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The IMRP is designed to provide monitoring data that are unbiased for the region of interest <br />(system, Program lands, or project specific area). Each portion of the monitoring program (e.g., <br />species use, channel dynamics) will involve protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) <br />detailing the methods of data collection. Protocols and SOPs should not be changed during the <br />monitoring period unless the new approach to monitoring is clearly superior, can overlap with <br />existing monitoring for a period of time, and the two methods are highly correlated. <br />The development of monitoring protocols will consider existing (i.e., pre-treatment) data and <br />data collection methods to evaluate the costs and benefits of collecting data with the same <br />methods and in the same locations during the Program. Where appropriate, existing protocols <br />will be used or modified for use in the Program. Quantitative data that have been collected with <br />similar methods and in the same study area will be analyzed with data collected under the IMRP <br />when appropriate. The combined data could be used to conduct before-after-control-impact <br />(BACI) studies when controls are available, before-after comparison when control areas are <br />unavailable, to calculate an estimate of trend, or conduct resource selection function (RSF) <br />analyses (see Section V.I). <br />The methods used for Program monitoring have been chosen to provide status and trend <br />estimates of indicators of biological response. The monitoring is designed to collect data quickly <br />and in a repeatable fashion (i.e., two people taking the measurement should get the same value). <br />Monitoring data for documenting trends will be most useful after many years of consistent data <br />collection. At a minimum, the monitoring portion of the plan must continue for the entire First <br />Increment. The value of continuous monitoring data will only be realized if the IMRP has <br />sustained political and financial support. <br />V.B.2. Research <br />Program research is designed to evaluate the merit of specific hypothesized cause and effect <br />relationships (i.e., as developed through CEMs) among species and habitat associations and <br />species and habitat response to Program management. Each research project will be hypothesis <br />driven and will follow a specific protocol with defined objectives, a statistical survey design, and <br />anticipated analysis methods to meet the objectives. When appropriate, monitoring data and <br />management models will be used to predict the outcome of a specific management measure and <br />the observed response will be evaluated against the predicted species and habitat response. <br />Research will include detailed studies (short-term, 3-5 years) of specific management actions, <br />studies taking advantage of the limited opportunity for manipulative experiments, and studies <br />that utilize habitat and species response to natural events combined with Program activities. <br />Research projects typically use the latest technology and methods and have specific study <br />objectives. Examples of these objectives include the tests of hypotheses, tests of habitat <br />suitability models, and modeling of physical processes. Research objectives will typically be <br />designed to resolve issues related to the potential impact of Program management activities on <br />the indicators of biological response, assist in the understanding of the biology of the target <br />species, fill knowledge gaps required to induce measurable improvements to the recovery of the <br />target species and their habitats, assist in the validation and improvement of management <br />methods, and/or allow the testing and improvement of existing species habitat models. <br />September 1, 2006 Aclaptive Management Plan 29