Questions Posed by the Management Alternatives Group

• File Number: 8461.100
• Description: Adaptive Management Workgroup
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 8/8/1990
• Author: Chairperson, Biology Workgroup
• Title: Questions Posed by the Management Alternatives Group
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Correspondence

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minimum area required for endangered species in the central
Platte River is 23,900 managed acres.
The Segment Plan is more suitable for meeting this goal than is
the Block Plan because the Segment Plan distributes the species
more evenly throughout the area and meets the acreage objective.
The Block/Segment Plan accomplishes all of the goals of the
Segment Plan plus, because of larger units, the Block/Segment
plan provides greater distribution of habitat, additional
isolation of the endangered species, and allows greater
management flexibility. The latter is true because bigger blocks
are more manageable than segments. .
Ultimately, the Biology Workgroup recommends the Block/Segment
Plan with the following configuration:
15,360 acres in.4 discreet blocks
14,340 acres in 6 segments not included in the blocks
Total 29,700 Acres
Our final ranking of the management alternatives, in decreasing
order of preference is:
1. Block/Segment Plan
2. Segment Plan
3. Block Plan
The Platte River System, 89 Mile Plan and Historic Conditions
Plan achieve but exceed the habitat acreage we believe is needed
to meet species recovery objectives. The Block, Status Quo and
No Action Plans fall short of the acreage goals and distribution
of habitats needed to assist species recovery. We recognize that
if altered to include more blocks, the Block Plan could increase
the acreage and distribution of habitats to more closely match
the species needs. .
At a minimum, bald eagle management will require provision of
nocturnal roosts and perch trees in currently (1990) used areas.
Consideration should be given to maintaining some stands of
mature trees where they currently exist in the Big Bend Reach of
the Platte River. A future need of bald eagle management is to
provide for flow conditions that maintain adequate ice-free
conditions for bald eagle foraging.
This represents the recommendations of the Biology Workgroup.
Please call me at the number above if you have questions-or need
clarification of any point. My distribution of this memorandum
includes only those individuals listed below.
cc: Biology Workgroup members