Memo to Platte River Team - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-2- determine how to meet the State's water and accounting obligations. Ultimate decisions are made by the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources and SPWRAP. Water users that seek to obtain regulatory coverage under the Platte River Recovery Program must join SPWRAP. SPWRAP collects annual assessments from water providers, with the municipal providers paying the lion's share. Colorado's North Platte Water Depletions Plan is slightly different than the South Platte Program in that it only covers existing depletions, and a new future depletions plan would be required for any uses in excess of the North Platte Decree accounting (134,468 irrigated acres as a limit for agricultural uses, 2022 people as a limit far municipal and industrial uses, and no new "significant" piscatorial, wildlife or environmental uses that are not incidental to agricultural uses). As a result, North Platte water users are proposing, and we support, them not having to sign recovery agreements or membership in SPWRAP. There are a number of issues of which you should be aware. 1. State legislation. House Bill 1182 authorizes expenditures of Species Conservation Trust Funds (SCTF) for the Platte River Program. The costs are more than $24 million, closer to $40 million. These costs are escalating each year. 2. Federal legislation. Senate Bill 752 and House Bill 1462 are both proceeding through the Senate and the House. There may be two hearings next week in Washington D.C. and we need to make certain that we follow the proper protocols for submitting written testimony, and or for testifying. 3. Financial Management Entity (FME). We are seeking to modify the existing contract between the States and the Federal Government and the Nebraska Community Foundation (the current FME) so that we can have contracts be between two entities rather than dealing with each entities' procurement rules for every expenditure. 4. Land Interest Holding Entity ("LIHE"). We are seeking to enter into an agreement between the States and the Federal government to have trustee for the lands held by the Program, and who will dispose of the lands pursuant to the exit strategy should the Program fail. The Governance Committee is considering using the Nebraska Community Foundation to serve in this capacity. This entity will pay taxes on the property and hold title. Land management will be dealt with by another entity. 5. We are in the process of selecting an Executive Director for the Program. 6. The current representative is Don Ament, and Ted Kowalski is the Alternate Representative. How can we best communicate with DNR on Platte River Recovery developments? Flood Protectian + Water Pruject Plaiuting zuul Financing • Stream and Lake ProtecHon Water Supply Protection • Conservation Planning