PRRIP Adaptive Management Plan

• File Number: 8461.100
• Description: Adaptive Management Workgroup ‎(PRRIP)‎
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Author: PRRIP
• Title: PRRIP Adaptive Management Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

in adaptive management. This research will 1) provide knowledge related to processes to
be used in other projects, 2) identify successful methods that can be implemented in other
areas, as they are deemed appropriate, and 3) identify needed time to allow meaningful
research data to be collected during the First Increment. It is also important to consider
monitoring and research needs when evaluating land protection options through the Land
Plan (Attachment 4).
The Program's biological response monitoring and research is designed to: 1) provide data to
evaluate the effectiveness of the Program to meet goals and objectives for the habitat and
population response of the target species, 2) provide data to evaluate the relative importance of
Program habitat protection and restoration measures to the target species, 3) provide data to
support adaptive management decisions regarding activities periodically during the First
Increment of the Program, and 4) provide scientifically defensible data to facilitate development
of milestones for future Program increments. Analysis of information from all three levels of
monitoring and research will be used to learn which management actions are most likely to
achieve stated goals and objectives and to make adaptive management decisions during the First
Increment. Near the end of the First Increment this information will be used to evaluate the
Program and develop Second Increment milestones.
V.D. Timing and Schedule
System scale monitoring will begin as soon as a Program is implemented and continue with the
same protocols through the First Increment. In doing so, it will be possible to view the system as
various flows occur, both natural and Environmental Account induced, and as new Program
lands are protected and managed. Program lands scale monitoring should begin as each parcel of
land is protected. Necessary baseline data should be collected through Program lands level
monitoring prior to land management activities. This will allow each parcel to be evaluated as a
unit through implementation of various restoration and management activities.
Research protocols will be implemented as topics arise and lands become available. Several
specific research areas are currently identified and timelines established. These include research
related to pallid sturgeon and research related to geomorphic process and restoration methods.
For pallid sturgeon, several research items are included in Table 1. Implementation of some of
these items (as described in Section V.K.) will begin after work is completed by the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln, and summary of existing pallid sturgeon information. The Program
anticipates regular review of all monitoring and research, but the Governance Committee has
agreed that specific attention will be paid to review of pallid sturgeon research activities at the
end of Year 4 and Year 7. During these reviews the Governance Committee will determine how
the Program will proceed with future pallid sturgeon research.
In-channel geomorphic process and restoration activities are identified as Tasks 1-4 in Table 1.
Most of these activities are planned for implementation over the first three years of the Program,
with some work continuing throughout the Program. Actual implementation will be contingent
on availability of appropriate Program lands or other lands available to the Program (e.g., The
Nature Conservancy, Audubon, Platte River Trust, etc.) and personnel to conduct the research.
These research activities were developed through a joint effort of the EIS Team and Parsons
Engineering (Parsons 2002).
September 1, 2006 Aduptive Management Plan 32