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Executive Summary <br />For the <br />Dolores River Dialogue <br />Core Science Team Report <br />May 2005 <br />The Dolores River Dialogue ("DRD or Dialogue") is amulti-stakeholder effort focused on the <br />environment of the Dolores River downstream of McPhee Dam. The dialogue is considering a <br />range of creative alternatives. The practical actions that may result from this effort fall into three <br />categories: l) river channel work (maintenance, restoration, habitat improvement); 2) spill flow <br />management /enhancement; 3) base flow -pool management /enhancement; and/or 4) some <br />combination of the three. To evaluate the various strategies and determine the preferred <br />alternatives, the Dialogue has convened a Core Science Team (CST) with technical expertise in <br />several disciplines. This team was established in early Febniary of 2005 to study and ultimately <br />integrate four primary areas of investigation; Native warm water fisheries, Cold water fisheries, <br />Geomorphology and Riparian Ecology with Hydrology through a community based stewardship <br />approach. <br />The report presents the results of the CST's initial investigations into conditions in the Dolores <br />River. These evaluations include review of literature and previously prepared documents related <br />to the Dolores River, discussion of linkages between flow and ecological and physical processes <br />in the Dolores River, and identification of key data gaps. The information presented here <br />provides a basis for fut<ire recommendations regarding flow management, chamlel work, and/or <br />other management options. <br />Study Area: <br />The Dolores River flows from its headwaters in the San Juan Mountains to the confluence of the <br />Colorado River in Utah. The study area consists of the Dolores River from McPhee Dam <br />downstream to the confluence of the Colorado River, a length of approximately 200 river miles. <br />The river courses through a range of natural communities and provides water for a number of <br />muiucipal, industrial and agricultural uses. In order to provide a framework for analysis of <br />conditions along the lower Dolores River and illuminate potential firture management <br />opportunities, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were used to help define 8 reaches. <br />These reaches were identified by differences in gradient, sinuosity, chemical parameters (e.g. <br />salts) vegetative characteristics and potential limiting factors to natural stream channel <br />movement and formation. In order to manage the science tasks, the river has been broken into <br />two main focal areas. McPhee Dam downstream to Sliclcrock Bridge and Sliclcrock Bridge to the <br />confluence with the Colorado River. <br />1 <br />