Final Minutes
Water Management Committee Meeting
The Water Management Committee meeting (WMC) began at 1:25 p.m. in Sterling, Colorado. The minutes of the March 21, 2000, WMC meeting were approved.
The tracking and accounting procedures were discussed first. The tracking/accounting documents prepared by each of the States for the potential projects have been incorporated into the draft Water Action Plan (Revision No. 3). Future comments on the tracking/accounting documents, if any, will be handled through the Water Action Plan development process. The WMC considers its efforts in the development of tracking and accounting procedures completed.
The Water Milestones contained in the Cooperative Agreement were discussed with respect to the remaining tasks for the WMC. The WMC has completed their tasks associated with Milestones W1-1, W1-2, and W1-3. The WMC will continue to consider potential demonstration projects until a program is initiated.
The Cooperative Agreement (Appendix C, Section III. D. 4., Page 3) identifies the establishment of a Water Management Committee for the Recovery Program. The role of this "Program" WMC was discussed. The concept of developing a "transition" document that outlines the structure and responsibilities of a Program WMC was discussed. The WMC Chair asked for input from the WMC regarding what they believe the future role of a Program WMC will be. The role of a Program WMC will be included as an agenda item for the next meeting.
Milestone P3-1, associated with the establishment of milestones for the first increment, was discussed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in a document dated October 5, 1998, recommend "Milestones for First Increment of Proposed Platte River Recovery Implementation Program" to the Governance Committee. The question of whether the WMC should review the water milestones contained in the Service's document was raised. The Executive Director will ask for direction from the Governance Committee at their next meeting.
Milestones W14-1, W11-2, and W11-3 were discussed. Further development of tracking and accounting procedures are envisioned to be handled through the States. It was recognized that during the first increment of the Program, changes to the States' tracking and accounting may be required. Such changes could be handled individually between the States, with potential problems brought to the Governance Committee and/or reviewed by the WMC, if needed.
Milestones W12-3 and W13-3 were discussed. The peer review of the depletion impact analysis and water monitoring measures identified under W13-3 was the focus of the discussion. The WMC believes the peer review of the depletion impact analysis can be satisfied by an administrative review of the States' Depletion Plans by the WMC. The monitoring measures product is to be created and would need administrative review was questioned. Jon Altenhofen offered to articulate in writing what he envisioned as the product to be reviewed is. An agenda item for the next meeting will be further discussion of this topic. It was agreed the peer review identified in W13-3 could be satisfied through an administrative review by the WMC.
The budget for the WMC was reviewed. The Finance Committee has approved the WMC budget. The $30,000 (three meetings at $10,000 each) for facilitated public meetings regarding the draft Water Action Plan will remain in the WMC's budget. If the Water Action Plan Committee (WAPC) determines these funds are needed, the WAPC will work through the Executive Director to seek authorization from the Finance Committee for the expenditure of the funds.
Mike Drain announced that Parsons Engineering will complete the estimate of net controllable conserved water in May and Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District (Central) is required by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license article 402 to allow the Governance Committee to review and comment on the estimate of net controllable conserved water. Mr. Drain anticipates asking the Governance Committee at their May meeting to direct the WMC to review and provide comments on the estimate of net controllable conserved water. Mr. Drain also indicated the date to provide information regarding data access to be included on Central's website has been extended past May 1. To date, response has been limited. Please provide any information you want on the website to Mr. Drain as soon as possible.
HDR Engineering has completed a Mitigation Depletion Study Phase I report for Central and copies are available from Mr. Drain.
The WMC is interested in having a presentation on the South Platte Model that was developed for the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) Team. The WMC Chair ask the EIS Manager to arrange for a South Platte Model presentation for the May meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
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