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Final Minutes
Water Management Committee Meeting

March 20, 2001
Kearney, Nebraska

The Water Management Committee (WMC) meeting began at 1:30 p.m. in Kearney, Nebraska. The minutes of the March 1, 2001, WMC conference call were approved without revisions. The Executive Director, Dale Strickland, conducted the meeting as the WMC Chair was unable to attend, due to other work commitments. Mark Butler introduced Don Anderson to the WMC. Mr. Anderson is the new Platte River Hydrologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Skip Underwood introduced Polly Hays to the WMC. Ms. Hays is the Regional Hydrologist for the U.S. Forest Service and will be participating in the Cooperative Agreement meetings.

The Ground Water Subgroup Chair, Duane Woodward, discussed with the WMC the Ground Water and River Flow Analysis paper prepared by the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Team that the subgroup had been asked to review. The paper addressed concerns expressed regarding what increases in river stage, caused by higher flows, would do to ground water levels. Mr. Woodward has already provided the Subgroup's comments to the paper's author, Glen Sanders/EIS Team. It was identified that the Subgroup's comments addressed the concerns of the WMC. However, the WMC requested the opportunity to inspect the document before it is finalized, to ensure the comments were addressed satisfactorily. Mr. Butler will follow up with Curt Brown on the process for the WMC to review addressing of the comments. The WMC also identified the need to prepare a summary of the paper's findings in a readily understandable format for consumption by the public. It was suggested that such information could be included in the Land Committee's newsletter.

Next, the WMC discussed Dan Luecke's request for a workshop on the status of the three states' future depletion plans and on the relationship between pulse flows and elements of the water component of the Cooperative Agreement. Topics for the workshop were identified as status of the states' depletions plans, projects covered by the states' plans, the states' plans effects on pulse flows, relationship between pulse flows and the currently formulated water action plan, and Tamarack Phase I daily operating criteria. It was decided to limit the topics to those associated with the completion of the May 1 milestones.

The workshop was scheduled for April 25 at the Denver Water Administration Building 3rd floor conference in Denver, Colorado. The workshop will start 8 a.m. Mountain Time. Topics for the workshop are identified below.

1. Status of States' New Depletions Plans by the States

  • Projects Covered by the States' Plans (Milestones W1-EXT, W2-EXT, W4-EXT)
  • States' Plans Effects on Pulse Flows by Fish and Wildlife Service

2. Tamarack Phase I Daily Operating Criteria by Colorado (Milestone W6-EXT)

The workshop will address Mr. Luecke's request as well as the WMC's review requirements under Milestone W12-EXT due May 1. During the discussion of the workshop, a question was raised regarding if the current practice for small depletions/de minimis uses would continue under a Program. This topic was identified as needing further discussion.

A draft schedule prepared by the WMC Chair was distributed and discussed. The schedule shows potential WMC tasks as related to the water milestones for the extension period. It was identified the expanded south Platte River accounting (Milestone W5-EXT) and expanded central Platte River accounting for Nebraska is needed before June 30, 2002 (date specified in the milestone). Ann Bleed anticipates this accounting will be available in provisional form on September 1, 2001.

Milestones W7-EXT, W9-EXT, and W10-EXT identify work products to be completed by September 1 that will be reviewed by the WMC pursuant to milestone W12-EXT. The WMC will use the workshop approach to facilitate the review of the products. The workshop will be held August 21, 2001, in Denver, Colorado (Time & Place to be arranged). Anticipated topics for the August 21 workshop follow.

The WMC also identified the need to stagger the reviews of the New Depletions Plans that are scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2002 (W1-EXT, W2-EXT, W3-EXT, and W11-EXT). The concept of staggering and reviewing the plans after July 1, 2002, will be identified to the Governance Committee.

Other potential items for assistance from the WMC were identified as channel stability review conducted by the states and testing of the assumption regarding the pallid sturgeon. These items will be added to the schedule.

Future meetings for the WMC will be held April 25, May 15, and August 21. The April 25 workshop will be held in Denver, Colorado, at the Denver Water Administration Building in the 3rd floor conference room from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time. The May 15 meeting will be held in Colorado, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time (place to be arranged). The August 21 workshop will be held in Denver, Colorado (time and place to be arranged)

The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

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