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S ' HISTORY OF ESA ON THE PLATTE RIVER Mr. Brian Barels — Mr. Barels received his MA, Biology at St. Cloud State University with an emphasis in Aquatic Ecology and a BS in Biology from Buena X Vista College. He has been with Nebraska Public Power District for the past 27 years and is currently the Water Resources Manager. His experience includes working with regulatory, environmental and licensing activities for Nebraska Public Power District in the areas of hydro relicensing, power plant permitting and environmental assessment activities. His present areas of participation include: Cooperative Agreement Process - Governance Committee representative for the Downstream Water Users, the Nebraska New Depletions discussions, Board Member for the National Hydropower Association and Senator Wickersham's Water Leasing Work Group, and was appointed by Governor Johanns to the Water Policy Task Force this summer. NPPD, Box 499, Columbus NE 68602- 0499, (402) 563 -5335, blbarel()nppd.com Mr. Don Kraus — Mr. Kraus is a 1971 graduate of the University of Nebraska with x a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in Nebraska. Don has been the General Manager of The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District in Holdrege, Nebraska since December of 1992. During that period, the Central District and NPPD reached a comprehensive settlement with all parties to the relicensing of Central's Project 1417 and NPPD's project 1835. The major Central facilities include Lake McConaughy, Kingsley Dam, and 104 MW of hydropower and associated water supply facilities. The 40- year FERC license provides requirements for environmental flows and habitat commitments. Prior to becoming General Manager he held various managerial and engineering positions since first joining the District in 1971. CNPP &ID, Box 740, Holdrege NE 68949 -0740, (308) 995 -5215, dkraus(acnppid.com Mr. Jim Cook — Mr. Cook has been counsel for the Nebraska Department of �( Natural Resources since that agency was created on July 1, 2000. Before that he served for 30 years as counsel to the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission, one of the agencies merged in 2000 when the new department was formed. During his career Jim has been deeply involved in the organization of Nebraska's natural resources districts, in the evolution of Nebraska's groundwater law, and in numerous Platte river issues. His experience with the effects of the Endangered Species Act in the Platte River Basin began in the mid 1980's and he is currently active in the ongoing process to formulate a three state /Department of Interior partnership to address endangered species issues in the Central Platte. NDNR, Box 94676, 301 Centennial Mall South, 4th Floor, Lincoln, NE 68509 -4876 Phone: (402) 471 -3930, Email: icook(a)dnr.state.ne.us Mr. Ron Bishop — Mr. Bishop has a Bachelor of Science degree in Water X I Resource Management and a second Bachelor of Science degree in Geography with a minor in Economics. He started his career in soil and water conservation in 1957 when he went to work for a conservation contractor. In 1959 he began employment with the Soil Conservation Service stationed first in south central Nebraska and later in western Nebraska. In 1966 Ron left the Soil Conservation Service when he was hired by the Douglas County Soil and Water Conservation District headquartered in Omaha, as the District's manager. Two years later he moved to Grand Island as the manager of the newly formed Mid - Platte Valley Watershed, an organization established to deal with flooding problems in south central Nebraska. In 1972 Nebraska reorganized several hundred local soil and water organizations into multi - purpose Natural Resource Districts. Ron was hired as general manager of the Central Platte Natural Resources District when it was formed and has remained in that position with the District since that time. CPNRD, 215 N. Kaufman Avenue, Grand Island NE 68803, Phone: 308 385 -6282. ok of b