Platte River Channel Becomes a Focus for Platte River Cooperative Program Studies2001

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01/26/01 18:30 FAX 303 445 6331 PLATTE RIVER EIS OFFICE t ♦ -NUB OPINION Pouring finer sand in river latest idea of fed.. ` he latest development 'in efforts to manage the Platte River for wildlife -- the assertion by feder- al experts that least tems and piping plovers prefer finer -grain sand for their nesting areas — demon- strates the intricate interconnectedness of the various natural systems along the river and its tributaries, the North and South Platte rivers. The assertion by federal officials also underscores the con- cern among Platte River water users that there may be no end to the debate about what must be done to make things right for wildlife. Accommodating wildlife has been the focus of expensive legal cases and, more recently, of extensive talks'involving fed- eral officials and water users from the three states through which the Platte system flows: Nebraska, Colorado and Fo. room a scientific perspective it is almost remarkable that fed- eral wildlife experts have derived such knowledge about the bonds between binds and their breeding grounds. What a thrill to discover the preferred qualities of finer - grained North Platte sand silting out of Wyoming compared to the courser sand rolling down the South Platte river out of Colorado. But while the, finer sand discovery might pique some inter- est in scientific and environmental circles, it can only inspire more resentment and anxiety among the taxpayers, electrical ratepayers and water users who depend so deeply upon the Platte for their lives and livelihoods. 1T SEEMS FEDERAL bureaucrats cannot be content sim- ply gaining the public's acceptance that the Platte River must carry adequate water and that there must be enough habitat for wildlife. Now the bureaucrats are pushing for a better brand of sand. TU=.".F►sh.and Wildlife.Service contends that to provide least terns and piping plovers with the finer -grain sand, 40 to j 100 tons of the stuff, or about three to seven truckloads, would have to be dumped daily into the Platte at Overton. Experts say the finer sand would be in the river naturally if the North Platte wasn't dammed at Lake McConaughy While on the one hand it is remarkable the experts have dis- covered the lower levels of fine -grain sand in the Platte, on the other hand it is astonishing the experts are yet to accept findings of the less sophisticated nesting studies by Nebraska Public Power District. Because its customers will ultimately pay for habitat develop- ment, NPPD has experimented extensively with man =made sand- pits. In nature, least tems and piping plovers lay eggs on sand bars in the Platte, but seasonal flooding can sweep away the nests.. NPPD has built sandy nesting areas in more protected spots along the river so the birds and their eggs are less likely to be washed away. Birds that hatch on the manmade auras consis- tently out - number the birds produced on the more precarious natural sand bars. 0 008 Q THI Sunnis This is in re written by L Nansel about Dan Woods s "Friday UpdaI Why 'is it tha" these days de( make mounta hills? Wei, a. Sunrise Mrdd. take great prie students and t sit by idly ant a man of greev There is Woods than expressed in:„ the staff only, or to A' let's leave it is a very brig vidual who f in building ; with . students nation, we ar< fact that weL r Peed-. tuned into "A Char In a loud, comet to be reminded by meaning of Christn: In the book she Christmas, 50Years Nelson of Lincoln