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related to pallid sturgeon and research related to geomorphic process and restoration methods. <br />For pallid sturgeon, several research items are included in IMRP Table 1. Implementation of <br />some of these items (as described in Section VII.C) will begin immediately following completion <br />of work by Dr. Ed Peters, UNL, anticipated in 2004 and summary of existing pallid sturgeon <br />information. The Program anticipates regular review of all monitoring and research, but specific <br />attention will be paid to review of pallid sturgeon research activities at the end of year 4 and year <br />7. During these reviews the Governance Committee will determine how the Program will <br />proceed with future pallid sturgeon research. In- channel geomorphic process and restoration <br />activities are identified as Tasks 1 -4 in IMRP Table 1. Most of these items are planned for <br />implementation over the first three years of the Program; with some work continuing throughout <br />the Program. Actual implementation will be contingent on availability of appropriate Program <br />lands or other lands available to the Program (e.g., Trust lands) and personnel to conduct all of <br />the research. These research activities were developed through a joint effort of the EIS Team and <br />Parsons Engineering. <br />III. ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT <br />Science based adaptive management operates on the premise that a) uncertainty exists in a <br />managed system, and reduction of uncertainty should improve management; b) management <br />decisions must be made periodically despite that uncertainty; c) monitoring and research <br />programs are in place for evaluation of decisions; and d) learning about the effects of <br />management contributes toward adjusting management objectives. Thus, adaptive management <br />is a series of scientifically driven actions that use the monitoring and research results provided by <br />the IMRP to test predictions and assumptions in Program activities and criteria, and use the <br />resulting information to improve them. Adaptive management works iteratively as shown in the <br />following diagram: <br />Management 4 Evaluation <br />Monitoring & Research <br />A major implication of adaptive management is that acquisition of useful data becomes one of <br />the primary goals of management; therefore, the need for useful data should be considered when <br />making management decisions. Monitoring and research should be designed to reduce <br />uncertainty. Typical sources of uncertainty include: <br />• Ecological (structural) uncertainty: population, community, or landscape dynamics <br />are not completely known; important biological processes are at work; and, there are <br />competing lines of thought as to how they work <br />• Environmental variation: uncontrollable changes that increase randomness in system <br />dynamics <br />• Partial controllability: management decisions are applied to system indirectly, and <br />7 <br />