Platte River Recovery Implementation Program

Credit: Brian Lehmann/UNK

Chadwin B. SmithChadwin B. SmithDirector of Natural ResourcesDirector of Natural Resources

Headwaters CorporationHeadwaters Corporation

Platte River Platte River Recovery Recovery

Implementation Implementation ProgramProgram

Invasions & Extinctions as a Consequence Invasions & Extinctions as a Consequence of Climate Change:of Climate Change:

Fish and Wildlife Resources on the Platte Fish and Wildlife Resources on the Platte RiverRiver

UNL/USGS Climate Change ConferenceUNL/USGS Climate Change ConferenceMay 21, 2008May 21, 2008

Credit: Brian Lehmann/UNK

Key FeaturesKey FeaturesPlatte River Recovery Platte River Recovery

Implementation Implementation ProgramProgram

•First Increment = 13 years (2007-2019)First Increment = 13 years (2007-2019)

•Reduce central Platte flow shortages by Reduce central Platte flow shortages by 130,000 – 150,000 acre-feet of water/yr130,000 – 150,000 acre-feet of water/yr

•Protect or restore 10,000 acres of habitat Protect or restore 10,000 acres of habitat in central Plattein central Platte

•Adaptive Management PlanAdaptive Management Plan1)1)Improve production of least tern and piping plover from Improve production of least tern and piping plover from central Platte Rivercentral Platte River

2)2)Improve survival of whooping cranes during migrationImprove survival of whooping cranes during migration

3)3)Avoid adverse impacts from Program actions on pallid Avoid adverse impacts from Program actions on pallid sturgeon populationssturgeon populations

Credit: Mark Peyton

Credit: Tim Root

Credit: NGPC

Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Platte River Recovery Platte River Recovery Implementation Implementation

ProgramProgram

Applied Science Applied Science StrategyStrategy

Credit: Brian Lehmann/UNK

Management Strategy #1Management Strategy #1

Flow/Sediment/MechanicalFlow/Sediment/Mechanical

Platte River Recovery Platte River Recovery Implementation Implementation

ProgramProgram

1.1. Create and maintain where possible a wide braided Create and maintain where possible a wide braided channel with high width/depth ratio.channel with high width/depth ratio.

2.2. Offset existing sediment imbalance by increasing Offset existing sediment imbalance by increasing sediment inputs to habitat area (island/bank clearing and sediment inputs to habitat area (island/bank clearing and leveling, sand augmentation, flow routing)leveling, sand augmentation, flow routing)

3.3. Use EA and other Program water to create annual peaks Use EA and other Program water to create annual peaks as large as can be sustained over many years (annual, as large as can be sustained over many years (annual, short-duration high flows within banks)short-duration high flows within banks)

ObjectivesObjectives

Credit: Brian Lehmann/UNK

Current Current ChallengesChallenges

Platte River Recovery Platte River Recovery Implementation Implementation

ProgramProgram

Credit: Brian Lehmann/UNK

Current Current ChallengesChallenges

Platte River Recovery Platte River Recovery Implementation Implementation

ProgramProgram

Credit: Ken Dewey, UNL

Credit: Brian Lehmann/UNK

Future Future ChallengesChallenges

Platte River Recovery Platte River Recovery Implementation Implementation

ProgramProgram

Platte River Recovery Platte River Recovery Implementation Implementation

ProgramProgram

Tern/Plover Tern/Plover Conceptual Conceptual

Ecological ModelEcological Model

Questions?Questions?Platte River Recovery Platte River Recovery

Implementation Implementation ProgramProgram

Chad SmithChad SmithDirector of Natural ResourcesDirector of Natural Resources

Headwaters CorporationHeadwaters Corporation(402) 261-3185(402) 261-3185

[email protected]@headwaterscorp.com