Final Minutes
Water Management Committee Meeting
Denver CO
The Water Management Committee (WMC) meeting began at 9:15 a.m. in Denver, Colorado. The minutes of the May 15, 2001, WMC meeting were approved.
The WMC Chair reviewed with the WMC the portions of the extension milestones that are to be completed by September 1, 2001, that provide the necessary information for the development of the draft biological assessment and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Depletions Plan Subgroup Chair, Mark Butler, has drafted a flow chart outlining a potential process for federal-nexus Platte River Section 7 consultations to address the May 1 milestones identified in W1-EXT, W2-EXT, and W4-EXT regarding the projects covered and the potential effects of the States' Future Depletions Plans on the annual pulse flows. The May 1 milestone identified in W6-EXT regarding daily operating criteria for Tamarack Phase I was identified as needing further discussion and was added to the agenda.
The WMC Chair asked if information associated with the September 1 milestones identified in extension milestones W7-EXT (mechanisms for Tamarack/Lake McConaughy Environmental Account exchange); W9-EXT (projects covered and the potential effects of the U.S. Forest Service Lands depletions plan on the annual pulse flows); and W10-EXT (activities covered and potential effects of the federal depletions plan on the annual pulse flows) would be available for review and discussion at the WMC workshop scheduled for August 21, 2001. It was identified that information regarding these milestones would be available, confirming the need for the workshop.
Prior to discussing the flow chart, it was identified that the Depletions Plan Subgroup had not met to discuss the draft flow chart prior to the WMC meeting. Mike Drain expressed concern that it was premature for the WMC to discuss the flow chart. Discussion followed regarding whether the WMC would make a recommendation to the Governance Committee and what the role of the WMC was, as stated in the milestone W12-EXT to review products submitted in accordance with the water milestones and assist in resolving issues raised.
The Chair asked Mr. Butler to lead the discussion on his draft flow chart. Since storage projects have been identified as having the potential to effect annual pulse flows and storage projects require a 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the process outlined by the flow chart focuses on the "federal-nexus" condition. The flow chart was discussed and revisions to the text in the flow chart were identified by the Depletions Plan Subgroup members present. Further the subgroup members present indicated that Mr. Butler should proceed with the development of the flow chart. Mr. Butler will incorporate the revisions identified and distribute the flow chart and supporting documentation to the subgroup with a copy to the WMC Chair. The WMC Chair will distribute to WMC. The WMC members were asked to provide any concerns/issues regarding the process to Mr. Butler or their respective Depletions Plan Subgroup member with a copy to the WMC Chair. If no issues are raised, the WMC Chair will report the product was reviewed and no issues raised.
Following a lunch break from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., the meeting continued with discussion of daily operating criteria for Tamarack Phase I. John Altenhofen identified that he is continuing work on the spreadsheet that accounts for the operation of Tamarack Phase I on a daily basis and is working to complete the spreadsheet by September 1. Gain/Loss values for the South Platte River in Nebraska are needed and Mr. Altenhofen will work with Ann Bleed to obtain the available gain/loss information. Mr. Altenhofen will provide the available information regarding the daily operating criteria to the WMC Chair for distribution to the WMC prior to the August 21 workshop. The Tamarack Phase I daily operating criteria will be a topic for discussion at the workshop. Mr. Altenhofen also anticipates the spreadsheet will illustrate how the Tamarack/Lake McConaughy Environmental Account exchange may function and facilitate discussion on that topic (W7-EXT).
Agenda items for the August 21 workshop will also include milestones W9-EXT (projects covered and the potential effects of the U.S. Forest Service Lands depletions plan on the annual pulse flows) and W10-EXT (activities covered and potential effects of the federal depletions plan on the annual pulse flows). Polly Hays indicated she will provide information to Mr. Butler regarding Forest Service Lands depletions plan in the next 30 days. Mr. Butler will develop concept level information framing the federal depletions plan and provide that information to the WMC Chair for distribution prior to the workshop. Due to the amount of items to be discussed at the August 21 workshop, the meeting was scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. and end around 5:00 p.m.
Next the WMC discussed the data base needs for the monthly reporting format. Don Anderson and Mike Slifer provided input to the Executive Director's questionnaire regarding a data base management system. The WMC data base needs are primarily associated with the development of the monthly reporting format for access to tracking and accounting information. It was decided to delay further discussions regarding the monthly reporting format until the products submitted for September 1 milestones are reviewed, thereafter it will be top priority.
The WMC workshop to review information from milestones W7-EXT, W9-EXT, and W10-EXT with completion dates of September 1, 2001, will be held August 21, 2001, in Denver, Colorado. The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and end around 5 p.m. Mountain Time. The Executive Director will make arrangements for a meeting location.
The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.
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