www.platteriver.org
Platte
River Recovery Implementation Program
www.platteriver.org
11/15/07
The CPNRD board approved a request to become a member of the
Lower Platte River Water Users Coalition. The NRD will contribute an
initial membership fee of $4,000. The Coalition was established to oppose
the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s recently released Biological Opinion
(BO); which states that any changes to the Platte, Loup and Elkhorn rivers would
threaten piping plover, least tern and pallid sturgeon habitat. Ron Bishop
was named representative and Mark Czaplewski, biologist, was named alternate.
10/25/07
Mark
Czaplewski, biologist, reported that authorizing legislation for federal Program
funding was recently passed by the House of Representatives and now awaits
action by the Senate. A bill nearly
identical to the House bill is now awaiting mark-up by the Senate Environment
& Natural Resources Committee and, optimistically, will be moved out of
Committee within the next month; with legislation possibly passed by the end of
the year. Currently, the Program is being funded by existing Bureau of
Reclamation funds and with funds from the states of Colorado and Wyoming.
Czaplewski also reported that a panel has been
formed to begin the process of selecting the individuals to serve on the
Program’s Independent Science Advisory Committee (ISAC).
The panel will return a recommendation on ISAC membership to the
Governance Committee for their review and approval.
The ISAC will provide an independent scientific review of Program
components, a key part of the Program’s adaptive management process.
8/23/07
Mark
Czaplewski, biologist, reported that Dr. Jerry Kenny is the executive director
for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, replacing Dale Strickland
who resigned. Dr. Kenny has set up
an office in Kearney and has started to put together his Program staff. Federal legislation to authorize funds for the Program were
introduced in the Senate & House and continue to move slowly through
channels there with legislation possibly passing by the end of this year.
Currently, the Program is being funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and
with some funds from the states of Colorado and Wyoming.
The Governance Water &
Technical Advisory committees and the Adaptive Management Work Group have been
active. The Land Advisory Committee
including Scott Woodman, Mark Czaplewski, and Dan Ohlman (alternate) will meet
this fall. Right now federal funds aren’t available for land
acquisition or maintenance use, so most land activities are on hold. The Governance Committee is contracting with the Nebraska
Community Foundation (NCF) to act as their Financial Management Entity and may
also act as the Land Interest Holding Entity for the Program.
4/26/07 Mark Czaplewski, biologist, reported that the Program Governance Committee met in Kearney in April and meets next May 1-2 in Denver. He said the Governance Committee has focused on developing an initial 2007 budget, establishment of advisory committees, the search for a new Executive Director, and promoting federal funding legislation. Regarding the hiring of the new Program Executive Director, over 50 applicants were pared down to five finalists who will be interviewed on May 1. A selection is expected soon afterwards. The finalists are: Dr. Jerry Kenny; Paul Tebbel; Marlan Ferguson; Fred Ore; and Gary Karst of Littleton, CO. Hearings on House and Senate bills for federal Program funding authorizations are currently being held.
1/25/07 Mark Czaplewski, biologist, reported that the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program officially started on January 1, 2007. The Program Governance Committee will meet for the first time on February 7th in Denver. Main orders of business include the establishment of Advisory Committees (Land, Water and Technical Committees), the search for a new Executive Director, 2007 budgets and promoting federal funding legislation. The board selected Mark Czaplewski as CPNRD representative, Dan Ohlman as alternate and Scott Woodman as representative for CPNRD & Tri-Basin NRD on the Land Advisory Committee.
12/21/06 Ron Bishop reported that there have been recent discussions by several Platte Basin NRDs with the Governor and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on offsets for 2000-2005 as required by the new depletion plan for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. Bishop said they discussed with the Governor how the Plan itself stated that the State would be responsible for offsetting adverse depletions caused by new and expanded uses between July 1, 1997 and December 31, 2005. The group offered to come back in two to three months with a proposal on how the responsibilities for the Platte River Habitat Program and LB 962 offsets could be met.
