Western New Mexico University
Global Resources Center Auditorium, Silver City,
New Mexico
June 3, 2009, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
The public was invited to attend the 2009 Gila Science Forum, sponsored by the Southwest New Mexico Stakeholders Group, on June 3, 2009, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the Western New Mexico University Global Resources Center Auditorium, Silver City, New Mexico. Final report here.
Background
The 2004 Arizona Water Settlements Act (Act) provides for additional water for New Mexico as well as $66 million to $128 million in federal funds. Expenditures of these funds must meet a water supply demand, and must be approved by the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission in consultation with the Southwest New Mexico Water Planning Group.
The direction from the Governor of New Mexico is to use the best available science and information, coupled with a full and inclusive public involvement process, to both protect the unique and valuable ecology of the Gila Basin and to provide for present and future water needs.
By 2014, New Mexico must give notice to the Secretary of the Interior how, or if, New Mexico wishes to utilize its benefits under the Act. Notice to the Secretary must be based on sound science and reasoning.
One intermediate goal of the decision-making process is to determine the potential effects of flow modification on the Gila River and its resources. The 2009 Gila Science Forum is designed to further that goal. Purpose
The purpose of the 2009 Gila Science Forum is to identify, discuss, and recommend:
- ways of determining the potential effects of flow modification on aquatic and riparian resources of the Gila River (including risks and uncertainty), and *
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how information gleaned from such efforts might be integrated to provide an ecosystem-based assessment of effects.
Panelists
The 2009 Gila Science Forum is a natural extension of the 2006 Science Forum in that its invited panelists are individuals having considerable knowledge of and research experience with biological, hydrological, and geomorphological attributes of southwest US streams and rivers.
Panelist |
Discipline |
Affiliation |
| Dr. William Fagan |
Ecology |
University of Maryland |
| Dr. Keith Gido |
Aquatic Ecology |
Kansas State University |
| Dr. Robert Glass |
Hydrology |
Sandia National Laboratory |
| Dr. Paul Marsh |
Aquatic Ecology |
Marsh & Associates |
| Dr. Waite Osterkamp |
Geomorphology |
USGS |
| Dr. Ron Ryel |
Biostatistics |
Utah State University |
Guiding Questions
Panelists will respond to four questions during the Forum. (These questions are in final draft form.)
1. In broad and general terms, what are the potential effects of flow modification on the biological, hydrological, and geomorphological attributes of southwestern rivers?
2. What tools and methods are available to assess the biological, hydrological, and geomorphological responses of a river to human-induced flow modification? What are the advantages and disadvantages, risks and uncertainties associated with each tool and method?
3. How might information obtained from biological, hydrological, and geomorphological studies be best assimilated and integrated to understand the effects of flow modification on ecosystem function?
4. Recognizing that time and resources are limited (to about one year and $1 million), what are the most pressing tasks (including, potentially, filling information gaps) that we need to address in order to assess the effects of modified flows on aquatic resources of Gila River?
It is anticipated that panelists will consider in some detail, for example, the merits of one approach versus another for assessing the effects of flow reduction on fish habitat availability and reproductive success of a particular species. While much of the attention or focus of the forum will be on aquatic resources, it is important for panelists to consider implications or effects of management choices on terrestrial resources as well, including the current agricultural practices in the floodplain and the water use there. Process and Reporting
The Forum will be facilitated to ensure the discussion remains directed and focused. After panelists’ discussion of each question, the facilitator will summarize key points and take questions from the audience for panelists. Detailed notes of Forum discussions and responses to questions will be kept. The Forum will be open to public and, it is anticipated and hoped, attended by a diversity of interests.
On the day following the public Forum, panelists will work in private with the assistance of a facilitator to begin drafting a report (including recommendations) of the previous day’s discussions. The report will provide an overview of potential effects of flow modification on aquatic and riparian resources, a compilation of tools and methods to quantify and assess effects of modified flow regimes, consideration of uncertainties and risks associated with various quantification/assessment methods, and recommendations on how stakeholders might determine appropriate approach(es) to take. Panelists will strive for consensus recommendations, and if consensus is not achieved, will fully explore their differences, as well as advantages and disadvantages of each option, in the report. Over the next few weeks the panelists will finalize their report, which will then be made available to the Gila Stakeholders Group.
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