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PRRIP — ED OFFICE FINAL 6 05/27/2010 <br />242 <br />Habitat Definition, Selection, and Use <br />243 <br />To advance the discussion of habitat definition, selection, and use, tapping into the knowledge of <br />244 <br />pallid sturgeon experts from the Platte River and Missouri River in a workshop setting is <br />245 <br />recommended. The series of potential actions that could follow is provided below. <br />246 <br />247 <br />3. If the GC approves at the June 2010 meeting, then convene a lower Platte River pallid <br />248 <br />sturgeon workshop in fall 2010 with TAC members, ISAC members, and pallid <br />249 <br />sturgeon experts from the Platte River and Missouri River. Workshop discussion topics <br />250 <br />will include: <br />p <br />251 <br />• Whether the stage change study reach is representative of the associated habitat below <br />252 <br />the Elkhorn River confluence for purposes of further applying the study tool. <br />253 <br />• Based on results of the stage change study and additional data, is there potentially a <br />254 <br />change in lower Platte flow due to Program actions that could be significant to pallid <br />255 <br />sturgeon (is there a possibility that the Program is violating its "avoid adverse <br />256 <br />impact" objective for pallid sturgeon ?)? <br />257 <br />• If so, assess the extent and scope of necessary habitat selection research. <br />258 <br />Estimated Cost: $25,000 <br />259 <br />Funding: Existing funding for this workshop is available in the approved FY 2010 <br />260 <br />Program budget (line items PD -4: AMP Workshops and PD-11: AMP Reporting). <br />261 <br />262 <br />Following from #3, either #4 or #5 <br />263 <br />rO <br />264 <br />4. If consensus at the pallid sturgeon workshop is the study reach is representative of the <br />�- <br />265 <br />lower Platte associated habitat and if no revisions are necessary to the study (or after <br />266 <br />those revisions are complete; see #2 above), then determine logistics of using the stage <br />267 <br />change study tool in conjunction with Program water management activities. ED <br />268 <br />Office needs to explore how best to utilize the stage change study tool in planning for and <br />269 <br />operation of Program water management activities. <br />270 <br />Estimated Cost: N/A <br />271 <br />Funding: Existing funding for this work is available as staff time in the approved FY <br />272 <br />2010 Program budget. <br />273 <br />274 <br />5. If consensus at the pallid sturgeon workshop is the study reach is not representative of the <br />275 <br />lower Platte associated habitat, then solicit TAC recommendation and GC approval of <br />276 <br />contracting with HDR to revise and update study accordingly. <br />277 <br />Estimated Cost: Depends on extent of revisions necessary; $25,000- $100,000+ <br />278 <br />Funding: Additional funding for this activity would be included in proposed FY 2011 <br />279 <br />Program budget under line item PS -2; solicit GC approval in December 2010 <br />280 <br />281 <br />Following from #3 <br />282 <br />283 <br />6. Pallid sturgeon have been sampled upstream of the Elkhorn River confluence (Hamel et <br />j <br />284 <br />al., 2010). If consensus at the pallid sturgeon workshop is the lower Platte upstream of <br />285 <br />the Elkhorn River confluence should be evaluated, then solicit TAC recommendation and <br />PRRIP Pallid Sturgeon Assessment Page 7 of 8 <br />