Laserfiche WebLink
The Grayrocks episode established at least: two important things. First, Wyoming water <br />users were in a relationship with the FWS as it began to implement the ESA. Second, the <br />dynamic had established an important new participant in basin water planning- the Whooping <br />Crane Trust. The principal objectiwe of the Trust has been to protect and improve habitat for <br />whooping cranes, sandhill cranes, and other migr<itory birds on the 70 mile stretch of "big bend" <br />Platte river Its funds could be spent to purchase rights to land, water. and water storage, and for <br />management of water and land. The Trust board has consisted of three members representing the <br />State of Nebraska, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, and the National Wildlife Federation. The <br />trust has acquired over 9,000 acres of land though through fee title purchase and easements. <br />Today the Whooping Crane Trust is an active, rarely neutral, participant in Platte River <br />Basin planning. Out of this conflict at Grayrocks came a collective goods resource organization <br />that had a mission to improve habitat, educate citizens, and promote the interests of the several <br />listed species. Cranes, eagles, plovers and terns and other species do not much partake in the <br />market economy and political debates, and have been largely ignored. They had found a voice <br />and that voice would be backed up by the Endangered Species Act. <br />43