Final Minutes
Water Management Committee Meeting
The Water Management Committee (WMC) meeting began at 9:15 a.m. in Lakewood, Colorado. Future WMC meetings were scheduled for March 15, 1999, at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, Nebraska, and April 20, 1999, (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the Barrett Building (4th floor conference room) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Corrections to the minutes of the January 5, 1999, WMC meeting were reviewed and the minutes were approved by the WMC.
After introductions, the Executive Director (Dale Strickland) called for additional items to be added to the agenda. The WMC Chair, John Lawson, was unable to attend the meeting and the Executive Director chaired the WMC meeting in his absence. Agenda items regarding information being prepared by the Outreach Committee and Nebraska's Depletions Plan were added by Becky Mathisen and Mike Drain, respectively.
The Flooding Subgroup Chair, Duane Woodward, reported to the WMC a proposed approach to analyze the ground water flooding problem in the Central Platte River valley that was formulated at the Subgroup's January 28, 1999, meeting. The approach is summarized in the February 2, 1999, draft Subgroup report entitled, "Problem: High Groundwater Flooding" provided by Mr. Woodward. The proposed approach identifies four basic areas for analysis: surface water stage, groundwater levels, groundwater recharge, and data collection to survey the extent of flooding.
The WMC discussed groundwater levels versus changes in river stage. It was noted that precipitation is another factor that causes increases in groundwater levels, and any relationship between river stage and groundwater levels should consider the influence of precipitation. The WMC discussed performing a preliminary analysis to evaluate the potential maximum increase in river stage that could be attributable to the target flows as a first step to establishing the upper bound of potential river stage levels. The flooding problems being experienced in the valley at this time are not due to the Program. The concern expressed by many individuals in the valley is: will the Program add to the existing high groundwater problem? The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Team will also need to address the flooding concern as part of the programmatic EIS for the Program.
The Flooding Subgroup was asked to incorporate into their proposed approach estimates of time and costs, resources that are available to perform the proposed analysis, and identify the questions that will be addressed by the proposed approach. The Subgroup was also asked to formulate a recommendation as to the next step for the flooding problem with regard to the level of detail for the analysis to be conducted and recommend who would be best suited to perform the analysis. The Subgroup's recommendation will be presented to the WMC at the next meeting (March 15).
Next, the WMC discussed the process to peer review the Boyle Team's draft Water Conservation/Supply Reconnaissance Study (Reconnaissance Study) report proposed by Mike Purcell. The proposed process identifies subjecting the draft Reconnaissance Study report simultaneously for three reviews. The reviews would by performed by an independent peer reviewer, Governance Committee, and Water Management Committee. It is anticipated that this parallel review process would require the least amount of time. The parallel process to peer review the draft Reconnaissance Study report was adopted by consensus of the WMC with the revisions discussed. Mr. Purcell will revise the document as discussed and provide the revised document to the WMC Chair. The WMC Chair will distribute the document to the WMC.
After a lunch break from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Blaine Dwyer of the Boyle Team provided a status for the Reconnaissance Study. Since the last WMC meeting, one meeting has been held in Colorado and one meeting has been held in Nebraska. Additional reference materials supporting the short list of alternatives has been collected and will be cited in the short list document. The revised short list will be provided to the WMC Chair the week of February 15, 1999. The WMC Chair will distribute the document to the WMC.
The Water Budget Spreadsheet (spreadsheet) developed by the Boyle Team that incorporates the information provided by the WMC has been tested and the test analysis provided to the WMC. The Boyle Team is satisfied the spreadsheet is functioning correctly and mass balance is maintained. Some members would like the opportunity to review the results of the test analysis in more detail and asked that additional output tables from the test analysis be provided. The output provided displays only the 20-year average annual values and does not present tables for the monthly values. The monthly values would show years in which no reductions to the target flows may have occurred due to dry conditions. Concern was also expressed regarding the potential for the test analysis to be misused. The test analysis was performed only for review of the functionality of the spreadsheet and constitutes only a hypothetical situation with regard to quantity and timing. The spreadsheet will be posted on Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District's (Central) File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site, so those wanting to explore it further can do so. The Spreadsheet is an appropriate tool for the comparative analysis of the alternatives associated with the Reconnaissance Study. Further, the Boyle Team will evaluate the alternatives based on the 19 reaches identified for the Water Budget Spreadsheet.
The agenda item regarding Nebraska's Depletion Plan was discussed with respect to the Reconnaissance Study. Nebraska is concerned that some alternatives identified by the Boyle Team may be identical to those Nebraska anticipates relying upon to offset future depletions as part of their depletions plan. This concern has also been expressed by Colorado and Wyoming. The Reconnaissance Study will examine all alternatives and will not be limited by the State's depletion plans. The potential of an alternative to be used for a depletion plan will be identified in Task 6 as a potential institutional constraint and resolved during formulation of the Action Plan.
The draft Work Plan and draft Schedule were discussed next. It was noted that the work item regarding the development of a database of new and expanded wells that are hydrologically connected is contingent upon Nebraska or Wyoming proposing a surrogate process for determining and preventing new water-related activities from increasing shortages to target flows that is accepted by the signatories to the Platte River Research Cooperative Agreement. No additional work items were added to the draft Work Plan. However, it was recognized that this document will be revised as necessary.
The agenda item regarding the Tracking and Accounting Procedures was discussed next. Prior to developing tracking and accounting procedures, the WMC anticipates holding a workshop to bring together the water administrators from each state to discuss current water administration within each state with regard to existing capabilities under current water laws. The Governance Committee will also be invited to attend the workshop. The WMC Chair will arrange the date and location of the workshop. It is anticipated the workshop will be held prior to the beginning of the irrigation season.
The WMC reviewed the language added to the monthly loss factors document regarding the use of the % divert factor for conditions when the irrigation demand may be fully satisfied. The WMC adopted the language regarding the % divert factor and the draft cover letters for the flow conditions, monthly loss factors, and hydrologically connected groundwater for the purposes of the Reconnaissance Study by consensus. The WMC will finalize the cover letters and provide the letters and associated documents to the Governance Committee. The WMC will receive only a copy of the finalized letters.
The Public Outreach agenda item was discussed. There is still a request for the WMC to hold a third party impacts listening session in Nebraska with regard to water. It was also suggested that WMC representation at the Land Committee meeting to address water-related questions would be appropriate.
Meetings to receive public input regarding the Boyle Team's short list of alternatives in each state were discussed. While it may not be necessary to have a professional facilitator at the meetings, the purpose and objectives of the meetings needs to be carefully planned to ensure a consistent message is given in each of the three states. Jon Altenhofen, Mike Purcell, and a representative from Nebraska to be appointed were asked to draft a document outlining the purpose and objectives for the short list meetings. Mr. Drain will provide the name of Nebraska's representative to the WMC Chair. Mr. Dwyer of Boyle will also participate as needed. It is anticipated that public meetings to gather input regarding the short list of alternatives could begin mid-March.
Becky Mathisen provided the WMC copies of outreach information with Questions and Answers the Outreach Committee is working to have completed for the upcoming Land Committee meeting. The WMC was asked review the information and offer any comments directly back to Ms. Mathisen.
Milestone W16-1 (Institutional Constraints) and Demonstration Projects were briefly discussed. To date, the WMC has not worked with the individual signatories to the Cooperative Agreement to identify institutional constraints or to develop plans to address the constraints under state law. The State of Nebraska has identified some demonstration projects that may be developed to test a Nebraska law for new water under the Program.
Handouts provided at the meeting will be distributed to the WMC with the draft minutes.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
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