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<br />.. <br /> <br />-' <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />4t <br /> <br />. The Technical Committee developed a proposal to implement a monitoring and research <br />demonstration project at the Cottonwood Ranch site, You may recall that the 2,650 acre <br />Cottonwood Ranch site was acquired by Nebraska Public Power District and has been <br />included as part of the proposed program. Habitat management activities, aimed at clearing <br />vegetation (approximately 600 acres of riparian woodland!) and widening the Platte River <br />channel, will begin this summer. The monitoring proposal will be used to measure and <br />evaluate changes that occur in response to management activities, <br /> <br />IV. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Analysis <br /> <br />Colorado got our first general look at some of the alternatives that the ElS team is evaluating. <br />One option that is being looked at is a reduction in consumptive use via water banking, This <br />alternative presents a whole host of issues and Colorado opposes the concept of reducing <br />consumptive use, especially, if the goals of the program can be obtained by retiming water from <br />periods of excess to periods of shortage, <br /> <br />Another interesting observation revolves around the issue of sediment. The Fish and Wildlife <br />Service (Service) has become increasingly focused on sediment transport to and through the <br />critical habitat. Colorado has some concern that the Service may go to extraordinary efforts <br />trying to develop a "new" set of ecological processes that fit how they think the river should <br />operate versus what is needed to ensure that the habitat does not limit the survival of the species, <br />This is a concern because a more narrow focus on flow and sediment is more likely to lead to <br />conflict. <br /> <br />V. Budget <br /> <br />The proposed program budget continues to be a concern, Recently, the governing body of the <br />Platte River Cooperative Agreement was presented preliminary budget estimates for the proposed <br />program. In 1997, the parties agreed to a $75 million budget over the course of the first <br />increment-the first 13 years of the proposed program, Of that figure, Colorado will contribute <br />$15 million; Wyoming will contribute $7,5 million; Nebraska will contribute $15 million; and the <br />federal government will contribute $38,5 million. Initial estimates indicated that the proposed <br />program could cost as much as $125 million. <br /> <br />Colorado has been a strong proponent of establishing and maintaining a program budget. <br />Recently, Howard Propst (one of Governor Owens representatives) presented the Finance <br />Committee of the Platte River Cooperative Agreement with a request to live within the budget. <br />The Finance Committee agreed and allocated the agreed-upon $75 million budget to the three <br />main components of the proposed program: water, land and monitoring and research. The <br />respective committees will report back on how they intend to live within this budget. <br />We will keep you informed on this and other important issues as negotiations continue, <br /> <br />3 <br />