11/16/06 Ron Bishop, general manager, distributed a letter to the CPNRD board from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Bishop said he and Kent Miller, Twin Platte NRD manager, had inquired about the State’s commitment to provide offsets required by the “New Depletion Plan” for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. The Plan itself stated that the State would be responsible for offsetting adverse depletions caused by new and expanded uses between July 1, 1997 and December 31, 2005. A letter written on October 24, 2006 by the DNR states: “From this point forward we believe that the NRDs will play a larger role than the Department as decisions are made about (1) how (or whether) to fund the new depletions plan if a PRRIP is initiated; (2) what should happen to the PRRIP if the plan is not funded by the State; and (3) how to fund implementation of LB 962 with or without the PRRIP….we’ll all have to sit down together with the Governor and develop a plan to carry out our respective responsibilities to meet the requirements of the Platte River Program and LB 962.” On a another note Mark Czaplewski, biologist, reported that the Governance Committee has approved a budget of $2.7 million for 2007. The Board also approved a motion to have Ron Bishop and Carroll Sheldon contact attorney Karen Budd-Falen of Wyoming to discuss the possibility of getting the whooping crane de-listed as an Endangered Species.
PLATTE RIVER RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM: ECONOMIC IMPACTS TO THE STATE OF NEBRASKA (Oct. 26, 2006)
Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD)
Manager Ron Bishop announced today that ground water users and the state of
Nebraska will pay $261,000,000 to provide $247,000,000 in direct benefits to
surface water uses so they can continue to take water directly from the Platte
River under a proposed state program. Bishop explained that these impacts were
only for the first 13-year increment of the proposed program and the total
program costs could exceed $700,000,000 in subsequent increments.
There is an overall disconnect between those benefiting and those paying
the costs, especially in the second increment of the Program.
The announcement came after the CPNRD Board of
Directors received an analysis of the economic impacts to the state of Nebraska
regarding the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (Program), prepared
for the Cooperative Agreement. The
Program was developed as a way to help surface water users continue to take
water directly from the Platte River without violating the federal Endangered
Species Act.
To accomplish its goal, the Program, in addition to
other measures, calls for restricting the use of ground water that is
hydrologically connected to the Platte River.
The CPNRD Board of Directors was concerned about the economic
consequences of the Program and last summer urged State officials to commission
a study to allow for an informed decision-making process. At that time, the
Board didn’t know whether the results would support the Board’s position to
oppose the Governor signing the Program or not. Bishop explained, “The Program is a proposed, voluntary
state plan. Because it is a
state plan, our Board thought the State should take the lead to analyze its
impacts. When the State failed to
do so, our Board commissioned the work. We
were pleased, however, that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials
provided input to the analysis.” Highlights
of the analysis include:
BENEFICIARIES-
The primary beneficiaries of the Program are those water users who divert
directly from the Platte River, including the Panhandle irrigation districts,
Central Platte Public Power & Irrigation District and NPPD.
Those water users can expect beneficial impacts from the Program of
approximately $247,000,000 over the course of the first increment of the Program
(13 years). Much of those benefits
come in the form of direct cost-savings to the irrigation and power districts by
avoiding endangered species act consultations.
NEGATIVE
IMPACTS-
Ground water users will suffer the greatest negative consequences arising from
the Program. To provide benefits to
the surface water users, negative impacts to the state and to ground water users
resulting from the Program will total $261,000,000 by the year 2020. The costs are directly associated with offsetting any
post-1997 depletions to Platte River flows.
IMPACT
IF NOT SIGNED-
If LB 962 is implemented, then it
appears that the economic consequences of not signing would be far greater than
that of signing for the first increment of the Program. Negative impacts to the state and to ground water users if
the Program is not entered but LB 962 is enforced, totals $173,000,000 over the
first 10 years. Additional economic
impacts may be incurred after that if further water use restrictions are imposed
as allowed under LB 962.
IMPACT
IF SIGNED-
If subsequent increments of the Program are implemented it appears that the
economic consequences of not signing would be far less than that of signing. If the Program is signed and later incorporates subsequent
increments, the economic impact to the State of Nebraska are estimated to be an
additional $296 million for a total of $557 million. The total economic impacts associated with the Program for
subsequent increments ranges from $470,000,000 to $730,000,000 by the year 2056
based upon existing Program objectives.
The analysis does not specify the amount of annual
state general funds needed by the DNR to implement the Program nor does it
specify the property tax implications for natural resources districts (NRDs).
DNR officials previously told the NRDs that it [DNR] would offset any
post-1997 depletions to Platte River flows, which is required by the Program.
Bishop concluded, “It is unfortunate Nebraska didn’t conduct this
analysis sooner but we were able to have a good work product completed in time
to help the Governor in his deliberations.
We’re sure he and the Legislature will find the document helpful.”
