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River biological opinions, and laws and Department of Interior and Service regulations and <br />policy guidance pertaining to environmental planning. Species- specific tables are also attached, <br />which identify data needs correlated to the questions, and include potential sources of that data, <br />potential methods of analysis, and the time frame of data collection during the first increment. <br />I. Whooping Crane <br />A. Channel Roost Habitat: Constituent Element of Designated Critical Habitat <br />1) How do Program changes in river flow management affect the immediate (i.e., <br />daily) quantity and quality of aquatic roosting habitat during migration periods? <br />2) How do Program changes in land and river flow management affect the amount, <br />quality (suitability), and spatial distribution of open - channel roosting habitat? <br />3) What effects do Program changes in river flow management and land <br />management have on the sustainability of channel habitat? The Service will <br />consider related questions such as: <br />a) Is the river morphology sustainable based on the available sediment <br />supply? <br />(1) What is the long -term effect of program water management on <br />availability and transport of sediment? <br />(2) Is sediment supply in dynamic equilibrium? <br />b) How does Program water management affect riparian vegetation <br />encroachment? <br />(1) What flow regime maximizes number and areas of bare substrate? <br />(2) Can EA releases contribute effectively to maintenance of bare <br />substrate? <br />(3) Do measurements of discharge, sediment, vegetation and channel <br />morphology support the sediment/vegetation model? <br />C) What are the effects of land management practices on sustainability of <br />roost habitat? <br />(1) What are the short- and long -term effects of channel widening on <br />channel morphology (on site and downstream)? <br />(2) What are the short- and long -term effects of island leveling on <br />channel morphology (on site and downstream)? <br />(3) How does tree /brush removal affect short and long -term quantity <br />and distribution of whooping crane roosting habitat? <br />B. Bottom land feeding and loafing habitat: Constituent Element of Critical Habitat <br />1) Do program changes in river flow management affect the river discharge during <br />periods that are considered important to wet meadow hydrology? <br />2) How does Program flow management affect river flow /stage relationships, or the <br />sustainability thereof? <br />