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<br />I~ <br /> <br />DRAFT <br /> <br />May 10. 1995 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Either a basin-WIde or Colorado Program could Include the components Identified below.' These <br />elements could also be developed In cooperation WIth water users In other states and the <br />environmental community. <br /> <br />1. Habitat acquisition and management In the Central Platte Region. The <br />basin-wide goal of acquiring and managing an addltlonal 7.000 acres' of habitat In the Central <br />Platte over the next nine to ten years appears to be reasonable. 1b1s should be the first priority <br />because land acquisition and management will avoid future habitat losses. and because these <br />measures will be most effective In recovering the I1sted species. If It Is nQt legal or practical for <br />the State of Colorado to acquire land WIthin Nebraska. the Project will explore the use or creation <br />of a suitable legal entity which would acquire or develop habitat In the Central Platte as a . <br />component of a Program. Habitat management and enhancement efforts could Include. but are <br />not llInited to. the development of recharge projects In the Central Platte'. the development of . <br />wet meadows'. the creation of sand pit nesting habitats'. and the preservation of existing habitat. <br /> <br />2. Water Management In Colorado. The Project Is w1ll1ng to work WIth the State of <br />Colorado to Ident1lY and assess opportunities for habitat protection by developing facUlties to <br /> <br />1 There Is no agreement on or acceptance of the legal. technical. and scIent1flc bases for <br />any detennlnatlon by the Service that water depletions In Colorado cause jeopardy to listed <br />species or adverse impacts to designated critical habitat. However. the Project Is w1ll1ng to ' <br />participate In either a baSin-wide or Colorado program so long as this participation does not <br />waJve or relinquish any rights to fully litigate these Issues If necessary In the future. <br />, <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />2 The sideboards document developed by the Fish and Wildlife Service states a land <br />management goal of 10.000 acres should be achieved In the first nine (9) years of the Program. <br />However. approximately 3.000 acres of this 10.000 acre target have already been developed and <br />should be credited against the achievement of the 10.000 acre goal. <br />\ <br />J These projects could utilize sand pits or other natural depressions as recharge basins. recharging <br />in periods of excess flow, thereby reregulating excess flows to the benefit of the listed species. Secondary <br />benefits could include resulting wet meadows as the groundwater mound migrates toward the river, <br />augmentation of base stream flows from recharge accretions, and the availability of water for pumping to aate <br />wet meadow, or to directly augment stream flows. Recharge projects would provide open waler surfaces for <br />the listed species, and constructed islands could provide mlnesting habitat for terns and plovers. <br /> <br />, Pumping of groundwater or the use of effiuent from exiSting field drains could developwet meadow conditions dwing times of the year when wet meadows are needed by the species. <br /> <br />s <br />Least terns' and piping plovers' nesting areas along the river are susceptible to predator <br />attack and fluctuating water levels. The development of sand pits and the protect1on of them as <br />nesting sites by the Installation of predator barriers Is a practice that has proven successful and <br />~be~~. e <br /> <br />2 <br />