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28 BIOLOGICAL REpORT 29 Chapter 5. The Application of IFIM The IFIM is meant to be implemented in five sequential phases: problem identification, study planning, study implementation, alternatives analysis, and problem resolution. Collectively, these phases encompass the individual steps shown in the previous flowchart (Fig. 1.1). This chapter summarizes each phase, telling who the major players are for each phase and what is to be accomplished in that phase. Two things should become apparent as you read about the five phases of applying IFIM. First, each phase must precede the remaining phases, though cycling through them will be a necessity as projects increase in complexity. Skipping or minimizing any step is likely to result in an unsatisfactory assessment. Second, full and open communication is an essen- tial ingredient of each phase. Such communication will help ensure that all parties accept the IFIM process and have a positive view of what should be mutually beneficial results. In some ways, commu- nication is an ingredient as well as a product of each phase because a successful application of IFIM should result in mutually acceptable deci- sions. Problem Identification After a proposed change in the water manage- ment system becomes known, the first ppase of an IFIM assessment begins. This phase has two parts, a legal-institutional analysis and a physical analysis. The interagency group should perform the legal and institutional analysis. This analysis identifies all affected or interested parties, their concerns, information needs, and relative influ- ence or power, as well as the likely decision process (Le., Is it more likely to be a brokered or arbitrated decision?). Thus, phase one will result in a better understanding of the proposed project, the likely impacts, and the objectives of all interested par- ties. This understanding sets the stage for multi- objective planning that will encourage analyses other than just the proposed project operation. Also, negotiating the details at an early stage provides the foundation for continued successful negotiation throughout the assessment. In the second part of phase one, the physical analysis determines (1) the physical location and geographic extent of probable physical and chemi- cal changes to the system, and (2) the aquatic (and perhaps recreational) resources of greatest con- cern, along with their respective management ob- jectives. Problem identification is often accom- plished with a scoping meeting involving the management and regulatory agencies likely to be involved with the decision. A preferred alternative may be identified by the project proponent, and the consequences of this alternative are translated into a hydrologic time series that assumes the project is in place and operating as proposed. The group should also jointly develop a baseline hydro- logic time series representing either the status quo or another baseline that is mutually acceptable. The two (or more) hydrologic time series, in a preliminary sense, establish the basis for the next phase-study planning. Study Planning Carefully planning the course of an IFIM as- sessment is critical. The focus of this phase is to identify what information is needed to address the concerns of each group, what information already exists, and what new information must be ob- tained. Study planning details should dominate the discussions and result in a concise, written plan documenting who is going to do what, when, where, how, and for how much money. The study plan must be feasible, given the decision schedule, and the human and financial resources available. The interdisciplinary planning team must build on the objectives and information needs of each party. The team should not try to predict the outcome of a study but focus on data collection and the methods to be used. Proper planning will lead to the collective identification of (1) the pertinent temporal and spatial scale of evaluations, (2) the most important variables for which information is needed, and (3) how information will be obtained