Laserfiche WebLink
PRRIP - ED OFFICE MEMORANDUM <br />TO: GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE <br />FROM: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE <br />SUIBJECT: TRACT 0803 EVALUATION SUMMARY <br />DATE: JLTLY 10, 2008 <br />CC: LAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE <br />TRACT LOCATION AND SIZE <br />Tract 0803 is approximately 140 acres in size and is located in Sections 2 and 11, T-8N, R 18W. The <br />attached Figure A-1 delineates the property boundary. The tract is located in the Elm Creek to Odessa <br />bridge segment and adjoins properties owned by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), <br />Nebraska. Public Power District (NPPD) and the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Tnist (PRT). <br />Figure A-2 shows the parcel location within the Program land acquisition area, bridge segment and its <br />proximity to existing leased and owned conservation lands. The Land Advisory Committee recommends <br />that the entire tract be considered as habitat complex acres due to the proximity of the property to existing <br />conservation lands. The tract acres would be classified as riverine habitat and buffer. <br />EXISTING LAND USE <br />Land use on Tract 0803 is agricultural in nature, with approximately 3,4001inear feet of Platte River <br />frontage. Non-accretion ground is comprised of irrigated crop ground. The tract includes one wood frame <br />stnactures, a Morton building. T'he building is in good condition. <br />The Kearney Canal crosses this tract. The Land Plan lists water control structures as potentially being an <br />incompatible land use, however in this case it is located on a portion of the property that would be <br />considered buffer and is not a concern for species use. Land uses on neighboring properties are primarily <br />agricultural, and are not incompatible with target species habitat. Interstate 80 borders the north edge of <br />the tract and in general is a concern for specie.s use. The ctopland portion of this tract functions to buffer <br />the channel from interstate-related disturbance. <br />TARGET SPECIES HABTfAT CONSIDERATIONS <br />This tract does currently provide habitat for target species. This is primarily due to past restoration work <br />that has been performed on this and surrounding conservation properties. As a result of this past work, <br />the tract is currently used by the target species, which is expected to continue. <br />Additional restoration needs include clearing of approximately 30 acres of the trees present on the <br />accretion portion of the property and development of tem and plover nesting islands in the channel. This <br />work could be accomplished for on the order of $50,000. A strip of trees be left as a visual and sound <br />buffer and also to deflect birds up and over a power transmission line that crosses the cropland portion of <br />the parcel. This tract is located adjacent to NPPD's Blue Hole sandpit nesting habitat and would be a <br />prime location for testing of river and sandpit nesting hypotheses.