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000423 sJvr- ~ ~ Platte River Evaluation UPDATE J' _ ... wv..... COI....""'\ ..", Platt. COLORADO Bureau of Reclamation Evaluation of the Operation of Existing Projects on the Platte River for the Potential to Affect Threatened and Endangered Species. North Platte River Projects OffIce, Mills, Wyoming March 1991 NEBRASKA King".' Du, (ONI"PIDI PiaU. Public Information Meetings Public information meetings were held in Scottsbluff, NE, North Platte, NE, Loveland, CO and Casper, WY, on November 26, 27, 28, and 29, 1990, respectively. The purpose of the meetings was to describe the Plan of Study Ihe Bureau of Reclamation proposes to follow to evaluate the operation of existing Reclamation projects in the Platte River Basin for the potential to affect threatened and endangered species. The Plan of Study was made available for review on September 29, 1990, Public Notice of the meetings was made November 2, 1990. Approximately 130 persons, including several Feder- al and State agency representatives, elected officials, water and power users, representatives of several con. servation and wildlife organizations, news media, and the general public, attended the four meetings. John Lawson, Project Manager, pointed out that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires Federal agencies to ensure their actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or to adver- sely modify or destroy critical habitat. The Act also requires agencies to carry out conservation programs for listed species. The purpose of the evaluation is to determine if the operations of Reclamalion facilities in the Plalle River Basin are in compliance with the ESA. Study leader Del Holz stated thai if the study reveals that operations ll!l;. adversely affecting listed species or their habitats, formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would be initialed. If the evaluation were to lead to a plan for changing operations of the Bureau facilities and if those changes con- stituted a major federal action, full compliance with the National En- vironmental Policy Act would be re- quired. This would entaillhe preparation of an environmental docu- ment and full public involvement. It was stressed at all four meetings that Reclamation has certain constraints within which il must operate, such as compacts, decrees, state water rights, contracts, agreements and Congres- sional authorizations. Following a 25-30 minute presenla- tion by Reclamation Ihat covered background information, study management, study area, threatened and endangered species of concern, evalualion process, study schedule and public involvement process, the meeting was opened for discussion and input regarding the planned evaluation. Discussion and exchange ranged from about 45 to 90 minutes al the four meetings. Participants at all four meetings ex- pressed support for the open process and the opporlunities for full involve- ment through technical study teams and periodic public meelings. Several individuals at the meetings expressed a willingness to provide technical input to the study team process. Holz stated that a technical hydrology study team would be organized in mid January 1991. The discussion and input by atten- dees at each of the four meetings were very similar. However, in. dividuals at the Casper meeting also raised the issue of species which are not listed as threatened or en- dangered. Lawson indicated that other fish and wildlife information would be collected during the evalua- tion process but that many of the other species issues are or can be ad- dressed outside of the present evalua- tion and fit within new initiatives and the new mission of Reclamation.