9/15/06 The Central Platte Natural Resources District’s board of directors voted unanimously to strongly oppose the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. The Board also voted to direct Ron Bishop, general manager, to develop testimony for the public meeting in Grand Island and Lincoln recommending Governor Heineman not to sign the proposed Program. On September 1, 2006, the Board sent a letter to the Governor recommending that a cost/benefit analysis be completed before signing an agreement.
8/24/06
Don Blankenau, attorney, provided his recommendations
concerning the signing of the proposed Platte River Recovery Program to the
committee. Blankenau also provided
an analysis of Endangered Species Act exposure without the Cooperative
Agreement. The board approved a
motion to have Blankenau draft a letter detailing the concerns that the Central
Platte NRD has with the proposed Recovery Program and to send it to the Governor
and members of the Unicameral.
Dr. Charles Lamphear, professor emeritus at UNL and
former director of UNL's Bureau of Business Research, presented his summary of
the Department of Interior's Ag Economic Evaluation that was developed as part
of the Environmental Impact Statement. Lamphear
concluded that the adequacy and the methods used for the third party impact
analysis appeared appropriate but questioned some of the assumptions made, such
as the number of irrigated acres required.
The
State of Nebraska has scheduled meetings to gather public input on the proposed
Platte River Program in Gering (September 6), Grand Island (September 22), and
Lincoln (October 10). The Cooperative Agreement is set to expire on October 1,
2006. The three basin state
governors and the Secretary of the Interior are considering another extension of
the CA, to December 31, 2006. The
issue was discussed and tabled at the August Governance Committee meeting and
will be re-addressed at their mid-September meeting.
The Governance Committee has begun the search for a new Executive
Director. Dale Strickland of WEST,
Inc. has filled that role during the term of the CA, but is not interested in
holding that position during a Program, if it is approved.
7/3/06 Mark Czaplewski, biologist, gave a summary of the principles and positions relating to the continuation of the Platte River Cooperative Agreement and the adoption of a proposed Program. The Board adopted the principles in July of 2000 and Czaplewski gave an update on each principle. The committee received a schedule of the public hearings for the Platte River CA to be held Sept. 6 in Gering, Sept. 22 in Grand Island and Oct. 10 in Lincoln. Board members were concerned that the Central Platte NRD was not listed as an interested party to give remarks on the draft agenda and Ron Bishop said he would see if the NRD could be added. The board requested that Don Blankenou, attorney, attend the August Water Resources Committee meeting to discuss the CA; and also that staff hire an economist to develop a summary of third party impacts if the Program is approved.
5/25/06
Mark Czaplewski, biologist, gave an update on the Platte River
Cooperative Agreement. Czaplewski
said that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is out but the NRD has
not yet received it. The FEIS’s
bottom line is that the Department of the Interior supports the “Governance
Committee Alternative” (the negotiated Program) as the preferred alternative.
The Program’s price tag is listed as $317 million, for a 13-year
increment. While the FEIS documents
benefits to the target species, those benefits are offset to some degree by
adverse impacts, leaving a net benefit, but a limited one.
The Program as laid out is far more performance-based and more expensive
than was envisioned during Cooperative Agreement negotiations.
Czaplewski said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Biological Opinion
(BO) is scheduled for release in early June.
The Secretary of the Interior is expected to issue a federal Record of
Decision (ROD) in a month or so. Then the three basin state governors will begin
to make their decisions.
He said apparently Colorado and Wyoming have retained a
lobbyist to help with federal funding authorization.
Authorization for federal funding is being drafted and might be
introduced soon, possibly by the end of June on the Senate side of Congress. Public meetings on the proposed Program might take place in
Nebraska as early as this July. There
may be two meetings (North Platte and Grand Island). Czaplewski said the State of Nebraska continues to work on
estimates of the cost of offsetting depletions caused by new water uses that
have occurred since the Cooperative Agreement was signed.
These offsets could run into tens of millions of dollars.
ESA Letter- The Board approved a letter of
support for ESA reform to be sent to Senator Ben Nelson.
The letter specifically requested his support of the TESRA that was
passed by the House of Representatives.
3/23/06
Mark Czaplewski, biologist, reported on the proposed Platte River
Program. Czaplewski said the U.S. Department of the Interior would release the
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Platte River Recovery
Program in March. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service will issue their Biological Opinion in late April or early May.
