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<br />Svntheses of ~vailable Information Lackina. It was apparent that a lot of <br />information on the endangered fiehes, nonnative fiehes, streamflows, and <br />geomorphic changes has besn collscted through previous Recovery Program <br />efforts. However, this information appeared to be fragmented and disjointed. <br /> <br />The planning efforts for synthesizing the various Flaming Gorge studies will <br />be-beneficial in evaluating whether the information can be fully integrated <br />for making decisions for future management of the Green River Subbasin. <br />Syntheses of the ~spinall Unit studies in the near future will serve a similar <br />function for the Colorado River Subbasin. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> <br />Although the roundtable discussion covered a broad array of topics, the <br />following general recommendations will be confined to (1) lack of an overall <br />strategic plan, (2) content of research proposals and annual reports, (3) <br />summary of available information, (4) integration of available information, <br />(5) identifying research gaps, and (6) considerations for future peer reviews. <br /> <br />1. Lack of an Overall Strateaic Plan. The Recovery Action Plan serves, in <br />.part, as a strategic plan. However, it does not establish priorities or <br />linkages (i.e., integration) of the various identified actions. It is not <br />a substitute for a strategic plan that identifies. problems or iseues, <br />establishes priorities among the various problems or issues, identifies <br />strategies that can be implemented to overcome the problems or iesues, and <br />finally establishes priorities for implementation of selected strategies. <br /> <br />The relative importance (i.e., priorities) of the various limiting factors <br />must be identified so that studies can be designed to obtain vital <br />information for use in the recovery effort (e.g., stepdown planning <br />through a systems approach). Also, recovery of the four endangered fishes <br />should be viewed from an ecosystem perspective rather than by individual <br />river or basin. Since the endangered fishes exhibited strong year <br />classes, recovery efforts should be implemented that would provide <br />suitable conditions for periOdic recruitment (e.g., one year out of 5 to <br />10 years) that will maintain self-sustaining populations. <br /> <br />It is highly recommended that a systems approach be used for all new <br />research and for evaluating ongoing research. Comprehensive planning <br />involving (1) inventory, (2) strategic planning, (3) operatione planning, <br />and (4) evaluation are key elements for conducting the most cost-effective <br />research and avoiding redundancy in efforts. These four planning steps <br />pose the following questions: (1) Where are we?, (2) Where do we want to <br />go?, (3) How do we get there?, and (4) Did we make it?, reepectively. <br />Such planning provides an adaptive management approach (Waltere 1986) <br />because it continually requires summarization of all available information <br />so that only research that is absolutely needed by the Recovery Program <br />will be approved. Continuous evaluation and refinement baeed on <br />experimentation is, in reality, adaptive management. <br /> <br />2. Content of Research Prooosals and Annual Reoorts. The format ueed by the <br />Recovery Program for research proposals contains relevant information. <br /> <br />8 <br />