Governance Committee Minutes (2)

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Governance Committee Minutes Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Country Inn and Suites, DIA May 2, 2007 Agenda Modifications - None Minutes - Suggested edits and clarification were proposed. Nebraska moved to accept the modified minutes. Minutes were approved as amended. Updates Colorado Depletions Plan - Ted Kowalski noted that similar to Wyoming, recovery agreements would not be required to be signed under the Colorado depletions plan. Colorado is also going to have this change to the Templates and a discussion of the schematic. A redline version of the Colorado Depletions Plan, with Templates, will be distributed for review and approval at the June meeting. Program Legislation - Ted Kowalski reported that there has been progress since last meeting. There have been hearings held by subcommittees in both the House and Senate. Ann Bleed, Dan Luecke, Mike Purcell, Jason Peltier, Alan Berryman, and Ted Kowalski testified in the House hearings. The hearings went very smoothly on the House side with broad based support. The hearing was more rushed on the Senate side. Mike Purcell testified for the Governance Committee as well as an individual from the upper North Platte region. There may be an amendment proposed at some point to the Pathfinder Reservoir portion of the bill. The next step is a formal mark-up on the bill in the subcommittees, which would include any amendments. The bill will then go to the full committee before getting voted on to the floor. A senator will need to formally provide an amendment during the mark-up period. Many members of the GC expressed concern with the federal government getting involved in state water right issues. George Williams expressed concern that the water users in the upper North Platte region are not adequately protected and will be harmed under the Program without the amendment. • North Platte Channel Restoration and Enhancement Project - Clayton Derby reported that the contractor (SEH) met with personnel from the NGPC and FWS to review the proposed modifications to the project. SEH is currently waiting on cross section information to confirm that the proposed modification will convey the same amount of water as the project originally developed by JF Sato. Mark Butler will check with FWS on status of cross-sections • Long-term Program FME - Ted Kowalski reported that Colorado will not require a new contract with the NCF for a five year extension, with two stipulations. One is a restatement of the contract with all amendments identified (original language and new language) and second would be to have all parties sign each parties modifications/or amendment. The Program should start immediately with this process. The Finance Committee was directed to begin reviewing the contract/fee structure with the NCF and report back at the June Governance Committee meeting. Page 1 of 3