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Sclonriflc Tvalutatian of Biological Opinions on rndanEcrcd and Tht=cned fishes In the Klamath River tiastn; intarlm ZZOporc (2002) <br />hap n{eplul l.html enMr1Fh1 21112, 21II I 'MC NSIIrinal nom➢ O 'ICK"k on nghw -aic vod <br />showing need for higher flows in the Klamath main stem and higher lake levels in the <br />upper part of the basin. <br />External review increases confidence in scientific and technical judgments, and <br />is especially important when such judgments underlie important policy decisions. <br />Accordingly, the Department of the Interior and Department of Commerce have <br />arranged through its agencies for the National Research Council to form the Committee <br />on Endangered and Threatened Fishes in the Klamath River Basin, whose charge Is to <br />conduct an external review of the scientific basis for the biological opinions that resulted <br />in changes of water management for year 2001. The committee Is to conduct Its work <br />in two phases. The first phase, which is reported here, gives an interim assessment of <br />the evidence behind the biological opinions. A second phase, which will occur over <br />approximately the next year, will take a broader approach to evaluation of evidence for <br />long -term requirements of the threatened and endangered fishes. <br />In formulating its interim assessment, the committee has been greatly assisted <br />by individuals who have provided It with Information orally and In written form. The <br />committee is especially indebted to the Invited speakers and members of the public <br />who attended the first meeting of the committee and also to NRC staff members <br />Heather McDonald, Jennifer Saunders, David Policansky, and Suzanne van Drunick <br />and to Leslie Northeott of the University of Colorado. <br />All NRC committee reports are subject to external peer review as well as internal <br />quality control processes. The committee and the NRC are grateful to the reviewers <br />who contributed their time and expertise to the review process. <br />The NRC committee is pleased to provide scientific and technical assessments <br />that it hopes will be helpful to federal agencies as they attempt the difficult process of <br />guiding water management toward practices that are consistent with the welfare of <br />threatened and endangered species while also accommodating to the fullest practical <br />extent other uses of water in the Klamath River Basin. <br />William M. Lewis, Jr., Chair <br />Committee on Endangered and Threatened <br />Fishes in the Klamath River Basin <br />X1 <br />SON OEO /Z1O'd ' 9EN 8991998E0E s3nnos3a i"nidN 100 -Woad X11 ZOOZ- 80 -93d <br />