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<br />PRRIP - ED OFFICE MEMORANDUM <br />TO: GOVERNANCE COMNIITTEE <br />FROM: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE <br />SUBJECT: TRACT 0811 EVALUATION SUMMARY <br />DATE: JULY 15, 2008 <br />CC: LAND ADVISORY CONINIITTEE, WATER ADVISORY COMIMITTEE <br />LAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION <br />The owner of this tract has requested that the Platte River Recovery Implementation Progam (Program) <br />purchase and retire the irrigation rights on a 65 acre tract through acquisition of a conservation easement. <br />The Land Advisory Committee (LAC) has determined that doing so would not provide land-related <br />habitat value under the guidelines of the Land Plan and the acres would not be considered toward the total <br />complex or non-complex habitat acquisition target. However, the LAC recommends that the Water <br />Advisory Committee (WAC) and Governance Committee (GC) evaluate the benefits of this acquisition as <br />pertaining to the water-related goals and objectives of the Program. <br />At the July 14, LAC meeting, the committee considered a motion to forward a recommendation of <br />approval for the purchase of this irrigation right easement to the GC contingent on the approval of the <br />WAC. However, a consensus could not be reached on this motion due to concerns about the lack of a <br />defined process for handling non-habitat or water-related evaluations. The LAC requests that the GC <br />provide direction on the appropriate process for addressing these kinds of evaluations. <br />TRACT LOCATION AND SIZE <br />Tract 0811 is approximately 65 acres in size and is located in Section 3, T-8N, R-21 W. The attached <br />Figure A-1 delineates the property boundary. The tract is located in the Lexington to Overton bridge <br />segment and is near properties owned and leased by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation <br />District (CNPPID). Figure A-2 shows the parcel location within the Program land acquisition area, bridge <br />segment and its proximity to existing leased and owned conservation lands. The tract would not be <br />considered as either complex or non-complex habitat. The owner is requesting that the Program purchase <br />the irrigation rights in the form of an easement. <br />EXISTING LAND USE <br />Tract 0811 is irrigated cropland with no Platte River frontage. The CNPPID Canal borders the south edge <br />of this tract and the Canaday Steam Plant the west edge of the tract. Land uses on neighboring properties <br />are primarily agricultural, and except far the Steam Plant, are not incompatible with target species habitat. <br />TARGET SPECIES HABITAT CONSIDERATIONS <br />This tract would not be considered as species habitat.