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<br />! <br /> <br />] <br />C <br />E <br /> <br />F <br /> <br />I' <br />s <br />q <br />C <br /> <br />A <br />t <br />v <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />000898 <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />* * * DRAFT June 25, 1992 * * * <br /> <br />PRMJS Management Alternatives Workgroup <br />TASK 5 <br /> <br />The objective of Task 5, as described by the Platte River <br />Management Joint Study, Management Alternatives Workgroup, is to: <br /> <br />"Identify methods for calculating and displaying <br />habitat target flows by species and river block/segment <br />(for) <br /> <br />(a) whooping crane <br />(b) forage fish (tern and plover nesting flows) <br />(c) wet meadows <br /> <br />and refers to methods for arriving at recommended <br />target flows and documenting how these target flows <br />were developed." <br /> <br />From the foregoing it appears the objectives of Task 5 is <br />twofold: 1) identify methods of calculating and displaying <br />flows, and alternatively; 2) arrive at "target" flows. <br />Specifically how the information would be used by the Management <br />Alternatives Work Group is not known. Therefore, target flows <br />were developed that would protect biological requirements of <br />endangered species, yet retain some flexibility for development <br />of management alternatives. <br /> <br />This review addresses the flows often referred to in the Platte <br />River planning activities as "habitat maintenance flows". Flows <br />needed to maintain the physical dimensions and characteristics of <br />the river channel ("channel maintenance flows") are not included <br />except to the extent that such flows also serve biological <br />functions. <br /> <br />The term "flows" should be interpreted to mean any or all aspects <br />of the flow regime including the timing, magnitude, frequency, <br />and duration. "Target flows", as used herein, refers to the flow <br />prescribed within a planning context to meet a particular habitat <br />management objective. They do not necessarily represent the <br />instantaneous flow which provides the best habitat value. <br /> <br />Flow "targets" for individual resources should eventually be <br />incorporated into a regime which holistically addresses the <br />hydrological, physical, and biological integrity of the riverine <br />ecosystem. For that reason, even though endangered species <br />resources are addressed separately, references are frequently <br />made to the multiple and inseparable biological functions that <br />portions of the hydroperiod provide to other riverine resources. <br />