Submitted by Christopher Estes to the Winter 2024 EWRI Currents.

For nearly two decades, interdisciplinary instream flow related conservation (i.e. 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 equivalentcentralized 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 the following experts representing governmental, non-governmental, academic, and private sectors with extensive experience in integration of the interdisciplinary development, training, and application of IFWLC methods, and who have remained actively involved in water resource allocation issues:

  • 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

The results of the completed assessment portion of this project established the need, support, strategies, and pathways forward to develop the Center and is available for download.

The next project steps will include crafting a business plan to facilitate implementation of the assessment recommendations and execution of other preliminary actions required to establish and operate the Center.