Policy Limitations and Constraints

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Policy Limitations and Constraints Channel Habitat 1. In investigating any approach to modifying the Platte River to maintain and improve habitat for the target species, it is assumed that the application of proposed actions must fit within the limitations of the resources available to the Program in the first increment. This includes an environmental account and other sources of water capable of reducing shortages to the Fish and Wildlife Service's estimate of target flows by an average of 130,000 to 150,000 acre-feet each year, a maximum of 10,000 acres of land for habitat under the willing seller/buyer concept, and an undefined, but reasonable amount of money for restoration purposes. Thus, any decisions regarding tests of restoration activities must depend on the availability of sufficient resources within the Program to fully implement the restoration should the tests show that the activities are practical and effective. 2. No approaches should be considered that cause overall significant degradation of suitable habitat to the channel and associated habitat. 3. No approaches should be considered that preclude all other future restoration options, and none should invoke adverse third party impacts. 4. Each activity should have a reasonable level of sustainability, particularly through long-term drought. 5. Each approach will address the system constraints including storage capacity and water rights. Land Plan 1. The initial focus of implementation of the Land Plan will be to obtain interests in and protect 9,200 acres of wet meadow and channel habitat between Lexington and Chapman, Nebraska which are suitable for development into "habitat complexes" as described in the plan and 800 acres of non-complex lands that provide demonstrable benefits to the species and have or could potentially have the characteristics described in the Land Plan. 2. All Land Plan actions will require local support. 3. All land acquisition and management decisions will take into account the costs, the relative benefit to the target species, and contribution toward fulfilling the Program's objectives. 4. Lands will be managed in accordance with the Program's "good neighbor policy." 5. Habitat complexes will be spaced preferably with no more than one per "bridge segment" (river reach between two bridges) in ten bridge segments between Lexington and Chapman). Preferred bridge segments for the First Increment are: a. Those bridge segments located near the upstream end of the associated habitats. b. Those bridge segments with habitat that can be most reasonably improved and that is not already being protected for target species purposes by another entity.