handed out a draft outline from Dave Carlson addressing what the EIS Team needs from the TC. Dave reported that he had received few comments and would like more comments by May 3, 1999. Dave will redraft the document and provide it to Dale by May 10. Clayton will distribute the drafts via email.

Adjourn for April 13 at 5:10 p.m.

Call to Order for April 14 at 8:15 a.m.

Relationship of R1-1, R2-1, and R3-1

A draft outline describing the goals and objectives for least terns was handed out. Sharon Whitmore started out leading the discussion.

The committee discussed Management Objective 1.1 and its Biological Response. The issue of defining "suitable habitat" was also discussed. A descriptive model may be used to define suitable habitat or the Tern and Plover Working Group may try to define "suitable habitat". The group also discussed Management Objectives 1.2 and 1.3. Some members of the Committee suggested that the wording of 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 should be changed to reflect acres, which is more directly related to what is in the Cooperative Agreement/Proposed. However, it was pointed out that determining the actual number of acres by species or the percent by species is difficult since the program is incentive based. Establishing acres would require a decision by the GC.

There was considerable discussion over Objective 1.3, which deals with flows. It was noted under Management Actions than Spring pulse flows greater than channel capacity will not be actively created by the Proposed Program. It may be necessary to build in objectives of the target flows.

There was considerable discussion regarding Management Goal 2 and Management Objective 2.1. The discussion centered on the fact that the terns are only in Nebraska for part of the year and other factors may be limiting the species survival. It was noted, however, that the ultimate goal of the Program is more birds and not just more water and habitat. It will be necessary to look at the number of birds to see if flows and habitat have any effect. It is necessary to define where the Cooperative Agreement/Program responsibility ends and what the FWS needs. The FWS needs are outlined in the Recovery Plan and state that the population will be at certain levels.

The Working Group and FWS noted that during the meeting on April 6 and 7 they ended before totally addressing Goal 2 and its objectives. They asked that the subgroup have a chance to fully address the Goal and resume the discussion at the next TC meeting.

Observation Sites

Jan McKee handed out maps and descriptions of the eight proposed observation sites along the Central Platte. Jan said that flows have not been low enough this spring for effective low level photography and the project may be done this fall. The EIS Team/Mapping group is also considering LIDAR instead of photography. Jan reported that sites are being established so that flows and sediment transport can be modeled and for possibly monitoring habitat. The desired outcome is a contour map with one-foot intervals. Jan would like comments by August 1, 1999.

Whooping Crane Model

Dale started the discussion by updating the TC about a GC conference call. During the call, Ralph Morgenweck had described what the FWS has in mind. Ralph indicated that the FWS is required to use the best information available in any biological opinion and there has been several crane sightings since the initial model was built. The first model was built using 21-24 crane observations and there are now 65-70 observations. The Midcontinent Ecological Science Center (MESC) is currently in the process of evaluating the existing model and is planning to update the model with new crane observations. During the conference call the issue of changing target flows was brought up. FWS stated that, based on the new information, it does not believe there would be significant changes in the model, and at this time, FWS does not believe the updated model will indicate a need to change the target flows. FWS stated that it is not their intent to change target flows.

Jim Lutey noted that it is the FWS's intent to have the model peer reviewed and the review will be scheduled after the Science Center does its own review. The TC may be involved at some level. Jim circulated the Draft Scope of Work for MESC and asked that comments be provided to Dave Carlson by May 1, 1999. The update is scheduled for completion by October 1, 1999.

The FWS was asked if the initial model's hydraulics components would be used or if new ones would be used. The Service indicated that they were only updating the habitat suitability portion. The Service was also asked if any other kind of model was being considered. The Service indicated that at this point it appears the current model will be updated. Some in the group felt that it might be appropriate to consider other kinds of models.

Upcoming Meetings

The FWS and Tern and Plover Working Group are planning their next meeting for April 29 and 30 in Kearney, Nebraska.

The May TC meeting will be May 17th and 18th at CNPPID's Eagle View Center, Ogallala, Nebraska. The meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. on the 17th and run until noon on the 18th.

The June TC meeting is planned for June 28 and 29 at a site to be determined.

There is no July meeting planned. The August TC meeting will be August 4 and 5 at a site to be determined.

Attendance

April 13, 1999

Name Representing

Mark Czaplewski Central Platte NRD
Jeff Lucas Tri-Basin NRD
im Lutey USFWS, Denver
im Doyle Nebraska Water Users
David Felley USFWS, Cheyenne
Sharon Whitmore USFWS, Grand Island
Jon Wade WY Water Development Comm
Kevin Urie Denver Water, CO Water Users
Jan McKee USFWS, Denver
John Nickum USFWS, Denver
Mark Peyton CNPPID
Jim Jenniges NPPD
Dale Strickland Executive Director
Clayton Derby Executive Director
Dave Carlson USFWS, Grand Island
Jay Maher CNPPID
Gene Zuerlein NGPC, Lincoln
Martha Tacha USFWS, Grand Island

April 14, 1999

Name Representing

Mark Czaplewski Central Platte NRD
Jeff Lucas Tri-Basin NRD
Jim Lutey USFWS, Denver
Jim Doyle Nebraska Water Users
David Felley USFWS, Cheyenne
Sharon Whitmore USFWS, Grand Island
Jon Wade WY Water Development Comm
Kevin Urie Denver Water, CO Water Users
Jan McKee USFWS, Denver
John Nickum USFWS, Denver
Mark Peyton CNPPID
Jim Jenniges NPPD
Dale Strickland Executive Director
Clayton Derby Executive Director
Dave Carlson USFWS, Grand Island
Jay Maher CNPPID
Gene Zuerlein NGPC, Lincoln
Martha Tacha USFWS, Grand Island
Bob Swanson USGS, WRD