PRRIP Purposes and Overview Draft (2)

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for environmental purposes, including without limitation: statutory and regulatory reform; granting of any necessary water rights; and water accounting systems. Accounting and tracking of Program water to and through the associated habitats will be implemented beginning Year 1 of the Program. F. Evaluation of First Increment and Development of Subsequent Increments I 1. Evaluation of Effectiveness of the First Increment and Review of Goals, Objectives, Activities and Criteria. At least three years before the end of the First Increment, the Governance Committee will develop a process and timeframe for evaluating the First Increment. The evaluation process will take into account the need for FWS to carry out independent ESA assessments, for NEPA compliance, and other statutory obligations for a second Program increment. These evaluations will include, but are not limited to the following: (1) consideration of information gained through the Integrated Monitoring and Research Plan and experience; (2) the judgment of habitat managers, field biologists, and independent experts; and (3) the results of any peer review. The purpose of these evaluations is to weigh whether Program goals, objectives, activities, and criteria should be modified or should continue unchanged. The Program evaluations performed by the Governance Committee will be coordinated with the FWS reviews undertaken as part of its statutory obligations under the ESA. 2. Definition of Second Increment Components and Term. Before expiration of the First Increment, the Governance Committee will identify goals, objectives, activities and criteria, and milestones or other measures for ESA compliance for a second Program increment. Independent peer review will be used as appropriate pursuant to the Scientific Peer Review Guidelines in the Program Adaptive Management Plan (Attachment 3, Appendix %A) to review pertinent scientific data relating to the selection or implementation of specialized recovery tasks or the development of technical milestones. If the Governance Committee decides to recommend that the DOI-Department of the Interior and three states enter into an agreement for a second increment, the Governance Committee will develop proposed program documents. One area of further research and analvsis bv the National Academy of Sciences, the Forest Service and others during the first increment is the relationship between forest condition and water yield. The Forest Service has made certain commitments as further described in Attachment A to the Federal depletions plan. If the results of the analyses of the impacts of post-1997 changes in forest condition on water yield from forested lands located within the Platte River Basin, as described in Attachment A to the Federal depletions plan, indicate a reduction in such water vield has occurred and may persist into the second increment, the Governance Committee shall discuss and fully consider such reductions, if anv, Septe ibei?7November 4729 2005 Program Document 20 1