The Instream Flow Program Initiative is one of the most comprehensive summaries of state and provincial fish and wildlife agency instream flow and water management activities ever conducted. Authored by 7 members of the Instream Flow Council, this report provides a detailed look at the technical, institutional, legal, and public involvement functions and capacities of all 50 state and six provincial fish and wildlife agencies. The report identifies many of the most pressing challenges facing state and provincial agencies, details recent trends in agency function, presents opportunities that agencies can embrace, and provides a wide range of strategies that agencies can consider to improve their effectiveness for managing water and the fish and wildlife communities that are supported by streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

This three-year project was endorsed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and largely funded with a Multi-State Conservation Grant administered by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Information contained in this report was drawn from two extensive web-based surveys in 2006 and 2007 and a week long workshop attended by the instream flow coordinator or equivalent from each participating agency.

Though intended to help agency managers better fulfill their public trust stewardship responsibilities, this report can easily be used by non-governmental organizations and other instream flow supporters to assist fish and wildlife management agencies in this effort. Other governmental entities that are involved in the complex business of managing water for fish and wildlife may also find benefit in the information contained in this report.

Annear, T., D. Lobb, C. Coomer, M. Woythal, C. Hendry, C. Estes, and K. Williams. 2009. International Instream Flow Program Initiative, A Status Report of State and Provincial Fish and Wildlife Agency Instream Flow Activities and Strategies for the Future, Final Report for Multi-State Conservation Grant Project WY M-7-T. Instream Flow Council, Cheyenne, WY.