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• PRRIP — ED OFFICE DRAFT 6 04/06/2010 343 the Program is now at a decision - point, and consensus needs to be reached on what, if anything, 344 needs to be done next. Lawson indicated that next steps should be discussed at the June GC 345 meeting. Thabault requested that Program staff prepare a summary memorandum that provides 346 information regarding the results of the work done to -date and outlines the limitations and 347 information gaps associated with that work; further, the document should provide guidance with 348 respect to risk management regarding potential GC decisions related to the pallid sturgeon. In 349 general, the GC should be able to use the memorandum to determine if the Program has 350 adeauately tested the hypothesis of whether or not Program actions in the central Platte would 351 negatively impact the pallid sturgeon in the lower Platte. Barrels requested that the memora 352 be completed in time for discussion at the June GC meeting. The ED office will prepare a 353 pallid sturgeon summary memorandum for the GC. 354 355 Land Management Plans 356 Sackett introduced the 5 -year Land Management Plans and gave a brief overview of the structure 357 of the Complex plans, which include individual tract operations and maintenance plans, as well 358 as 1 -year work plans contained in the appendices of each Complex plan. Farnsworth described 359 AMP activities that will occur in the Elm Creek Complex under the proposed plan. A Flow - 360 Sediment - Mechanical experiment will take place from the Elm Creek bridge to the Kearney 361 Canal Diversion. This includes clearing and leveling islands to an elevation that can be 362 overtopped at flows around 3,000 cfs. The Program intends to test the theory that it can maintain 363 target species habitat with the use of sediment augmentation and control of river flows. Barels 364 said NPPD would like a better understanding of the effects on NPPD assets. Farnsworth said 365 that NPPD has been involved in TAC discussions to this point, and the ED Office will be 366 working with NPPD to insure understanding before any action takes place. In the Elm Creek 367 Complex downstream of the Kearney Canal Diversion, a bird response experiment will be 368 constructed. The goal of this experiment is to assess species response to a variety of available 369 habitat characteristics such as island sizes, heights above water, and distance to disturbance. 370 Lawson asked about expected future operations and maintenance costs within the complex. 371 Farnsworth said barring any major flood events causing problems with in- channel experiments, 372 operations and maintenance would likely be limited to maintenance of islands, invasive species 373 control off - channel, other land maintenance activities, and would likely be in the $20,000- 374 $30,000 per year range. 375 376 Sackett then gave an overview of the Fort Kearny Complex plan. Farnsworth discussed 377 management and restoration activities planned for this Complex, including: a second bird 378 response experiment, possible relocation of a power distribution line near the river channel on 379 2009004, the potential involvement of 2008001 in the upcoming directed vegetation research, 380 and the preparation of the sandpit peninsula on 2009008 for the upcoming nesting season. 381 382 Farnsworth then discussed activities to take place under the proposed 2009003 Operations and 383 Maintenance Plan. Since at the time of acquisition, 2009003 was not associated with any other 384 Program or partner lands, a complex plan was not yet developed. Activities on 2009003 include 385 conversion of poor cropland areas (old food plots) back to grass, some in- channel vegetation • This document is a draft based on one person's notes of the meeting. The official meeting minutes may be different if corrections are made by the Governance Committee before approval. PRRIP GC Meeting Minutes Page 9 of 11