Incorporation of Governance Committee Comments on draft IMRC

Home Browse Search

TO: Governance Committee Members, Alternates, and Others FROM: Technical Committee RE: Incorporation of Governance Committee Comments on draft IMRC The Technical Committee (TC) received comments from representatives of the Department of Interior, Down Stream Water Users, South Platte Water Users, the State of Wyoming, and the State of Colorado on the October 6, 1999 draft "Integrated Monitoring and Research Component" (IMRC). This memo outlines major points raised in the comments as well as where the points were addressed in the current draft IMRC. Point 1: Clarification of Adaptive Management Questions, Use, and Reporting Several comments asked for further explanation of how and when adaptive management will be used. The existing IMRC contained an extensive section on the general concepts of adaptive management and how adaptive management was discussed in the Cooperative Agreement. Section V. Adaptive Management, was expanded to include further clarification on the different levels of adaptive management as well as when and how adaptive management would occur. Clarification regarding project level adaptive management and Program adaptive management was also included in Section I. Introduction. Section IV.C. Reporting was added to give an example of how reporting for adaptive management purposes may oc(;ur during the Program. Further clarification from the Department of Interior is needed to determine how the IMRC should be edited to incorporate the comment that "the adaptive management section should explicitly state and fully discuss the specific questions Program managers will face in the Platte River Basin." Point 2: Statement of Quantifiable /Measurable Objectives One comment asked that Quantifiable /Measurable Objectives for use in adaptive management and for evaluating the effectiveness of Program management actions be Mcluded in the IMRC. Through discussion at the December TC meeting it was understood that the comment was asking for Quantifiable /Measurable Objectives as they relate to habitat (e.g., acres of wet meadow habitat protected) and water, not species Quantifiable/Measurable Objectives. This concern will "1 be addressed in the Habitat Protection Plan and Water Action Plan and not specifically in the IMRC. Point 3: Budget The TC included a very rough estimate for the proposed monitoring and. research component of the Program. Several comments expressed concern that the estimate was too high and that too many activities were identified. One comment asked that the budget section of the IMRC be removed. To address these concerns, the document was modified in Section XI. Estimated Budget, by explaining that the budget will be better defined through protocol development and consideration of collaborative projects. The overall budget was removed from the IMRC but budget estimates will be provided to the FC for their use. The tables outlining proposed monitoring and research activities were moved to Section XII. Protocol Development.