Sep 12-13, 2007 1Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Science Policy Exchange- Thursday Sessions -

Sponsored by

Northwest Power and Conservation CouncilSeptember 12-13, 2007

Richard N. Williams, PhD Facilitator

Research Associate ProfessorCenter for Salmonids and Freshwater Species At-Risk

University of Idaho

Sep 12-13, 2007 2Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

• Inform the Upcoming FWP Amendment Process

• Science and the FWP– Are the assumptions in the FWP consistent with the newest

scientific findings?– Understand how science has evolved and how that should/will

affect our management actions

• Dialogue Forum: Policy <> Science <> Management– Sharpen issues surrounding symposium topics – Reach common understanding among Council members,

regional scientists, and federal, state, and Tribal managers

Objectives for the S-P Exchange

Sep 12-13, 2007 3Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

The Science-Policy Interface

Management:Management:eg, CBFWAeg, CBFWA

Science:Science:eg, ISAB, ISRPeg, ISAB, ISRP

Policy:Policy:eg, NPPCeg, NPPC

Sep 12-13, 2007 4Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Schedule and Issues

• Wednesday– am Habitat Issues– pm Mainstem Issues

• Thursday– am Estuary Issues

– pm Ocean Issues

Sep 12-13, 2007 5Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Habitat Issues

Wednesday Morning

Sep 12-13, 2007 6Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Mainstem Issues

Wednesday Afternoon

Sep 12-13, 2007 7Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Estuary and Plume Issues

Thursday Morning

Sep 12-13, 2007 8Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Ocean

Thursday Afternoon

Sep 12-13, 2007 9Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Format for the S-P Exchange

• Format of Topic Sessions– Specific topic

• Note FWP assumptions on topic• Describe and summarize new scientific findings• Clarify with case studies, wherever possible

– Summary and policy implications

– Group Discussion• Exchange between Council members, managers, and scientists• Emphasis is on policy and manager’s perspective

Sep 12-13, 2007 10Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Meeting Details

• Schedule is tight– Facilitator will enforce time table

• Talks• Breaks

• Restroom locations

• Lunch on your own

• Odds and ends

Sep 12-13, 2007 11Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Science Policy Exchange

• Incorporated in Fish and Wildlife Programs’ Scientific Principles

• Based on:Independent Scientific Group’s Return to the River and its Conceptual Foundation

Fish and Wildlife Program Assumptions

Sep 12-13, 2007 12Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Alternative Conceptual FoundationReturn to the River (1996; 2006)

• Salmonid life history diversity and habitat diversity are linked

• Increases in habitat abundance, diversity, and connectivity increase salmonid life history diversity

• Increases in habitat and life history diversity increase salmon production

• Increased abundance and production increase resilience

Sep 12-13, 2007 13Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Diversity – Productivity Linkage

• Normative River Processes– natural processes and functions

• Habitat Complexity and Diversity

• Biodiversity– life history, population, phenotypic,

genetic

• Salmonid Productivity– achieve Council’s rebuilding goals

• Resiliency

Sep 12-13, 2007 14Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Alluvial River 3-D Ecosystem

Sep 12-13, 2007 15Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

FWP Scientific Principles

1. The abundance, productivity and diversity of organisms are integrally linked to the characteristics of their ecosystems.

2. Ecosystems are dynamic, resilient and develop over time.

3. Biological systems operate on various spatial and time scales that can be organized hierarchically.

4. Habitats develop, and are maintained, by physical and biological processes.

Sep 12-13, 2007 16Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

FWP Scientific Principles

5. Species play key roles in developing and maintaining ecological conditions.

6. Biological diversity allows ecosystems to persist in the face of environmental variation.

7. Ecological management is adaptive and experimental.

8. Ecosystem function, habitat structure and biological performance are affected by human actions.

Sep 12-13, 2007 17Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Science Policy Exchange

Estuary-PlumeIssues

Sep 12-13, 2007 18Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Estuary-Specific Assumptions in the FWP

• Estuary assumptions and strategies are included in the FWP’s habitat section

• Estuary is negatively affected by upriver management actions

• High potential for habitat improvements in estuary

• Improvements may benefit most anadromous fish populations

Sep 12-13, 2007 19Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

• Estuary Overview

• Historical Estuary

• Present Issues of Concern

• Future Research Needs

• Speaker: Colin Levings

Estuary Overview

Sep 12-13, 2007 20Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Survival through the Estuary

• Rationale for IMW approach

– Quantify salmon response to habitat actions at a watershed level experiment

• Extent of current efforts

– Idaho, Washington, Oregon

• Example results from an IMW effort:

– Fish Creek

• Speakers: John Ferguson, Don Lyons

Sep 12-13, 2007 21Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Salmon Life Histories, Habitats, and Food Webs

Current Habitat StrategiesIncreases in habitat capacity and productivity

will lead to increases in fish and wildlife

Assumes stable climate and human population

Climate Change / Population GrowthRestoration and habitat strategies need to

account for climate change and population growth

Examples and tools for planning

Speakers: Dan Bottom

Sep 12-13, 2007 22Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership

• Science Program– Habitat restoration, – Species recovery, – Monitoring and toxic reduction

• Restoration Tools and Data– Regional Strategies and Priorities

• Projects, Results, Future Actions

• Speakers: Debrah Marriott, Evan Haas

Sep 12-13, 2007 23Northwest Power and ConservationCouncil

Discussion Periods

• Time is limited– Focus on Science Summary

and Policy Implications

• Discussion– Exchange between Council members,

managers, and scientists

– Emphasis on policy and manager’s perspective

Schedule Enforcers