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March 17, 2000 <br />Sharon, <br />I have hiked in a few comments on the attached Milestone R3 -1. It doesn't look <br />like this matter has gotten any easier since I left the Platte and much of what I say here <br />you probably already know. <br />In general, both the least tern and piping plover are species of open bare ground <br />habitats with distant unobstructed visibilities whether on the Atlantic coast, Great Plains <br />alkali wetlands and rivers, or wintering areas on the Gulf coast or Caribbean. That said, <br />the central Platte provides amongst the poorest riverine habitat anywhere for either <br />species. The high flows we see on the wide - channeled lower Platte, thanks to unhindered <br />flows from the Loup and Elkhorn, provide extensive high and dry sandbars for terns and, <br />plovers. However, the species still make use of sandpits, but that is expected given the <br />extensive use by least terns of dredge islands in coastal areas and along the Mississippi <br />River where quality sandbar habitat also occurs and is used by terns. <br />. We have seen on the lower Platte and Loup River very high flows create barren <br />sandbars whose surface was at eye level to us riding alongside on the high seats of your <br />office's airboat. That indicates the great habitat- fonning forces at work on the lower <br />Platte. To what extent suitable sandbar habitat can be created through EA flows, I don't <br />know. You may want to have someone model that for a necessary piece of information <br />to acquire. <br />Wi <br />MAR 2 0 2 ,2cQ <br />\ Win- <br />