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contract will be covered under the current Executive Director's budget. <br />Water Management Committee <br />John Lawson, WMC Chair, provided the report. John noted that many of the topics discussed at the WMC have <br />already been discussed today and that he would not go over them again. John reported that Curt Brown and an <br />individual from Hydrosphere presented the South Platte Model. The model is at the reconnaissance level and is <br />considered a work in progress. The WMC also discussed milestone W13-3 and what their role may be in <br />completing this milestone. John reported that the WMC adopted the states administrative procedures for tracking <br />and accounting. John also reported that the WMC would start developing a list of needs (e.g., monitoring, <br />tracking/accounting) for a Water Committee under the Program. <br />Water Action Plan Committee Report <br />John Lawson reported that the Water Action Plan Committee (WAPC) met by conference call on May 16, 2000 and <br />in person on May 24, 2000. During the May 16 conference call, the WAPC discussed revision 4 of the draft Water <br />Action Plan (WAP). John noted that major edits as a result were the removal of the principles section and change in <br />the forest management language. John explained that Jim Cook had said that Nebraska might look at changes in <br />their new depletion plan and that the mix of projects may change but not the yield. It was also noted that Colorado <br />had offered a revision to the process section in the WAP that was more flexible. It was decided that the draft WAP <br />would be distributed to the states without this revision and that the changes would be worked into the next revision <br />after state meetings. The WAPC recommended that the GC invite the USDA Forest Service to participate in WAP <br />and GC meetings for discussion and commitment purposes. The GC agreed to invite the Forest Service. The <br />WAPC also discussed the cost analysis portion of the WAP and decided to develop an annual capital construction <br />and operation/maintenance budget based on when projects are proposed for implementation. The budget will <br />include a 3% inflation factor. It will be a GC/FC topic to discuss how the Program will be funded (e.g., annually, <br />lump sum). <br />At the May 24 meeting the draft WAP was accepted for state meetings and for official distribution to the EIS Team <br />for analysis. The acceptance was contingent upon revisions agreed to at the meeting. John recommended that the <br />GC approve the report for use by the states and EIS Team with the understanding that it is a draft and will be <br />revised. If there are no extensive revisions after state meetings, the WAPC plans to produce the final WAP in the <br />first week of July. GC agreed. <br />State Meeting <br />Jim Cook reported on discussions at the states meeting held May 24, 2000. Jim noted that progress is being made <br />and that they had discussed schedule, sediment transport, and budget and that these items had already been covered <br />today. <br />Land Committee <br />Rhodell Jameson, Land Committee (LC) Co- Chair, reported that after the June 12 meeting, most LC tasks will be <br />complete with the exception being the Habitat Protection Plan. The products will be presented at the next GC <br />meeting. Rhodell also noted that the question has been raised as to how long the services of the Kearney Area <br />Community Foundation will be needed. The GC agreed by consensus to continue work with the KACF through <br />December 2000. Vernon Nelson, Land Committee Co- Chair, noted that the GC should consider the lag -time from <br />when a property comes up for sale and when the GC will be able to act on a purchase if desired. Vernon suggested <br />the GC setup an earnest money fund to help secure land deals while the details are worked through in the FC and <br />GC. Vernon also expressed concerns of several on the Land Ownership Entity subcommittee that the Land Interest <br />Holding Entity (LIRE) for the Program should not leave the impression that it is a federal agency. Marty Zeller is <br />currently looking at the various options for the LIHE and will report at the next GC meeting. Dale Strickland noted <br />that most of the LC tasks will soon be completed but that the LC not be dissolved until the end of the Cooperative <br />Agreement as there may be a need for meetings near the end of that time. Rhodell read several comments that he <br />had received from concerned citizens related to the No Action alternative being considered in the EIS. <br />Technical Committee <br />Paul Tebbel provided the Technical Committee (TC) report. Paul noted that the TC had not met since the last GC <br />Page 5 of 5 <br />