The two documents will lay out the federal position on the proposed
Program negotiated with Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming.
Czaplewski
said the State of Nebraska is working to better estimate the cost of offsetting
depletions caused by new and expanded water uses that have occurred since July
1997 when the Cooperative Agreement was signed, however, the process won't be
completed until Summer.
The state is planning a series of public information meetings in the fall
to gather input for consideration by the Governor about whether the state should
sign onto the proposed Program. Congressional delegations from each of the basin
states are being briefed on the proposed Program and sponsors for authorization
legislation and funding are being sought.
Senator Allard, Colorado, may introduce legislation on the Senate side in
April.
On the House side, Congresswoman Cubin, Wyoming may sponsor legislation.
12/20/05
Mark
Czaplewski, biologist, reported that negotiation of the proposed Program has
been completed except for the adaptive management plan and that work on that
plan will continue right up to Program initiation. He also reported that
recent delays include the Final EIS and Biological Opinion until March or April
and the federal Record of Decision until April or May. Czaplewski said it
isn’t certain what impact these latest delays will have on Congressional
action to authorize federal funding for the Program, but it appears that the
states will make their final decisions on participation this coming summer.
The
Department of the Interior made a significant statement earlier this month
agreeing to credit the states collectively for $120 million in Program value for
the three state water projects (Lake McConaughy EA, Pathfinder EA, and
Tamarack). Czaplewski said when added to the value of the land to be
contributed by Nebraska and Wyoming ($10 million) and of the cash contributions
by Colorado ($24 million) and Wyoming ($6 million), the three states’
contributions to the Program would equal $160 million; which is more than enough
to provide the 50-50 match for the estimated $157 million cash contribution from
the federal government. The environmental representatives on the
Governance Committee (GC) are still not sure they are willing to accept this
valuation, but we should find out before long.
Assuming the values remain as currently planned, the total Program budget
for cash and cash equivalents totals $317 million.
According to the current budget, Nebraska would not be required to make
any cash contribution to the Program. Nebraska would bear a significant
cost of implementing our new depletion plan.
The
Downstream Water Users have selected four representatives to the Governance
Committee who will share one vote. The
representatives include one from NPPD, one from CNPPID, and two from the Platte
Basin NRD’s (South Platte NRD, North Platte NRD, Twin Platte NRD, Tri-Basin
NRD and Central Platte NRD). An
Advisory Committee will also be formed to provide input to the representatives,
consisting of a representative from agricultural groups, water user groups,
municipalities and surface water irrigation districts.
10/28/05
Mark
Czaplewski, biologist, reported that on October 13,
U.S. District Judge Lyle Strom ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service wrongly declared several Nebraska rivers as critical habitat for the
threatened piping plover. In 2002,
the Service designated critical habitat for the bird, on parts of four rivers in
Nebraska, as well as areas in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
In Nebraska, the Service designated a total of 440 river miles, including
the Platte River from Lexington to the Missouri River and stretches of the Loup,
Niobrara and 120 river miles of the Missouri River adjacent to Nebraska.
The NHCC (CPNRD is a member) filed suit in federal District Court in
2003, arguing the critical habitat designation was not based on sound science,
was not done in accordance with the law and did not include an adequate economic
assessment.
Czaplewski said Judge Strom vacated the entire designation in Nebraska
and ordered the Service to re-designate critical habitat to include only areas
occupied by the piping plover. Strom agreed with the Coalition that the impact
analysis conducted was inadequate. The
Service failed to weigh the economic and other impacts against the benefits of
the designation. The Service was
ordered to complete a proper assessment. The
judge also denied the Central Platte NRD filing to join the case as a “friend
of the court.” The Service has 60
days from the date of the ruling to appeal the decision to the 8th Circuit Court
of Appeals, but Czaplewski said they do not have to appeal.
Platte
River CA Czaplewski also reported on the proposed Platte River
Program. He said last month the
Governance Committee voted to extend the term of the CA until September 30,
2006. The governors and Secretary
of the Interior are expected to agree and formally approve the extension in
November. Without the extension the CA was set to end on December 31st.
The overall schedule now calls for the release of the Department of the
Interior’s Final Environmental Impact Statement in January of 2006, followed
by the issuance of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Biological Opinion and
Interior’s Record of Decision in February of 2006.
The schedule also calls for the introduction of legislation for federal
funding for the proposed Program this fall.
