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00090fs 1M (\-(..J\;- ,c;-IIS ~z.. $350,000 FUNDING REQUEST FOR U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR "PLATTE RIVER MANAGEMENT JOINT STUDY" REQUEST It is requested that Congress appropriate $350,000 in FY 93 to the U.S. Fish and wildlife Service, and within the Service to the Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6), be used to continue development of a comprehensive habitat management plan for threatened and endangered species on the Platte River in central Nebraska, known as the Platte River Management Joint Study. Within that amount, $175,000 to be provided by the Service to the Bureau of Reclamation for continued joint participation in the Platte River Management Joint Study. This associated funding level should be continued in FY 94. The attached report language (Attachment 1) provides specific language recommended for inclusion in the appropriations bill. NEED FOR FUNDING The Platte River Management Joint study was initiated in 1983 for the purpose of finding ways to protect habitat in central Nebraska on the Platte River for whooping crane, bald eagle, piping plover, and lease tern, all of which are protected by the Endangered Species Act, in a manner consistent with inte~state compacts and decrees of the U.S. Supreme Court allocating water among the states. Cooperators in development of the plan include U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish & wildlife Service, the States of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. In addition, participants in plan development include National wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corps of Engineers, Wyoming Water Development Association, Colorado Water congress, Nebraska Water Resources Association, and regional natural resources management agencies in Nebraska. To date planning has been funded principally by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from planning funds for authorized projects. These planning funds are exhausted. The Service and the Bureau are attempting to staff this important effort from existing planning funds; however, these are subject to severe limitations. A specific appropriation is needed to complete this vital study in a timely manner, and with appropriate technical input. SUPPORT FOR THE APPROPRIATION In late FY 91, Senator Simpson, Senator Brown, Representative Thomas, and Governor Romer wrote letters of support of an appropriation for FY 92; however, it was too late in the appropriations process to obtain such an appropriation. These letters are attached (Attachments 2, 3, & 4).