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The TC spent some time discussion the proposal and decided that it should focus on just one or <br />two objectives as a demonstration project. To help decide where the TC needed to focus the <br />proposal they asked Jim Jenniges to give a brief update on what the Cottonwood Management <br />Plan entails. Dave Carlson also explained the various aspects of his proposal. <br />The TC spent significant time discussing various possible monitoring and research projects at <br />Cottonwood Ranch. The group agreed that some of the objectives outlined in the current <br />proposal could wait until later in the Program and others were more unique to Cottonwood <br />Ranch. Randy Parker noted that it may be best to conduct a research project but in such a way <br />that it could also be used to start some of the long term monitoring (e.g., transects that will <br />always be used). Dave Carlson said that it would be valuable to conduct a research project such <br />that the information collected could be used in the sediment - vegetation model. The TC agreed <br />that a research project that focused on morphological /sediment and vegetation issues was what <br />was needed and that the opportunity at Cottonwood Ranch should not be missed. Randy Parker, <br />Jim Jenniges, Paul Kinzel, Dave Carlson, and Mike Fritz agreed to work on putting together the <br />proposal. Paul Tebbel suggested that the small group and others that were interested spend one <br />hour after the meeting discussing the proposal and what the exact research project should be. <br />Adjourn for January 25, 2000 at approximately 5:00 p.m. <br />Call to Order for December 8 at approximately 8:20 a.m. <br />Cottonwood Ranch Property Demonstration Project - continued <br />Paul Tebbel updated the TC on the small group discussion of the previous evening. Paul noted <br />that there were a couple of different concepts and the small group needed the direction of the TC <br />on which one to pursue. Randy Parker explained one of the ideas was to develop a research <br />project at Cottonwood Ranch that would look at channel changes. Randy explained some of the <br />difficulties with dealing with such a large area and the problems with conducting a research <br />project when several management activities (e.g., vegetation clearing and backwater <br />reconstruction) are planned. Randy noted that the TC would likely want to break the entire area <br />into 2 -3 units and try to "guide" the management on those units. Randy also noted that a positive <br />aspect for conducting a research project on Cottonwood Ranch is that NPPD will be paying for <br />the management. <br />Dave Carlson explained the concepts involved in the alternate research demonstration project. <br />Dave said that the project would look at the processes governing why the river is currently not <br />sustainable in the wide, open channel configuration in many areas. Dave noted that there are <br />currently transects every 1 -2 miles along the river so the changes can be detected but the cause of <br />the changes can not be determined. This project would physically remove islands and flatten the <br />channel and then develop an intensive sampling grid to see what and why changes occur. Dave <br />said that the Platte River within Cottonwood Ranch would not be a good site for this project <br />because of the very high islands and deep /fast channels. He felt that for the first attempt the <br />project should be conducted in an area with lower islands and wider channels. The information <br />collected could be used to verify the sediment- vegetation model. It was noted that some sort of <br />replication at different sites would be needed. Randy Parker noted that because of "noise" in the <br />system it is better to have a fairly large /significant event to research and that both proposed <br />projects could achieve this. <br />Page 3 of 7 <br />