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Chapter 3- Description of the Alternatives <br />2002. The results of the study indicate that anticipated Program actions would result in only small <br />changes to these flow parameters in the Lower Platte River and, therefore, provide marginal benefits to <br />the pallid sturgeon (Service, 2002). Some small hydrologic benefits to the species may be realized during <br />some seasons (primarily summer), but these may be offset by adverse hydrologic impacts during other <br />seasons (primarily spring). Potentially significant benefits in sediment availability from the central Platte <br />River are likely, but impossible to quantify, as current sediment models do not extend through the lower <br />Platte reach. <br />Nevertheless, one of the Governance Committee Alternative's long-term goals is ". .. testing the <br />assumption that managing flow in the Central Platte River also improves the pallid sturgeon's Lower <br />Platte River habitat" (Governance Committee Program Document: Chapter II, Program Goals). As a <br />result, on October 31, 2002, the Governance Committee adopted a plan for research and monitoring of the <br />pallid sturgeon and its lower Platte River habitat. This roughly $4 million dollar effort will address a <br />number of different life history and habitat informational needs for the species in its lower Platte River <br />habitat, providing the information necessary to test that assumption and to design additional actions that <br />can be taken for the species in the Platte River system. <br />To address the potential adverse impacts to important life history requirements of the pallid sturgeon <br />modeled during the spring, the Governance Committee has adopted a plan to study the effects of river <br />stage changes, particularly under high flow conditions, and has committed to concluding this study by the <br />end of year three of the First Increment. If through this study, the anticipated small reductions in spring <br />peak flows are deemed to adversely affect the pallid sturgeon, the Governance Committee will develop <br />and implement appropriate conservation measures that either negate or offset the occurrence of adverse <br />impacts on the pallid sturgeon.