Adaptive Management for the Adaptive Management for the Ecosystem Restoration Program in the Ecosystem Restoration Program in the

Lower Columbia River and EstuaryLower Columbia River and Estuary

Blaine D. EbbertsBlaine D. Ebberts

Presented at the NPCC Presented at the NPCC

Science to Policy ExchangeScience to Policy Exchange

Astoria, Oregon, September 2009Astoria, Oregon, September 2009

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Purpose Purpose Description and approachDescription and approach NeedsNeeds Evolution and statusEvolution and status Use of research Use of research Issues for implementationIssues for implementation Applications to policy-Applications to policy-

making making Conclusions and Conclusions and

recommendationsrecommendations

PurposePurpose

Present the adaptive management plan for Present the adaptive management plan for ecosystem restoration so that the NPCC ecosystem restoration so that the NPCC and the regionand the region– understand the approachunderstand the approach– appreciate its need and usefulnessappreciate its need and usefulness– enhance regional buy-inenhance regional buy-in– Coordinate, advance, and apply AMCoordinate, advance, and apply AM

Ecosystem restoration goalEcosystem restoration goal– understand, conserve, and restore the estuary understand, conserve, and restore the estuary

ecosystem to improve the performance of ESA-ecosystem to improve the performance of ESA-listed salmonidslisted salmonids

Adaptive Management (AM)Adaptive Management (AM) AM is a systematic AM is a systematic

framework to make framework to make informed decisionsinformed decisions

AM elements: goal, AM elements: goal, conceptual model, conceptual model, evaluation frameworkevaluation framework

AM incorporates AM incorporates research that reduces research that reduces uncertaintyuncertainty

AM requires trust and AM requires trust and collaboration among collaboration among participantsparticipants

Adaptive Management ApproachAdaptive Management Approach

1. Establish Goals and Objectives

2. Design and Plan Monitoring and Research

3. Coordinate and Implement Monitoring

4. Manage, Analyze, and Disseminate

Data

5. Report Information

7. Synthesize, Evaluate, and Make Decisions

6. Assess Implementation/ Compliance

Columbia River Ecosystem Restoration Columbia River Ecosystem Restoration Adaptive Management NeedsAdaptive Management Needs

There are many authorities to develop ecosystem There are many authorities to develop ecosystem restoration projects.restoration projects.

There is a legal mandate to restore juvenile There is a legal mandate to restore juvenile salmon habitat from the Biological Opinion on salmon habitat from the Biological Opinion on operation of the FCRPS. operation of the FCRPS.

Ecosystem restoration is an important component Ecosystem restoration is an important component of the effort to recover ESA-listed species.of the effort to recover ESA-listed species.

Multiple regional entities are working on Multiple regional entities are working on restoration.restoration.

Millions of dollars have been and many more will Millions of dollars have been and many more will be spent.be spent.

Evolution and Current Status of Adaptive Evolution and Current Status of Adaptive Management for Ecosystem RestorationManagement for Ecosystem Restoration

AM plan developed (Thom AM plan developed (Thom et al. 2008)et al. 2008)

Currently early stages of Currently early stages of implementationimplementation

Regional coordination is Regional coordination is underwayunderway

Progress has been slow, Progress has been slow, but positivebut positive

AM will be the central AM will be the central theme for the biennial theme for the biennial Columbia River Estuary Columbia River Estuary Conference in 2010Conference in 2010

We’re adaptively We’re adaptively managing the AM managing the AM program!program!

Use of ResearchUse of Research

Research informs decision-making. Research informs decision-making. Site-specific action effectiveness research (AER) Site-specific action effectiveness research (AER)

(e.g., Micah’s talk on effectiveness monitoring). (e.g., Micah’s talk on effectiveness monitoring). – We use these data to evaluate site specific actions.We use these data to evaluate site specific actions.

Ecosystem-based AER work (e.g., Ron’s talk on Ecosystem-based AER work (e.g., Ron’s talk on Cumulative Effects). CE is an estuary-wide Cumulative Effects). CE is an estuary-wide synthesis of project-specific AER. synthesis of project-specific AER. – We use these data to evaluate ecosystem wide actions. We use these data to evaluate ecosystem wide actions.

Critical uncertainties research (e.g., Nikki’s and Critical uncertainties research (e.g., Nikki’s and Ed’s talks on juvenile salmon ecology). Ed’s talks on juvenile salmon ecology). – We use these data to help prioritize restoration actions.We use these data to help prioritize restoration actions.

Issues for ImplementationIssues for Implementation

Insufficient Insufficient ffunding for unding for effectiveness effectiveness monitoringmonitoring

Incomplete regional Incomplete regional collaboration and buy-incollaboration and buy-in

Uncertainty about Uncertainty about restoration benefitsrestoration benefits

Inadequate data Inadequate data analysis, management, analysis, management, and disseminationand dissemination

Application to Policy-MakingApplication to Policy-Making

Coordination and integration with other Coordination and integration with other regional AM effortsregional AM efforts– NPCC F&W Program AMNPCC F&W Program AM– BiOp AMBiOp AM– Estuary Partnership AMEstuary Partnership AM

Ecosystem restorationEcosystem restoration– WhatWhat– WhereWhere– How muchHow much

Analysis of restoration benefitsAnalysis of restoration benefits

Conclusions and Conclusions and RecommendationsRecommendations

Conclusion: we have a basis for a regional Conclusion: we have a basis for a regional AM program for ecosystem restoration in AM program for ecosystem restoration in the lower Columbia River and estuary.the lower Columbia River and estuary.

Recommendations to implement AM, i.e., Recommendations to implement AM, i.e., turn the plan into a program:turn the plan into a program:– Standardized monitoring protocols (Roegner et Standardized monitoring protocols (Roegner et

al., 2009)al., 2009)– Increased funding for effectiveness monitoringIncreased funding for effectiveness monitoring– Organized data management and information Organized data management and information

dissemination systemdissemination system– Timely analyses and periodic evaluationsTimely analyses and periodic evaluations– Improved regional ownership and coordinationImproved regional ownership and coordination

ClosingClosing

Really though, adaptive management is just…Common Sense

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements Co-authors: Ron Thom, Heida Diefenderfer, Co-authors: Ron Thom, Heida Diefenderfer,

Catherine Corbett, and Gary JohnsonCatherine Corbett, and Gary Johnson Practitioners – CREST, CLT, & consultants Practitioners – CREST, CLT, & consultants Researchers – NOAA, ODFW, PNNL, USGS, USFWS, Researchers – NOAA, ODFW, PNNL, USGS, USFWS,

UW, & WDFW UW, & WDFW Estuary PartnershipEstuary Partnership State AgenciesState Agencies Portland District COEPortland District COE

For more information, please contact Blaine D. Ebberts @ (503) 808-4763