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6 <br />IFG, the Incremental Methodology (Section 2.8) was developed (Bovee <br />and Cochnauer 1977; Bovee and Milhous 1978; Stalnaker 1978, 1979b; <br />Trihey 1979; Wegner 1979). <br />The use of comparative field studies to evaluate various <br />fisheries methods is a recent development in the West (R. Giger <br />personal communication). These studies were funded in 12 western <br />states as part of the Western Water Allocation Project. This <br />comparative approach represents a logical step in the sequence of <br />events that will hopefully lead to insights on the applicability of <br />the various methods. Although many gaps still exist in our knowledge <br />of the relationship between stream flow and fish production, these <br />shortcomings should not prevent users from applying or modifying <br />existing methods. The successful development of adequate methods for <br />assessing instream flow needs will require applications on a wide <br />range of watersheds throughout the country. Although no consensus <br />has yet been reached regarding the "best" method to use in a given <br />situation, additional information acquired from continued application <br />in the field will eventually lead to a better understanding of the <br />applicability of the various methods. <br />1.1.2 Development in the East <br />Unlike in the West where instream flow methods evolved over the <br />past 20 years in response to the growing demand for limited water <br />supplies, in the East instream flow needs are just beginning to <br />develop as an issue. With the exception of the method developed by <br />Robinson (1969) for the Connecticut River basin, no formal methods to <br />assess instream flow needs have been documented from the eastern <br />United States until recently (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1981). <br />Eastern initiatives in formulating instream flow policies were largely <br />in response to an increase in the development of small hydropower <br />resources in the Northeast. Because water is more abundant in the <br />East than in the West, conflicts to date have been highly localized. <br />Moreover, water law in most states east of the Mississippi River is