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June 30, 1997 <br />construction of weirs. The parties agree that no other efforts to protect <br />or create habitat in this reach of the river or to alter groundwater <br />conditions should be required of the Districts in these licenses. <br />b. The Districts will protect 500 acres of wet meadow habitat <br />adjacent to the North Platte River to be managed for sandhill cranes and <br />other migratory birds. These Habitat Lands will be existing wet <br />meadows on privately owned land. Protection of wet meadows should <br />focus on the river reach from Sutherland Bridge to North Platte. Habitat <br />areas will include at least 100 contiguous acres, and to the extent <br />possible will be adjacent to lands managed by NGPC or environmental <br />groups to facilitate joint management of larger areas. <br />C. The Districts will acquire control of these Habitat Lands within <br />18 months of license issuance, develop a management plan with NGPC <br />and FWS within one more year to enhance these lands as necessary and <br />to maintain them for the remainder of the license term, and within six <br />months of plan approval, begin implementing the plan. As acquisition <br />shall be on a willing seller /willing lessor basis, timing of requirements <br />may need to be adjusted following discussion with FWS and NGPC and <br />concurrence by FWS. <br />d. Through purchase, lease or an easement, the Districts will <br />acquire control of the use of the Habitat Lands such that to the extent <br />current uses are maintained, haying or grazing is according to prescribed <br />schedules, and drainage is prohibited, all in accordance with the <br />management plan. Acquisition shall be on a willing seller /willing lessor <br />basis. <br />e. The Districts will manage these Habitat Lands according to a plan <br />developed in coordination with NGPC and FWS and finalized with their <br />concurrence. In addition to the costs of developing the plan and <br />administering it through the license term, the Districts will provide up to <br />$50,000 ($100 /acre) for initial development or enhancement, and when <br />required, up to $5,000 each year ($10 /acre) in cash or in kind for <br />maintenance to be measured on a three -year rolling average basis, except <br />that the Districts will not be required to spend more than $15 /acre in any <br />one year. Maintenance obligations are not mandatory expenditures; the <br />Districts will undertake maintenance only when and if required. <br />BEE <br />