PRRIP Purposes and Overview Draft (2)

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complexes in the central Platte River area located between Lexington and Chapman, Nebraska.6 b. First Increment Objectives. DOI and the states commit to achieving the following objectives by the end of the First Increment of the Program: (1) providing water capable of improving the occurrence of Platte River flows in the central Platte associated habitats relative to the present occurrence of species and annual pulse target flows7 (hereinafter referred to as "reducing shortages to target flows") by an average of 130,000 to 150,000 acre-feet per year at Grand Island, through reregulation and water conservation/supply projects.8 DOI and the states agree that FWS' target flows will be examined through the Adaptive Management Plan and peer review and may be modified by FWS accordingly. DOI and the states have agreed, however, that during the First Increment, species and annual pulse target flows serve as an initial reference point for determining periods of excess and shortage in the operation of Program reregulation and water conservation/supply projects. (2) protecting, restoring where appropriate, and maintaining at least 10,000 acres of habitat in the central Platte River area between Lexington and Chapman, Nebraska. The Governance Committee may agree to undertake, fund or give credit for land activities outside this area to provide biological benefits to the target species. c. Subsequent Increments. DOI and the states agree that the objectives of any subsequent Program increment will be defined as set forth in Section III.F below before the conclusion of an increment. ° Non-complex habitat approved for acquisition by the Governance Committee will count toward the 29,000 acre objective because it will provide demonstrable benefits to target species. The definitions of complex and non-complex habitat may be changed by the Governance Committee but are initially set forth in the Land Plan (Attachment 4). ' See "Water Plan Reference Materials" (Attachment 5, Section 11). The states have not agreed that these recommendations are biologically or hydrologically necessary to benefit or recover the target species. ° To the extent that FWS uses Program water for purposes other than reducing shortages to target flows, such use shall not decrease the target flow shortage reduction credited to the Program's initial three water projects or to any subsequently approved Program water project. Septe nbef?November 4-29 2005 Program Document 4