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3. Data needs and parameters to be measured via the Integrated Monitoring and Research <br />Component (IMRC) of the proposed Program will be determined. This step, the primary <br />focus of the remainder of this document; ensures the Program will collect, during the first <br />increment, the information needed to evaluate the effectiveness on the Program at the end <br />of that period. <br />4. Long -range species recovery objectives for the Program will be developed. This is an <br />internal task of the Service, that the Service believes is required to assess the significance <br />of the progress made during the first increment and aid in development of milestones for <br />subsequent increments of the Program. The long -range objectives will be developed with <br />input from a variety of species experts, including people involved in the development of <br />the species recovery plans. <br />At the end of the First Increment: <br />The Service will use information gathered via the IMRC and other available sources to evaluate <br />Program benefits to the target species and their habitats based on: <br />► Changes from baseline conditions and trends in quantity, quality, and distribution of <br />species habitat and species habitat use <br />► Sustainability of improvements in quantity, quality and distribution of species habitat <br />► Comparison of species /habitat condition and long -range species recovery objectives ( #4, <br />above) <br />► The fulfillment of the purposes of the Program, as stated in the CA. <br />Rationale for Determining Data Needs <br />The CA arose from concerns about the effects of water development in the Platte River basin on <br />federally listed threatened /endangered species and designated critical habitat. The Service has <br />determined (pursuant to section 7a(2) of the ESA) that federal activities resulting in existing and <br />new depletions to the Platte River system are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the <br />whooping crane, piping plover, interior least tern and pallid sturgeon, and adversely modify <br />designated critical habitat. In order to avoid the likelihood of jeopardy to the target species, <br />the Program must address the causes of jeopardy resulting from Platte River depletions. <br />The jeopardy biological opinions issued by the Service since 1994, are based on two types of <br />adverse effects resulting from depletions to Platte River flows. <br />1) The first type is the immediate and direct effect on aquatic river habitats used by federally <br />listed species. Physical habitat characteristics, such as water depth, velocity, temperature, <br />width of water in the channel, and wetted surface area, are related to discharge and river <br />stage. Changes in these variables affect the amount and distribution of roost habitat <br />available for migrating whooping cranes. These variables also determine the extent of <br />riverine nesting habitat to terns and plovers and quality of foraging habitat available to the <br />species. <br />