Spring 2002 Issue

Subbasin Planning Update

The Council's 2000 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program set the course for a new review and selection process based on the development of local plans to identify and prioritize the most critical problems that need attention to help fish and wildlife within a particular geographic area. Called subbasin plans, they are another important step toward increasing the effectiveness and accountability of our investment in fish and wildlife recovery in the basin, and will eventually be adopted as part of the Council's program to guide the selection and funding of fish and wildlife projects in the Columbia River Basin.

With an initial two-year budget of $15.2 million established to assist local entities in developing subbasin plans and to provide technical assistance, the Council has been working to finalize the guidance information to officially open the doors for submitting subbasin plans. The Council is aiming to release the call for recommendations for subbasin plans this spring.

Key information in the request for recommendations will include the schedule for submitting subbasin plan recommendations; the criteria to be met in order to receive funding for plan development; and the review and adoption process, including the elements in the scientific review.

In addition to this important step, the Council is working to refine the contract and administrative process since the Council will handle the contracts for subbasin planning.

Another key to the success of this effort will be the integration between the Council's process and the related work of other government agencies such as the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Forest Service, as well as other watershed planning activities. To that end, the Council is working to forge relationships with its counterparts to create public information materials to educate people and promote coordination throughout the basin, as well as at the local level.

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