Proposal for Writing Monitoring Protocols Draft (2)

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protocols will also be identified by examination of the draft "Documentation of Existing Conditions in the Central Platte Valley" completed by URS Greiner Woodward Clyde Federal Services for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. An example of an existing protocol that may be adaptable for the Program is the USGS's current protocol for monitoring flows at their gauging stations. Evaluation of existing protocols will include evaluation of data collection and analysis methods, and if necessary recommendations on how protocols should to be modified. These evaluations will be done by carefully reading protocols and by interviewing key people involved in the development and/or implementation of the protocols. The larger and more detailed protocols may require significant time for evaluation. Evaluation of existing protocols will also include 1) determination of the amount, extent, and quality of the data gathered using the protocols 2) determination of the work necessary to document methods used for collecting data, and 3) determination of the work necessary to put the data in electronic form or format the data for future analysis. Data resulting from these existing protocols will be evaluated for their use as a baseline in evaluating a biological response to the Program (see Identification and Evaluation of Existing Data). The Executive Director's office will assist the Technical Committee in modifying the methods, field design, statistical design, and statistical analysis of protocols that are found to be adaptable for use in the Prograrri. This process will be similar to the iterative process currently being used by the Executive Director's office and the Technical Committee to develop the least tern and piping plover reproductive habitat monitoring protocol. Based on preliminary information, the Technical Committee anticipates there are existing protocols that can be utilized to some degree in two of the activity areas. Detailed protocols are currently in use by the USGS to determine flows, and may be adaptable in part or in whole for use in protocols four and six (both of these protocols require information in addition to that related to flows). Development of New Protocols The Executive Director's office will assist the Technical Committee in developing new protocols for the prioritized activities identified above in which there are not existing adaptable protocols. Protocols will be developed using the Technical Committee's "Protocol Definition/Outline for Monitoring and Research Conducted as part of the Cooperative Agreement and Proposed Program." Protocols will include statistical design, field methods, data analysis, reporting formats, estimated project budget, and bibliography. Proper statistical design will help insure scientific credibility of monitoring data. Field methods will include standard, accepted methods and will be designed to minimize expense while maximizing available information. Proper data analysis and timely report preparation will be necessary for use of the information in adaptive management decisions. All sources used in developing the protocols will be referenced in a bibliography section. The Technical Committee and the Executive Director's office will coordinate with species experts and agencies while developing protocols to maximize the likelihood that all concerns are covered satisfactorily. Unless there is exceptional practical field experience available during interviews and protocol development, additional interaction between statisticians and field biologists will be necessary to fine tune standard operating procedures (SOPs) defined in the protocols. Often, modifications are necessary in the standard operating procedures or in the basic protocol for new monitoring programs because of unanticipated problems with budgets for field work, travel time required, bad weather resulting in lost work days, new uncooperative land owners, etc. The Technical December 3, 1999 Draft Proposal for Writing Monitoring Protocols Page 3 of 9