Reports & papers

Draft Columbia River Basin Research Plan

October 1, 2004  |  document 2004-13

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To interested parties:

The Council invites your comments on its draft Columbia River Basin Research Plan. The plan is intended to guide development of a research program under the Council's Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program and to coordinate with other research programs in the region. The Council believes that while hundreds of excellent projects have been completed through its fish and wildlife program, including research that has substantially advanced the state of scientific understanding, key research needs in the Columbia River Basin remain unfocused for lack of a plan.

The goal of the Council's draft research plan is to reduce management uncertainty by increasing scientifically based knowledge. Objectives include:

1. Identifying key uncertainties and research recommendations;
2. Prioritizing major research topics;
3. Accounting for annual expenditures of research funds;
4. Involving fish and wildlife agencies, tribes, independent scientists and other interested parties in the region;
5. Monitoring, evaluating and applying research results;
6. Coordinating with research in the Council's mainstem plan and subbasin plans; and
7. Making information from the fish and wildlife program readily available.

While the plan is intended for policy and decision-makers responsible for natural resource management priorities, it also will be useful to researchers, planners, and project sponsors. The draft plan recognizes other Columbia basin research plans as important components of a potentially integrated regional research program and provides a framework for establishing linkages among existing research programs and initiatives. The plan includes recommendations for research funded through the fish and wildlife program and also through collaboration with other entities.

Thank you for your interest in the Council and its activities.

Sincerely,

/s/ Steve Crow, Executive Director

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