Nonconsumptive Meeting Notes and Presentations - 12-17-07

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^ Watershed Flow Evaluation Tool .Working Lunch ^ Discussion of Quantification Tools ^ Volunteers for Piloting of Approaches ^ Integration of Nonconsumptive and Consumptive Needs Assessments ^ Next Steps Adj ourn Welcome, Introductions and A~enda Review Susan Morea led the group in introducing themselves and reviewed the agenda. The introduction slides are attached to the back of this meeting summary (slides 1- 4) Status Report from Basin Roundtables - Additional Attributes and Priorities Nicole Rowan provided a brief overview of where the Roundtables are in completing their nonconsumptive needs assessments (attached slides 5-12). The handout summarizing the additional attributes that the roundtables have requested in addition to the SVVSI 2 attributes is attached at the end of this meeting summary. Overview and Discussion of Available Quantification Tools John Sanderson presented some fundamental environmental flow concepts (attached slides 13 -18). Questions and comments included: ~ Do these concepts take into account water that is diverted? Answer: Yes, they take into account the diversion. TNC's approach has been to identify the important environmental and recreational attribute and then address what flow needs may be needed to protect that attribute. ^ The Basin Roundtables are driving the attribute and prioritization process, correct? Answer: Yes. ^ The level of detail that the current attributes provide may not provide the site specific details needed to make some management decisions. Bill Miller provided an overview of the following methodologies to establish environmental and recreational flows: R2Cross, Tennant, Wetted Perimeter, PHABSIM/IFIM, and other site-specific methods (attached slides 19 - 41). Questions and comments on Bill's presentation included: ^ What is the science behind the Tennant method? Answer: Dr. Tennant visited 20-30 streams and visually observed them throughout different times of year to assess difference in habitat related to the aquatic system. The method is solely habitat based there was no direct tie to biological condition when developing the method. It's purpose is to establish optimum minimum streamflow values.