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<br />o <br />o <br />(-::> <br />.... <br />""" <br />QO <br /> <br />additional studies. Extensive investigations are underway to <br />determine the effects of ongoing oil and gas developments. <br />Existing development of NIIP has also necessitated <br />investigations. Simple suspicion that water quality may be a <br />problem, whatever its source, is sufficient reason for <br />investigations. Simply stating that specific tasks must be <br />undertaken should not be construed as stating that there is a <br />particular problem. Also, the first paragraph of Section 4.5 has <br />been modified to reflect comment. <br /> <br />7) The following was inserted as the second paragraph of Section <br />4.7. <br />The LRP is based on adaptive management. It has been <br />written to accommodate and encourage proactive measures to <br />benefit the endangered species once such measures have been <br />identified. The Seven Year Research Plan was designed primarily <br />to conduct such research as was necessary to identify those <br />actions and strategies that might contribute to the recovery of <br />the endangered fish species. To force the process to identify <br />specific recovery goals before basic research is complete would <br />seriously compromise the integrity of any recommended actions. <br />However, it is possible that measures to improve the status of <br />endangered species or their habitats will be identified before <br />completion of the Seven Year research effort. Testing of <br />management recommendations is necessary before deciding on <br />specific goals. Such testing will often require four or more <br />years. Nevertheless, it is likely that some "recovery" measures <br />may be implemented prior to 1997 or 1998. When it is <br />appropriate, such measures will be recommended and evaluated. <br /> <br />B) An augmentation plan will be developed. However, there is a <br />broad array of research (including completion of ongoing genetic <br />studies) that must be accomplished before a specific augmentation <br />plan can be developed. In addition, removing fish from the wild <br />(or their gametes) would seriously diminish in situ recovery, <br />compromise ongoing research which is directed towards evaluating <br />the response of endangered species to particular management <br />activities, and is inordinately costly (these funds might well be <br />better spent in other activities). Furthermore, augmentation in <br />the Colorado River has not been documented to be successful. It <br />is correct that a few individuals, of thousands stocked, survived <br />to adulthood, but their relative contribution to reproduction and <br />recruitment has not been documented. <br /> <br />9) The plan does provide a milestone addressing this concern. <br />Results of ongoing studies on radio-tagged razorback sucker will <br />contribute to recommendations. Early results of this study <br />demonstrate that razorback sucker can survive in the San Juan <br />River and do not leave the system. The remaining activities for <br />razorback sucker are listed in Table 1 of the LRP. <br /> <br />10) The LRP has been written to be fully consistent with the <br /> <br />2 <br />