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N <br />O� <br />COMMENTS OF CENTRAL NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER AND <br />IRRIGATION DISTRICT <br />proposed that the Districts purchase and enhance <br />approximately 19,300 acres of land along the river in <br />wildlife habitat complexes of which 16,700 are below North <br />Platte and at least 8,500 are below Lexington." The <br />habitat areas below North Platte represent 85% of the basin - <br />wide recommended total, and the acreage below Lexington <br />alone represents 44%. Similarly, the Joint Study's Habitat <br />Program proposes 24 habitat islands for terns and <br />plovers;!Y DOI proposes that eight more be provided by the <br />Districts beyond the eight assigned as "rough and ready" <br />interim measures,�s1 representing 67% of the basin <br />recommendation. <br />In addition to recommending that the Districts shoulder <br />the lion's share of the riverine enhancement measures in the <br />Platte River, DOI proposes that they be assigned substantial <br />responsibilities for enhancement of wetlands in the <br />Rainwater Basin. The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, <br />sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, seeks to <br />create or restore 25,000 acres of wetland habitat in the <br />Rainwater Basin, an area of south central Nebraska which <br />`-31 RDEIS at E -2, E -3, Table E -1. While the RDEIS <br />described required habitat areas as either above or below <br />the Johnson Hydro No. 2 return (J -2 return), the J -2 return <br />is in the bridge segment immediately below Lexington. <br />M1 PRMJS, Habitat Conservation Program at 8. <br />01 DOI, 1990 10(j) Comments at 12 -13. In oral <br />discussions, DOI has indicated that it will recommend 8 more <br />islands in addition to those already required. <br />- 24 - <br />RESPONSES TO CENTRAL NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER AND <br />IRRIGATION DISTRICT <br />