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possible sources and a process for identifying the remaining 50,000 to 70,000 acre -feet average <br />annual reductions in shortages to target flows needed during the First Increment of the Program. <br />For the purpose of biological monitoring and research these objectives are the system level <br />treatments. <br />The IMRP will provide scientific information to assist in determining the effects of the Program <br />objectives on the target species and their habitat. Existing research questions, habitat and species <br />models, and hypotheses will be evaluated and new questions, models and hypotheses will be <br />formulated to guide monitoring and research activities that will be used to evaluate the biological <br />response indicators (species and habitat responses). The FWS provided their biological response <br />data needs to the Governance Committee (Appendix l; R3 -1 Data Tables). <br />II.B. Project Specific Activities <br />Project level monitoring and research will focus on habitat management of land acquired by the <br />Program, and management off of Program lands as appropriate and when permitted by the land <br />owner. Project level monitoring and research may also consider water management projects <br />associated with operation of the Environmental Account (EA) by the FWS. No attempt will be <br />made to conduct monitoring and research for biological response of individual water projects. <br />The LAP provides guidance for protection, management, and restoration of land by the Program. <br />The Program's "Habitat Management Methods for Least Terns, Piping Plovers, and Whooping <br />Cranes" describes the various habitat management methods currently used in the central Platte <br />region and elsewhere and outlines recommended best management practices for Program lands. <br />Each parcel of land protected by the Program will be managed in accordance with a management <br />plan developed based on the guidance contained in the management methods document, <br />knowledge gained during the Program, and the need for research. Decisions on land protection <br />and the land management plan will be strongly influenced by the need to implement monitoring <br />and research as described in this document. For example, when a Program land requires riparian <br />forest clearing to create an open channel, or island creation is needed for tern and plover <br />reproductive habitat, monitoring and/or research will be conducted to determine the effectiveness <br />of the management to achieve project objectives (i.e., the creation of desired habitat <br />characteristics), and to determine the response of the target species to management. To help <br />facilitate the coordination between lands protected through the Land Action Plan and needed <br />research identified in the IMRP, Program staff knowledgeable in both areas will be involved in <br />evaluating lands for protection and in development of land management plans. In addition, the <br />LAC and TAC will review the implementation of both the management plan and monitoring and <br />research plan and the coordination of each by the Program. Nevertheless, decisions on land <br />management will ultimately be guided by objectives contained in the Land Action Plan. <br />Similar monitoring and research on the operation of the EA may be conducted to determine if it <br />is achieving the anticipated benefits for the target species and their habitats. The operation of the <br />EA as a whole will be investigated by the system level monitoring. Where possible, focused <br />monitoring and research will be used to determine the effectiveness of specific aspects of EA <br />management. For example, the Governance Committee may wish to conduct research to <br />determine the effect of EA controlled releases on the survival of cottonwood seedlings within the <br />0 <br />