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Potential Effects: Flow modification, combined with sediment augmentation and mechanical <br />actions, will have the same effects as described in Section IV.B.l.a. In addition, increasing <br />flows in the central Platte River during the February-July time frame may improve habitat <br />conditions for forage fish used by least terns (Hypothesis TP-4) and improve habitat conditions <br />and help provide spawning cues for the pallid sturgeon in the lower Platte River, increasing their <br />survival and reproduction (Hypothesis PS-2). <br />IV.B.2. Mechanical Creation and Maintenance Approach <br />The Governance Committee agrees to pursue and test the concept of using mechanical creation <br />and maintenance ("clear-level-plow"), with additional details related to the specific hypotheses <br />to be tested and field tests to be developed <br />The objectives of the mechanical creation and maintenance approach are: <br />1) Improve least tern and piping plover production by management of sandpits and riverine <br />islands developed and maintained by mechanical and other means (e.g., herbicides, grazing, <br />burning) without the need for pulse flows described in IV.B.l.c (TP-2 and TP-4). <br />2) Improve survival of whooping cranes by providing non-riverine wetlands, upland habitats, <br />and open channel habitats similar to those described in IV.A.l maintained with mechanical and <br />other means without the need for pulse flows described in IV.B.1.c (WC-2). <br />IV.13.2.a. Sandpit Management <br />Management Action: To increase the amount of nesting habitat available to least terns and <br />piping plovers the Program will acquire 200 acres of sandpits that will include at least 40 acres <br />of bare sand. Each individual pit will have a water to bare sand ratio of 1:1 to 3:1 and bare sand <br />areas will be islands or peninsulas with a base with half or less of the maximum width. The <br />areas with nesting birds at time of acquisition will receive predator management that includes <br />fencing and predator removal. Areas witliin these sandpits that are not being utilized by birds <br />will be returned to bare sand peninsulas or islands, shoreline length will be maximize and <br />predator management techniques applied. <br />An additiona1200 acres of abandoned sandpit or habitat created by the Program which is similar <br />in nature to sandpits will be acquired that will include at least 40 acres of bare sand. Each <br />individual pit will have a water to bare sand ratio of 1:1 to 3:1 and bare sand areas will be islands <br />or peninsulas with a base with half or less of the maximum width. Areas will be returned to bare <br />sand to maximum shoreline length and predator management techniques applied. <br />Potential Effects: Predator management will increase least tern and piping plover fledge ratios <br />(fledglings per adult, nest or pair). Sandpit land management will increase barren sand at <br />suitable slope, elevation, shape, etc. to increase usable nesting area. If numbers of nesting pairs <br />is currently limited by nesting substrate this will increase nesting pairs. Maximizing wetted area <br />will increase plover foraging area. Diversified water depths in ponds will allow for a diverse fish <br />assemblage to provide tern forage. Both activities would increase the number of nesting pairs if <br />foraging habitat is limiting nesting pairs. <br />September 1, 2006 Aclaptive Management Plan 25