Sierra Club believes that protection and restoration of Platte River habitat is very important. We urge that a recovery program be adopted that provides at least as many benefits for fish and wildlife as the Governance Committee 2 (GC 2) scenario outlined in the DEIS. This statement focuses on the Lower Platte.

Although more than 90% of the Platte River water is used for irrigation, the Lower Platte is an important source of water for municipalities in eastern Nebraska. Well fields near Ashland are the only sources of water for Lincoln and Ashland. Omaha's Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) already has a well field on the Platte in southern Sarpy County, and MUD is building a new much larger well field just north of Ashland. When that well field is fully operational, about half of Omaha's water will come from the Platte River.

MUD's Environmental Impact Statement states that during unusually dry periods the pumping at its new well field could result in zero water flow downstream. The Lower Platte already has a serious problem with agricultural chemical (such as atrazine) and bacterial pollution. MUD must often shut down shallow wells on the Platte to avoid overly high concentrations of atrazine and other chemicals in the drinking water.

Sierra Club is very concerned about the declining flows in the Lower Platte combined with increased pollution and consumption for municipal purposes. For example, the drawdown of the water table by the well fields in the Ashland area will likely, over time, draw polluted water from the Mead Superfund site located a few miles northwest of Ashland.

We believe maintaining minimum flows in the Central Platte will help lessen some of the problems wildlife and residents are facing along the Lower Platte.