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Categorical Review of RM&E/Artificial Production/Plus for Fiscal Years 2011-2014

The Council will soon be embarking on categorical review of all Research Monitoring & Evaluation (RM&E) and Artificial Production (AP) projects in the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program.

The list of projects included in the categorical review encompasses all category-appropriate projects including those that have undergone Council and ISRP review since the FY 2007-2009 review process. Recently reviewed projects are included to provide context for the other RM&E/AP projects that have not been reviewed recently.

While new projects from the Skamania workshop (Columbia Basin Anadromous Fish Monitoring Strategy) that address gaps in the FCRPS Biological Opinion have been included on the list of projects to be reviewed, this process is not an open solicitation for new projects.

The following projects will undergo a separate review process subsequent to the Council’s categorical reviews:

1. RM&E for resident fish and blocked areas and habitat projects;
2. Data management projects;
3. Lower Snake River Compensation Plan projects and the Leavenworth Hatchery.

Look for a detailed Project Review Information Packet to arrive by email on June 1st. This packet will contain the information you and your staff will need to complete the project proposal(s), as well as other guidance, tips, important dates and contact information. Workshops have also been scheduled to assist project proponents in completing the proposal form for the new Taurus system. Proposals will be due by midnight on July 30th.

What you can do before June 1:

1. Verify that your contact information in Pisces is correct so that the right person receives the June 1 email communication.
2. RSVP for a workshop by contacting Lynn Palensky (lpalensky@nwcouncil.org, 503-222-5161).
3. Verify which of your projects will be reviewed. No log-in is necessary to view the list.
4. Consider whether you would like to participate in a project presentation or site visit as part of this review process. Council staff will contact project proponents over the next month to develop a schedule for Council/ISRP presentations and site visits between August 24 and September 23, 2010. Presentations will be sufficient for most projects. Contact Lynn Palensky (lpalensky@nwcouncil.org, 503-222-5161) with any questions.

Workshops
The Council and Bonneville will be holding a series of workshops in early June (see workshop schedule) to assist project proponents in completing the proposal form in Taurus. The workshops will also provide information about the review process and programmatic level guidance for RM&E projects. All project proponents are welcome to attend any of the workshops. Please bring a laptop to work on if you are able.