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<br />? <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />, <br />concern. Although this study was slated to start in 1996, Mr. Anderson's research obligations to the <br />Colorado River recovery program caused significant delays so data collection to support his current research <br />project did not commence in a major way until 1998. The data collection effort for this research project will <br />, <br />therefore continue for the next three to four years: The most optimistic estimate of when results from the <br />habitat-flow relationships portion of this project will start to provide significant information to the current <br />issue of flow recommendations for the Yampa and Colorado Rivers is three years. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Board has stated their desire to see instream flow recommendations for the Colorado River and the <br />Yampa River that are generated by state biologists; furthermore it is apparent to the Division that the Board <br />desires flow recommendations that are consistent with state wildlife management goals and the Board's <br />standard of "flows necessary to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree." The Division's <br />Long Range Plan and operational philosophy recognizes the benefits of managing wildlife in a proactive <br />manner rather than in the reactive mode that is dictated by endangered species listing. Anderson's project <br />reflects the Division's commitment to the management of west em slope fish communities. The habitat <br />requirements of these fish communities must first be better understood and then the populations and their <br />habitat should protected from further decline and degradation. The results of this research project will <br />provide valuable information that will form the basis of a state generated flow recommendation that will <br />meet the goals of both the Division and the Board. Unfortunately, we are still a few years away from the <br />point where we are able to apply this research toward defendable flow recommendations. <br /> <br />The Division believes, aside from the entire endangered species issue, that this is the next natural step for <br />the state's instream flow program. As we finish the job of protecting the higher altitude cold water fishery <br />resources in the state, the next step is to move down on to the cool water and warm water sections of the <br />state's streams and rivers that support fish and wildlife resources unique to those types of habitats. We hope <br />that this research and other research projects (addressing similar eastern slope issues) will provide us with <br />a widely accepted methodology that will serve our mutual interests as well as the work horse of the instream <br />. flow program, the R2CROSS method, has for so many years. <br /> <br />CONCLUSION <br /> <br />The Division is committed to supporting and following through with the above described research projects. <br />We will continue to work closely with the Board and the Board's staff as we proceed through the data <br />collection and analysis process. While we are disappointed that the recovery program flow <br />recommendations were not successful, we believe that the Colorado River and the Yampa River are <br />outstanding state resources that are both in need of and worthy of protection under the CWCB' s instream <br />flow program. We will forward flow recommendations to the Board as soon as it is practical to do so from <br />a biological and technical standpoint. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Page 2 <br />