Congress would likely make a decision on that funding by next spring or
summer. Czaplewski said that
the approval of that funding is not a foregone conclusion.
The current estimated cost for the first
increment is $217 million (including both cash and in-kind contributions).
Czaplewski said that the $187 million in cash contributions is 2 ½ times
the original estimate of $75 million. The
states’ proposal on funding would have the federal government provide the
lion’s share of the cash contribution. Much
of Nebraska’s contribution would be credits for water projects such as the
environmental account in Lake McConaughy and land contributions such as NPPD’s
Cottonwood Ranch. He said if
federal officials don’t agree to the states’ plan, Program plans could be in
jeopardy. Czaplewski said the state’s review of the
proposed Program would start in earnest in early 2006.
The Nebraska legislature convenes for a 60-day session starting in early
January. Nebraska’s
evaluation will include input gathered at a series of public meetings planned
for this winter and next spring and the recommendations of the Governor’s
Platte River Advisory Council. If
funded and approved, a Program could start next October.
Endangered Species Act Ron Bishop reported that the House of Representatives has
passed a reauthorization bill, which many believe to be a positive change.
The Senate is currently reviewing the bill.
Bishop reported that the National Water Resources Association (NWRA) and
the National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition (NESARC) are currently
requesting letters in support of improving and updating the ESA.
The Board requested staff to draft a letter in support of changes.
8/30/05
Mark
Czaplewski, biologist, reported on the proposed habitat program. Czaplewski said the negotiating team of the Governance Committee
recently addressed scheduling issues including the expiration term of the
Cooperative Agreement on December 31, 2005.
The Governance Committee will consider an extension of that deadline to
possibly October 2006. Such a time
extension would allow for certain CA activities to proceed, including the
issuance of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed
Program, the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Biological Opinion, the federal
Record of Decision and consideration by the states.
The overall CA schedule will likely be adjusted back a couple of months,
with issuance of a Final EIS moving to December, and a Biological Opinion and
Record of Decision issued early in 2006.
The
state’s review will also start in early 2006 as the Nebraska’s legislature
convenes for a 60-day session starting in early January. If the governors and
Department of the Interior approve the Program (and with funding in place) a
Program could start in October of 2006.
The
Governance Committee is coming down to the wire with negotiation and production
of the Program document, which lays out the details of a Program.
The Program document would be printed this fall, although adjustments
could still be made to the Program after it’s printed.
04/29/05
Mark
Czaplewski, biologist, reported that the Governance Committee has formed an
Adaptive Management Workgroup that is charged with fleshing out the proposed
Program’s Adaptive Management Plan. The
Plan will lay out how the
2/24/05
Over the last few months the
Governance Committee Negotiating Team has been meeting to try to hammer out the
remaining proposed Program issues. The
goal is to have these issues resolved by March 1st.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) needs to have these pieces of
the puzzle resolved if they are to keep on schedule with their production of the
Biological Opinion. Some of the
more contentious issues remaining are Program adaptive management, the choke
point issue on the North Platte River, pallid sturgeon concerns on the lower
Platte, state depletion plans and fair share.
The Governance Committee has retained several outside
adaptive management experts to help them sort out how to handle using what’s
learned in Program monitoring and research efforts to try to refine how water
and land management activities to be more effective. Adaptive management workshops were held in January and
February in Denver. The Governance Committee is exploring the possibility
of establishing Program incentives. Nothing
is set in stone, but they are considering finding ways to get Program land and
water objectives accomplished quicker by adding such incentives as extending the
time period of the first Program Increment from 13 years to 14 or 15 years.
Pallid sturgeon seem to be taking on an
increasing role in Program goals. The
Governance Committee is considering adding activities related to pallid sturgeon
into the Cooperative Agreement timeframe. The
USFWS preliminary opinion is that the Program, as currently conceived, may
result in jeopardy to pallid sturgeon in the lower Platte River. The overall schedule calls for the issuance of a
federal Final Environmental Impact Statement in August of 2005, a Biological
Opinion in October and a Record of Decision by the Department of the Interior by
this December. If a plan gets
the blessing of the three States, and with funding in place, a Program could
start in October of 2006.
