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<br />L~ <br /> <br />Report: the Flooded Bottomlands Inventory Report: aerial photos <br />taken during the high flows of 1993-1995; Mitchell's report; and <br />lands within the lO-year floodplain). He is meeting with <br />landowners. identifying their needs and concerns, and will draft <br />agreements that will be mutually satisfactory, Assuming that <br />tentative agreements can be reached, then the acquisition process <br />will begin, which includes assessment of floodability, appraisals by <br />BR-SLC Realty. contaminants screening by BR and FWS contaminants <br />specialists, NEPA, solicitor review, etc. If no major problems <br />arise. then the agreement will be finalized. and the habitat <br />restoration process can begin, <br /> <br />2, Aareement Options: <br /> <br />-Partners for Wildlife Program--this approach can utilize standard <br />short-term agreements for habitat restoration or management, with <br />the added flexibility of using monies that do not have standard <br />restrictions (e,g,. 20 year agreements. restoration only, wetland <br />emphasis. etc,'), Using RIP money would provide greater flexibility <br />in the kind, of agreements that could be consummated, <br /> <br />-Leases--can be written to include very limited or very inclusive <br />provisions depending on how much management or habitat modification <br />is desired and how much the Program is willing to compensate the <br />landowner. Leases can include all land management rights but are <br />usually for a short time (e,g" one to five years), <br /> <br />-Conservation Easements--are a purchase of limited ownership rights <br />to the land. and can be tailored to specific sites and projects, <br />The cost of the easement depends upon the extent to which the <br />easement limits the highest and best use of the property and 'the <br />current economic returns to the landowner, Easements are usually <br />perpetual but can be for shorter terms, Easements usually are <br />designed to protect habitat rather than allow agency management of <br />habitat, However. they can be designed to do anything that the <br />seller and buyer negotiate, Easements do not have to be Federal, <br />For example, the Colorado Cattleman's Association has entered into <br />the realm of easement acquisition, Such an organization may be a <br />perfect bridge between landowners and agencies, <br /> <br />-Fee Title Acquisition--Fee title is the absolute ownership of all <br />surface rights and provides maximum management interest to the <br />buyer, <br /> <br />11 <br />