Identification and Evaluation of Potential Thrid Party Impacts Related to the Habitat Component of the Proposed Platte River Recovery

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4.0 Habitat Protection Scenarios This study evaluated third party impacts associated with three habitat protection scenarios that would describe the Program. The milestones and exact structure of the Program -are yet to be defined by the Governance Committee (GC) and the Land Committee (LC) and this study is designed to provide input into the development of these components. Therefore, the committee defined three scenarios designed to capture a full range of potential third party impacts associated with the different protection and management options. The scenarios focus on different habitat needs of the proposed Program but will also address different potential land use changes that may cause third parry impacts to the study area. The three habitat protection scenarios were defined for the purpose of evaluating third party impacts as follows. 4.1 Scenario 1 Under this scenario, habitat would be protected in habitat complexes within some of the thirteen Central Platte River bridge -to- bridge segments. The Cooperative Agreement indicates that the Program will focus on obtaining and protecting wet meadow and channel habitat within blocks of land, which are suitable for development into habitat complexes. For purposes of this analysis, it is assumed that the Program will focus on the following habitat types. ■ main channel habitat - a mixture of wetted channel, sandbars and islands ■ riverine buffer — combination of cover types (e.g. main channel habitat, riparian forest and grasslands) ■ wet meadows - seasonally wet grasslands ■ wet meadow buffers — grasslands and/or croplands For the purpose of this analysis the Program will protect and manage 10,000 acres according to the following schedule that was adapted from the FWS's, Preliminary Draft Milestones for First Increment of Proposed Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, October, 1998. Cottonwood Ranch property would be developed and enhanced for target species starting in 2001 (2,650 acres). Habitat Block A (3,796 acres) would be developed and enhanced for target species starting in 2004. Habitat Block B (3,718 acres) would be developed and enhanced for target species starting in 2006. The Cottonwood Ranch property was acquired by NPPD in 1992 in conjunction with hydropower re- licensing activities before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). A requirement of FERC's license was that NPPD, in consultation with FWS and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the GC and the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District Hwd.40210R013.doc 4-1 Third Parry Impact Study Final Report