9/23/04
Mark Czaplewski,
biologist, reported on the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for the
proposed program. Comments on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Platte River Recovery
Implementation Program were submitted by NRD staff this month and focused on
several issues and concerns including:
1) the fact that the DEIS is a major departure from the basic understandings of
the Cooperative Agreement,
2) the fact that key components of the Governance Committee alternative are
incomplete,
3) all alternatives evaluated in the DEIS fail to pass DOI muster,
4) the fact that the DOI believes none of the alternatives provide significant
benefits for the target species,
5) the analysis used in the DEIS needs updating and lacks scientific support,
particularly their SED/VEG model which is the heart of their analysis. Numerous
specific comments were also submitted. Copies
were made available to the Board. Czaplewski
said the DOI is currently scheduled to issue a Final EIS in August of 2005.
8/26/04
A motion was
approved to enter into a cooperative agreement with the DNR to allow the Central
Platte NRD to receive $189,000 in cost share funds to complete the required
Integrated Management Plan. Other
reports included:
Czaplewski
also reported that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continues to work on their
Draft Biological Opinion (DBO) on the merits of a Platte River Program, but the
timing of its public release is uncertain.
The Service briefed the Governance Committee at an August meeting, where
several major issues remain unresolved. The
Governance Committee is trying to finish off their development of the proposed
Program. Separate sections of the Program document will be finished, as issues
are resolved. As the months go on,
the Governance Committee will address other sections with a plan to have the
entire document done by Spring 2005.
4/23/04 Mark Czaplewski, biologist, gave a status report on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement. He said that the National Academy of Sciences report that evaluates the science behind the proposed Platte River Program is currently planned for release in late April. The delay in its release has resulted in the extension of the comment period on the Program’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) now set to end on June 2, 2004. Czaplewski said that the Department of the Interior is likely to further extend that comment period. He also reported that Central Platte NRD staff continues to work to draft comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The NRD is working jointly with the Downstream Water Users to retain the help of outside experts including Dr. Gary Lewis, who is helping review geomorphic and sediment transport components of the DEIS. Czaplewski said the NRD is also assessing the need for expert help to review hydrologic and vegetation modeling components of the DEIS as well as least tern and piping plover issues.
3/25/04
Mark Czaplewski, biologist, reported at the March NRD Board meeting that the
Department of Interior extended the comment period on the recently released
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Platte River
Recovery Implementation Program from April 2 to June 2, 2004; and may extend it
even further pending the release of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
report evaluating the science behind component parts of the proposed Platte
River Program. The NAS report may
be available by mid-April. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service plans on releasing their
Draft Biological Opinion (BO) after their review of the NAS report. The Draft BO
will provide the Service’s determination on whether the proposed Platte River
Program complies with the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Czaplewski said if the NAS report and Draft BO come to the same
conclusions, the Draft BO could be available about 30 days later.
If they are significantly different, then the BO will undergo a more
lengthy revision. The Department of
the Interior are planning public meetings to discuss these documents after the
NAS report and Draft BO are issued, possibly late May or early June.
Czaplewski said Central
Platte NRD continues to develop comments on key issues.
To date, the NRD has retained Dr. Gary Lewis who is helping review
geomorphic and sediment transport components of the DEIS and assessing the
possible need for expert help to review hydrologic and vegetation components of
the DEIS. Other DEIS issues to be addressed will include Program compliance with
the ESA, the surface water hydrologic component, funding and Program cost,
departures from the original Cooperative Agreement goals and objectives, and
lack of a preferred alternative.
2/25/04
Mark Czaplewski, biologist,
gave a status report on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement at the February
board of directors meeting. He
reported that the Department of the Interior released their Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program on
January 26th. The current public
comment period on the DEIS is set to close on April 2nd.
The Department of the Interior has already indicated it plans to extend
that comment period. The DEIS describes and compares four alternatives for a
Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, the Governance Committee, Wet
Meadow, Water Leasing and Water Emphasis alternatives.
The DEIS does not identify a preferred alternative.
Czaplewski
said that the schedule for review and comment is being delayed pending the
release of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report evaluating the science
behind component parts of the proposed Platte River Program. The release of the
NAS Platte River Study Panel’s report was originally planned for late January,
but it may be mid-April before it will be available.
The FWS plans on releasing their Draft Biological Opinion (BO) after
their review of the NAS report.
The Draft BO will provide the Service’s decision on whether the
proposed Platte River Program complies with the Endangered Species Act.
Director Carroll Sheldon, Kearney made a motion to allow staff to hire
outside expert consulting help for DEIS review and analysis which was approved
by the Board.
Contact: Mark
Czaplewski
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