Resources Chairman James V. Hansen's Remarks for 02-16-02 Grand Island, NE Hearing

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AUdUbOn NEBRASKA To: The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources From: Dave Sands, Executive Director, Audubon Nebraska RE: Testimony in favor of the Platte River Cooperative Agreement Date: February 16, 2002 P.O. Box 117 11700 SW tooth Street Denton, NE 68339 Tel: 402- 797 -2301 Fax: 402 - 797-2304 www.audubon.org Up until five years ago, I enjoyed a very different career, as my brother and I ran a third - generation meat business that produced steaks from Nebraska Beef. I was raised with an appreciation for the cattle industry in our state, and my father also instilled a deep appreciation for Nebraska's rivers, prairies, and wildlife. My love of the outdoors eventually led to a membership in Audubon, and on occasion, I would volunteer to represent Nebraska Audubon's positions in the state Legislature. About a decade ago, I was approached by Audubon's national office to become involved in a federal process —the FERC relicensing of Kingsley Dam. From a business standpoint, I understood that farmers needed the flows that Kingsley provided, to grow the corn that fed the cattle that our company processed and sold nationwide. I was keenly aware of all the families that depended upon that chain of events, from the sandhills rancher's to my own. In addition, the river provided power, recreation, and drinking water for millions of people throughout the basin. Clearly, there were human uses that needed to be preserved. From a conservation perspective, the case was also compelling. The Platte River is a world -class wildlife resource that annually attracts millions of waterfowl, the largest gathering of cranes on earth, and regular visits from some of the rarest cranes on earth. Habitat for these birds had steadily declined over the past century due to a substantial reduction in the river's flows, and new projects threatened the flows that were left. Above all, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) now required any water project in the basin with a federal connection to address these concerns, and Kingsley Dam was at the front of the line. Given these facts, I recognized the obvious. The Platte River is so important for both agriculture and wildlife that we can not afford to harm either one. For this reason, I told our national office that I would jump into Platte issues on two conditions: that we base our positions on the best science available, and never advocate for the taking of water from an existing irrigator. Audubon agreed, and we have been working toward that end ever since. At Audubon Nebraska, this philosophy is not confined to the Platte River, as the organization actively pursues collaboration over confrontation, especially when it comes to the ESA. In a state where 97 percent of the land is in private hands, meeting the concerns of landowners is vital, or a recovery