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01787 . coordination, planning and implementation of remedies to address these current deficiencies in the cultural program through the development and application of scientifically credible approaches to future monitoring, data recovery, and data management. . Before science can be successfully applied, however, the future role of science in the cultural program must be clearly defined; Therefore, it is critical that a plan for managing cultural resourccs and associated activities within the program be in place prior to treating cultural resources of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park. As the lead agency for Section 106 compliance related to dam operations, it is essential that the Bureau of Reclamation fully develop and implement a Historic Preservation Plan (as called for under the current Programmatic Agreement) as soon as possible, rather than continuing to operate in an ad hoc fashion under the Monitoring and Remedial Action , Plan of the 1994 Programmatic Agreement. For serious progress to occur in the cultural arena, the Historic Preservation Plan must be completed without further delay. The Historic Preservation Plan needs to clearly specify the role that GCMRC will play to meet program objectives that are fully consistent with its established role within the AMP, including: I) providing independent, credible, objective, peer-reviewed scientific information related to the effects of dam operations on cultural resources in the CRE; 2) developing and over-sighting a long-term monitoring program for cultural resources in the CRE to document and track the effects of dam operations and the effectiveness of mitigation efforts; 3) establishing scientifically-credible standards and research objectives for data recovery at cultural sites in the CRE; and 4) managing the data that results from these and other directly-related research and monitoring activities within the eRE. It is also imperative thatthc National Park Service clearly and realistically define its long-term objectives for managing and maintaining the integrity of register-eligible historic properties within the CRE. These objectives must explicitly recognize and address the reality that erosional processes and visitor impacts will continue to occur as long as the Park is managed primarily as a "natural park" with wilderness-like recreational objectives. The establishment of these management objectives is necessary in order to have a credible basis for evaluating whether AMP activities, including flow regimes, are meeting the stated objectives ofGCPA for the protection, mitigation of adverse effects to, and preservation of cultural resources. In order to meet GCP A and National Historic Preservation Act mandates to monitor and mitigate impacts of dam-operations on historic propcrties, the GCMRC must define and implement (through established cooperative agreements, competitively bid RFPs, and other means) scientifically-credible approaches for monitoring status and trends in resource condition, as well as fulfilling AMP objectives for implementing well- conccived (scientifically defensible) mitigation strategies within the CRE. The selected approaches and strategies need to be compatible with the objectives defined by the NPS for long-term management of its resources; they also need to meet high professional standards and produce high-quality information. GCMRC will work collaboratively with the land managers and other AMP stakeholders to ensure that cultural resources are . USGS SBSC GCMRC Strategic Science Plan - FY 2005-2009 Draft, October 22, 2004 19