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<br />North Platte Basin Roundtable Meeting 6-1-06 <br /> <br />The point was made that projects selected for u\1lding by the appropriated u\1lds should <br />address the identified gaps in water supply as noted in needs assessments. Question <br />raised as to how broad is the definition of a water project and does it include forest <br />management projects that may be used to increase supply and manage water quality. Eric <br />responded that projects of that nature, if designed to have a broad based impact, might be <br />considered worthy of u\1lding. <br /> <br />A lengthy discussion took place regarding how the IBCC will select members to serve on <br />the committee to develop the criteria and guidelines for funding projects under SB 179 <br />and how those u\1lds would be divided. Existing funding oppOliunities from all sources <br />that are currently available to communities will be careuJlly considered so that these new <br />funds will fill a needed niche. Eric anticipates that quite a bit of the project u\1lds will be <br />used to support large big impact projects, some u\1lds will be used to launch innovative <br />water supply projects that have been previously considered and discussed, and that he <br />doesn't expect to see many mediocre, more locally based projects to be u\1lded. <br />However, he stated that some u\1lds may be used to assist smaller communities with <br />financing environmental impact and feasibility projects related to large projects with <br />broad impact. <br /> <br />Carl and Kent IBCC Report: <br /> <br />The IBCC held similar discussion as our roundtable regarding their bylaws. How to <br />handle alternate members was discussed at length. It was left to the individual <br />roundtables to determine whether to use a proxy, alternate or neither if one of our two <br />IBCC representatives could not attend a meeting. It is the choice of the roundtable how <br />to handle this. Kent noted that we will have to amend our NOlih Platte bylaws if we <br />decide to go with alternates. A lengthy discussion was held. The revised IBCC Bylaws <br />say that a representative may give proxy to another member of the IBCC in the event they <br />cannot attend a meeting. Proxy votes will count when voting on items but will not count <br />in constituting the IBCC quonlln. The group agreed it is impOliant to have two votes <br />from our basin and that we trust Carl and Kent to designate a proxy if the need occurs. <br />Our roundtable does not want to send alternates to represent the North Platte Basin at an <br />IBCC meeting because we feel that the discussions are too complex and longstanding for <br />an alternate to be effective. It was ulrther noted that Carl or Kent can participate in an <br />IBCC meeting by teleconference, but cannot vote via teleconference. <br /> <br />Additional Reports: <br />Hal Hagen attended a May 15 meeting that included recreation and environmental <br />representative from some of the roundtables. The meeting was held to discuss how to <br />develop needs assessments for non-consumptive uses. Projects examples include DNR <br />mapping projects, environmental assessments for such things as critical amphibian and <br />bird habitat for threatened and endangered species, sport fishing and recovery programs <br />for aquatic animals, recreation assessments for fishing, boating and bird watching. The <br />attendees attempted to identify what type of criteria or indicators would be used to define <br />what to address in needs assessments. They recognize that statewide impact and <br />