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<br />IjM'6 <br /> <br />VI. Study Methods/Approach and Description of Work <br /> <br />Following is a summary of activities and approaches related to the <br />five Program objectives: <br /> <br />1. Identify and provide the information needed to successfully <br />implement the Habitat Restoration Program. <br /> <br />The Habitat Restoration Program consists of a number of major <br />components (e.g., contaminants, hydrology, biology, <br />geomorphology, engineering, land acquisition, NEPA compliance, <br />I&E, etc.). Before floodplain areas can be restored, several <br />kinds of information are required. First, landowner <br />willingness to cooperate needs to be established (i.e., the <br />landowner is willing to allow data collection on the property, <br />and would be ultimately willing to allow the property to be <br />flooded). Then, the area is screened for contaminants. <br />Federal mandates require that contaminants surveys be conducted <br />on properties the government wishes to acquire; the federal <br />government cannot acquire an interest in a property that fails <br />the contaminants survey, unless the contaminants problems are <br />remediated. Also, the Program does not wish to restore <br />habitats that cannot sustain endangered fishes because of <br />contaminants problems. <br /> <br />Sites being considered for restoration will undergo <br />floodability assessments (area of inundation as a function of <br />flow, with and without levees). Relative floodability of <br />priority geographic areas will be determined via surveying, <br />HEC-2 modelling, and collection and analyses of aerial photos. <br />The Program will focus on the lO-year floodplain, based on the <br />assumption that flows between the one and ten year events, <br />combined with levee removal, will substantially increase <br />flooding, and will provide the greatest opportunities for <br />assisting with razorback recovery. <br /> <br />Environmental compliance (NEPA, permits, etc.) will necessitate <br />compiling specific kinds of information. Appraisals and legal <br />reviews will be obtained where properties are privately-owned. <br />Specific data (e.g., specifications of structures, materials, <br />topography, etc.) will be obtained to assist with design, <br />engineering, and construction (e.g., levee breaching, removal, <br />or set back) at each site. Once an area has been restored, <br />then evaluation data will be collected, to test and refine <br />hypotheses. In each case, experts will be consulted to <br />identify information needs, to assist with meeting those needs, <br />and to review Program activities and products. <br /> <br />An independant Technical Advisory Group was established in 1994 <br />to review the scientific aspects of the Program and offer <br />suggestions. The Group consists of four nationally recognized <br />experts (Drs. Peter Bayley, Larry Hesse, Wendell Minckley, and <br /> <br />g <br />