Incorporation of Governance Committee Comments on draft IMRC

• Description: related to the Platte River Endangered Species Partnership ‎(aka Platte River Cooperative Agreement [CA]; aka Platte River Recovery Implementation Program [PRRIP])‎
• State: CO
• State: NE
• State: WY
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 9/19/2000
• Author: PRRIP Technical Committee
• Title: RE: Incorporation of Governance Committee Comments on draft IMRC
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Point 4: Geographic Scope
One comment noted that the geographic scope for monitoring and research was unresolved in the
draft IMRC. The TC agreed that the primary area for monitoring and research was the central
Platte valley between Lexington and Chapman, Nebraska, but that some questions may not be
addressed adequately unless work is conducted outside of this area. This comment was
addresses in Section V. Major Species and Associated Habitats.
Point 5: Prioritization of Monitoring and Research
Several comments asked that monitoring and research activities by prioritized. This will be
partially addressed through development of the "R3 -1 Document" by the USFWS. The R3 -1
Document will detail what the USFWS will need to evaluate the effectiveness of the Program.
Further prioritization will be done through review of existing monitoring and research efforts and
possible collaborative efforts. The IMRC has not been edited to reflect this comment, but will be
after completion of the above efforts.
Point 6: Description, Explanation, and Use of the Different Types of Monitoring and Research
(Compliance, Program, and Project)
Several comments expressed concern that the IMRC lacked coordination with compliance
monitoring activities and lacked sufficient detail on project level monitoring and research. These
comments were addressed in several areas, beginning with Section I. Introduction. The
Introduction was edited to include an explanation of how the various levels of monitoring and
research will fit together as well as a brief description of the differing levels of monitoring and
research. Section II. Compliance Monitoring was added to the IMRC. A "placeholder" was
included in this section for water compliance and information was included for land compliance
issues. The Water Management Committee will be supplying information pertaining to
compliance monitoring as it relates to water activities. Section V.B. Project Specific Activitiesa,
contains a more detailed description of project level monitoring and research and includes
examples of possible monitoring /research activities.
Point 7: Pallid Sturgeon Issues
Several comments received noted that the IMRC anticipated monitoring and research for pallid
sturgeon beyond what they believed was warranted. A paragraph was added in Section VI.D.
Pallid Sturgeon explaining that the first consideration for pallid sturgeon is to determine if it is
possible to detect the effects of flow management in the central Platte River (for the three target
bird species) on flows in the lower Platte River. If this can not be detected further monitoring > /
and research for pallid sturgeon will not be considered. If the effects of flow management in the /
central Platte can be measured in the lower Platte, further monitoring and research for pallid
sturgeon will be considered.
These seven major points raised by Governance Committee members are addressed in the
current draft IMRC. Other comments received from TC members are also included in this draft.