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6 The State of the Colorado River Ecosystem in Grand Canyon would be assessed and the results of those assessments would form the basis of future modifications of dam operations" (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1995, p. 34). The selection of adaptive management and the focus on the effects of dam operations on downstream resources have significant implications. First, the promi- nence of Grand Canyon National Park elevates adaptive management and the GCDAMP to national significance. Second, the program's focus on the effects of dam opera- tions on downstream resources constrains the range of management options and creates a relatively well-defined geographic area within which to operate. Envisioned as a new paradigm for addressing com- plex environmental management problems through a dynamic interplay of ecosystem science, management, and policy, adaptive management has gained attention and has been tested in various contexts in the last several decades (National Research Council, 1999). Although concepts and methods continue to evolve, adaptive management is generally understood to be a systematic process for continually improving management practices by emphasizing learning through experimentation. Also, adaptive management incorporates collaboration among stakeholders, managers, and scientists as a means of social learning that can prevent policy gridlock. In Downstream, the National Research Council (1999, p. 53) noted that the key components of adaptive management include (I) commitment to ongoing management adjust- ments based, in part, upon scientific experimen- tation, (2) shift from "trial and error" to formal experimentation with management actions and alternatives, (3) shift from fragmented scientific investigations to integrated ecosystem science, (4) explicit attention to scientific uncertainties in ecosystem processes and effects of management alternatives, (5) formal experimental design and hypothesis testing to reduce those uncertainties and help guide management adjustments, (6) careful monitoring of ecological and social effects and of responses to management operations, (7) analysis of experimental outcomes in ways that guide future management decisions, and (8) close collaboration among stakeholders, managers, and scientists in all phases of these processes. The Role of Science The Colorado River provides many benefits to society including numerous natural processes; habitat for unique organisms such as native fishes; water for humans, agriculture, and recreational purposes; and hydroelectric power generation. Science-based status and trends information is increasingly valuable as soci- ety attempts to balance the competing uses of natural resources. The need for credible scientific information that can serve as a feedback loop between management actions and the effects of those actions is of critical importance in adaptive management. The role of science in the GCDAMP is fourfold: (I) to provide the aforementioned credible scientific information about management actions deemed appro- 1946 Robert R. Miller describes humpback chub (Gila cypha) from specimens taken in Grand Canyon 1956 Colorado River Storage Project Act passed authorizing Glen Canyon Dam 1944 Treaty with Mexico obligating the United States to provide 1.5 maf of Colorado River water to Mexico annually 1948 Upper Colorado River Basin Compact signed