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III. Terns, plovers and cranes 1. Optimum reproductive habitat for terns and plovers is described in Table 1 of the Land Plan and the amount of this habitat in the central habitat is limiting the breeding population of terns and plovers in the central Platte River. 2. Habitat is not limiting breeding populations of terns and plovers in the central Platte River. 3. Terns and plovers will use a variety of habitat in the central Platte River area including a range of characteristics in Table 1 in the Land Plan and habitats described in Table 2 of the Land Plan. 4. Prey base for terns and plovers is limiting in the central Platte River. 5. Prey base far terns and plovers is not limiting in the central Platte River. 6. The existing flows in the central Platte River are impacting water temperature resulting in negative impacts on prey base (forage fish) for terns and prey base (insects) for plovers. 7. Non-riverine habitat provides sufficient prey for terns (forage fish) and piping plovers (insects). 8. Existing data adequately describe whooping crane migration habitat in the central Platte River. 9. Program habitat management activities will increase the abundance and quality of roosting and feeding habitat for whooping cranes and nesting and foraging habitat for terns and plovers in the central Platte. 10. Whooping crane distribution and habitat use is influenced by river flow, land use, land cover, and Program land management. 11. Wet meadow hydrology is influenced by river stage and the influence varies with distance form the river. 12. The physical, biological and chemical composition of wet meadows is strongly influenced by its hydrology. 13. The quality, quantity, and distribution of wet meadows and other semi-aquatic habitats influence the use of these habitats by whooping cranes migrating through the central Platte valley. 14. Whooping crane habitat along the central Platte River is important to the recovery of the species. 15. Whooping crane habitat along the central Platte River is not unique in its importance to the recovery of the species. IV. In-channel Habitat 1. Sediment erosion, transport, and deposition processes are important in the maintenance of open-view width and sandbar dimensions. 2. In-channel vegetation dynamics is strongly influenced by the processes and interaction between flow, sediment transport, and vegetation. 3. A comprehensive assessment of the central Platte River's form and processes controlling the form are necessary precursors to implementation and interpretation of the effects of any treatments intended to modify the river's form.