The 2009 Gila Science Forum

This book is a compilation of reports and documents from the 2009 Gila Science Forum, held on June 3, 2009 in Silver City, New Mexico. The 2004 Arizona Water Settlements Act provided the potential for New Mexico to develop additional Gila River water, as well as $66 million to $128 million in federal funds. An important step in the decision-making process is to determine the potential effects of flow modification on the aquatic and riparian resources of the Gila River. At the Forum, a panel of distinguished scientists was invited 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 • How information gleaned from such efforts might be integrated to provide an ecosystem-based assessment of effects.