Final Minutes
Water Management Committee Meeting
Cheyenne WY
The Water Management Committee meeting (WMC) began at 1:10 p.m. in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The minutes of the April 25, 2000, WMC meeting were approved. An agenda item was added for the discussion of Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District's (Central) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license Article 402 regarding the estimate of net controllable conserved water.
Following review of the agenda, the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) Study Manager, Curt Brown, introduced Lee Rozaklis of Hydrosphere Resource Consultants. Mr. Rozaklis gave a presentation on the South Platte EIS Model that was developed under contract with the EIS Office. The model was described as reconnaissance in nature and continues to be refined. The model has been developed in the Microsoft Excel 97 spreadsheet software. Mr. Rozaklis' presentation included discussion of the modeling requirements, modeling approach, historical baseline development, adjusted baseline, and initial analysis of alternatives. During the presentation, data differences between Hydrosphere and WMC gain data were identified.
The EIS Manager identified the model has not been externally reviewed and offered to provide the model and sample input and output for review. The WMC will not officially review the model. However, individual WMC members were encouraged to review and offer comments on the model, if desired. Those individuals interested in reviewing the model are to contact the EIS Manager directly for the review materials and provide any comments directly to him. If the resulting individual review process identifies items to be brought before the WMC for discussion, the WMC Chair should be notified.
Milestone W13-3 was discussed next. Jon Altenhofen provided a handout that summarized potential flow accounting points on the South Platte River that could be used to summarize the detailed States' accounting. The creation of a simplified sheet that summarized key accounting points from the States' accounting systems was discussed. The WMC also discussed the need to review the States' accounting systems. Colorado expressed an interest in reviewing the loss factors being developed by Nebraska for the accounting on the South Platte River below the Colorado/Nebraska Stateline. It was decided that a presentation by Nebraska on their accounting for the South Platte River would satisfy the need for review. The WMC Chair will follow up with Ann Bleed regarding when Nebraska's South Platte River accounting will be completed and establish the date for the presentation to the WMC.
The future role of a Water Management Committee under the Program was discussed. A subgroup was formed and tasked with the development of a list of potential duties/responsibilities a Program WMC will perform for a Governance Committee during the Program. Mark Butler will serve as the lead for the subgroup with the members as shown below.
Jon Altenhofen - Colorado
Dick Stenzel - Colorado
Frank Kwapnioski - Nebraska
Mike Drain - NebraskaBecky Mathisen - Wyoming
The subgroup will create a rough draft list of duties/tasks that a water committee may be responsible for during the Program. This draft list will be discussed at the June 27 WMC meeting. The creation of a summary accounting sheet will be one of the items on the list.
It was noted that Milestone P3-1 (water milestones for the first increment) has been distributed to the Governance Committee by the Executive Director for review. Members of the WMC were encouraged to review the water milestones for the first increment document and provide their comments through their respective Governance Committee members.
Mike Drain discussed with the WMC the FERC license Article 402 requirement to allow the Governance Committee 30 days to review their estimate of net controllable net conserved water. The estimate is to be submitted to FERC by July 28, 2000. Central anticipates the Governance Committee will assign the technical review of the estimate to the WMC and will recommend this to the Governance Committee at their May 25 meeting. If approved, Central will mail the estimate of net controllable conserved water report directly to the WMC members with a cover letter directing the comments to be sent to the WMC Chair. The WMC Chair will provide the comments directly to Central. The WMC Chair will work with Mr. Drain to draft the cover letter. It is anticipated the estimate of net controllable conserved water report will be distributed the first part of June.
The need to hold monthly WMC meetings was discussed. It was decided the WMC would schedule their meetings to coincide with the Governance Committee meetings, with the need to hold a scheduled meeting evaluated at the preceding meeting.
Future WMC meetings are scheduled for June 27, August 1, and September 12, starting at 1:00 p.m. MDT. The June 27 meeting will be held in Ogallala, Nebraska, at the Ramada Inn. The August 1 meeting will be held in Colorado and the September 12 meeting will be held in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
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