9705

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9705
• Author: Green River Study Plan ad hoc Committee.
• Title: Study plan for the implementation and evaluation of flow and temperature recommendations for endangered fishes in the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam.
• USFW Year: 2007.
• USFW - Doc Type: Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
• Copyright Material: NO

GREEN RIVER STUDY PLAN

17

February 2, 2007

Each hypothesis was prioritized categorically as High (H), Medium (M), or Low (L)
based on the criteria: (1) concurrence with environmental commitments identified in the ROD,
(2) risk or benefit to the endangered fish, (3) urgency of information for management decisions,
and (4) the applicable reach of river (Reach 3 is furthest from Flaming Gorge Dam and less
likely to be affected by dam operations). This prioritization was assisted by screening priorities
and recommendations from the authority and guidance documents (Section 1.2).

Hypotheses associated with anticipated effects or uncertainties rated as "H" were
considered as the most important for successful evaluation of the flow and temperature
recommendations, and may include hypotheses with information needs not being. addressed by
existing studies. Hypotheses that were well understood or of lesser importance to an evaluation
of the recommendations were of medium (M) or low (L) priority. Although some effects or
uncertainties were identified as not being fully addressed by studies (see Section 2.3), those
hypotheses were not necessarily considered high priority because it was concluded that other
hypotheses were more important for evaluation of the flow and temperature recommendations:

3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

This section describes: (1) adequacy of studies to address hypotheses, (2) prioritization of
hypotheses and integration, (3) recommended studies, (4) timeline for recommended studies and
integration of information, and (5) recommended RIPRAP revisions.

3.1 Adequacy of Studies to Address Hypotheses

A total of 41 anticipated effects or uncertainties (hypotheses) associated with
implementation of the flow and temperature recommendations were identified (Table 1; see also
Tables Al-A3). Further evaluation determined that existing Recovery Program studies are fully
addressing 20 of the 41 anticipated effects or uncertainties and partially addressing 21
(see Table A8). A total of 34 individual studies were identified that are either primary or
supporting studies related to the flow and temperature recommendations, including 27 Recovery
Program studies and 7 studies being conducted by Recovery Program partners or participants
(i.e., Reclamation, Western, U.S. Geological Survey, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources;
Table A4).

3.2 Prioritization of Hypotheses and Integration

Hypotheses were prioritized to focus on issues of greatest importance for evaluating the
flow and temperature recommendations. Eighteen hypotheses were considered of highest
priority (Table 2). Because many anticipated effects or uncertainties are interrelated, the
hypotheses and associated studies were organized into three resource categories that related both
physical and biological aspects to the flow and temperature recommendations.