Based on public review feedback of the January 2023 draft, the final feasibility assessment report for establishing an instream flow and water level conservation (IFWLC) training, research, and development center has been completed and is available for download.

Citation:
Weedman, D., D. Austen, T. Annear, D. Carlisle, C. Estes, T. Hardy, A. Locke, D. Orth, D. Reiser, and C. Stalnaker. 2023. Training, research, and development center to support instream flow and water level conservation: Feasibility assessment. Multistate Conservation Grant Project Number F21AP01124, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration. Instream Flow and Water Level Conservation Steering Committee. Instream Flow Council and American Fisheries Society. 78 p.

Results:
The results of the completed assessment report portion of this project established the need, support, strategies, and pathways forward to develop the Center.

What’s Next?
The next project steps will include crafting a business plan to facilitate implementation of the assessment report recommendations and execution of other preliminary actions required to establish and operate the Center. Future updates will be posted online in 2024.

Background:
For nearly two decades, interdisciplinary instream flow related conservation (protection, restoration, and enhancement) training, research, and development services were provided under the direction of the federal Cooperative Instream Flow Service Group (CIFSG) in Fort Collins, Colorado.

After that group ceased to exist in 2001, no equivalent centralized uniform source of instream flow and water level conservation (IFWLC) training and support services has been established.

Many who received training by the CIFSG have subsequently retired or moved to other jobs. As a result, this interdisciplinary water conservation field has been losing a central focus, potentially leading to diminished knowledge, mentorship, and leadership for quantifying the effects of water uses, management, and research on effective conservation of instream flow and water levels on fish, wildlife, and habitat.

These and related concerns are being addressed by the Instream Flow Council (IFC) and American Fisheries Society (AFS) through a multistate conservation grant project to first assess the needs and support for establishing a new IFWLC training, research, and development center (Center), and contingent on positive outcomes of the assessment, develop strategies and pathways forward to establish and operate the Center.

As part of this process, the IFC and AFS established a steering committee (SC)* comprised of experts to execute this project. The SC represents governmental, non-governmental, academic, and private sectors to execute this project. Each has extensive experience in integration of the interdisciplinary development, training, and application of IFWLC methods and has remained actively involved in water resource allocation issues.

*Steering Committee:
Co-Chair David Weedman, IFC Past President
Co-Chair Doug Austen, AFS Executive Director
Tom Annear
Daren Carlisle
Christopher Estes
Thom Hardy
Allan Locke
Donald Orth
Dudley Reiser
Clair Stalnaker
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Online Comments, Questions, Update, Alerts Form:
Please use the IFC Home Page online form to submit project comments, questions, or to receive updates.

See also: January 25, 2023 National Fish Habitat Partnership News.