Instream Flows for Recreation: A Handbook on Concepts and Research Methods

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integrate flow needs for other opportunities, other instream uses, or other out -of- stream uses. A high quality study should specify its ambitions from the beginning, and if they are limited, describe how they will be inserted into the larger process. Informa- tion about flows and recreation can easily be lost if it is not designed to fit into the negotiation or planning process. For example, studies on regulated rivers may focus on changes in dam operation guidelines (using an existing water budget more judiciously) or changes in water allocation (increasing the water budget), while studies on unregulated rivers focus on documenting flow needs before out -of- stream users have made their requests (reserving water prior to the existence of a water budget). Discussing a study's end- point forces the researcher to examine and address management's perspective, and can vastly improve the study's usefulness. Step 2: DESCRIBE THE RESOURCE High quality research depends on a broad base of knowledge about a resource, and studies should demonstrate this knowledge through resource summaries. This step simply emphasizes the need to put the resource and the recreation flow need issue in a larger context. The depth of this analysis, of course, depends on the scope of the study and the existence of other documents with this information, but a brief summary seems useful in almost any case. A high quality summary generally includes information about the following: ❑ The physical resource, including the region's climate, geology, terrain, vegetation, and cultural resources. This should include a brief discussion of the type of river and the regional context. ❑ Fish and wildlife resources, particularly those for which instream flows are often critical (threatened and endangered species, sport fish species, etc.). ❑ Recreation activities and use, as well as visitor facilities (including access points, 10 campgrounds, parking areas, nearby commercial facilities such as stores, lodges, etc.). ❑ The significance of the river's recreational resources in the region, as well as potential substitutes. ❑ Governmental history and agency responsibilities. This should briefly identify agency mandates, legislative or agency designations, planning documents, or informal management policies for the river that delineate the decision - making environment into which the study will be placed. ❑ Land use and land ownership. Summary tables are often sufficient for land ownership. Summary descriptions are more important for development issues, particularly those which might require out - of- stream water uses. ❑ Formal and informal groups that have an interest in the resource or flow issues. Step 3: DEFINE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AND ATTRIBUTES Defining the recreation opportunities for which the study will determine flow needs is a critical evaluative step. While recreation opportunities should have been broadly identified in the study objectives, this step discusses them in much greater detail. This is where a specific kind of recreation opportunity its important characteristics are identified. The hard part of this step is being specific; most plans and studies are not. In many cases, similar recreation activities are grouped together (sailing and boating, rafting and canoeing, fly - fishing and bait fishing, etc.) even though there are often important flow need differences between them. In fact, even people engaging in the same activity may have different flow needs, depending upon the type of experience they desire. Compared to an advanced caner, for example, a novice paddler may have very different ideas about flows needed for a challenging run through a rapid. If research is