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FORM FOR RECOMMENDATIONS TO AMEND THE FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM
May 4, 2000
The division between the Federal and State governments has allowed
for experimentation in methods of governing and program delivery. Nevertheless,
it is important that in the aggregate,
a unified vision exists from a majority in this case. Likewise, in the multi-state program of the Northwest Power Planning Council (NWPPC) some flexibility in the program must exist. Stakeholder’s projects can be applied to the need that is unique to their local project area and innovation can perhaps then "invent a better wheel". Therefore Adaptive Management with a very good plan for monitoring and evaluation will be required.
Regardless of the particular differences of the area, generally most
all can subscribe to some elements of a "commonly shared vision". Cooperation
and collaboration should follow on
the foundation of that shared visionary ground.
I believe it is important to celebrate the diversity of each plan and
their methods within the common goal contained within an acceptable unification
of focus.
III. High Priority Actions.The health of the forest buffer and other riparian zones can be monitored and evaluated by Photos.
The quality of the fish habitat is affected by the health of the riparian zones and projects that are designed to improve habitat needs to be monitored and those results evaluated. The monitoring and evaluation (M&E) should begin before a project starts for baseline data, then continue for the data that the projects are proceeding as planned with measurable benefit.
The United States General Accounting Office stated that, "Most states lack the stream and water data needed to develop a scientifically sound Total Maximum Daily Load" (TMDL). For the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed fish several different recovery plans exist and share some common areas of interest. The Multi-Species Framework sought to blend the plans such as the Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit of the 1855 Treaty Tribes and the Oregon Plan. In addition, the Clean Water Act basic focus is, "fishable and swimmable waters for all Americans…and chart a new course to achieve that goal." "Fishable" implies that there are fish. The habitat for fish is the water and the water’s quality is the quality of fish habitat. The Columbia Basin dams have been an economic magnet for industry and population expansion. It is evident that the impact on the environment and natural habitat has been great. The low electrical power cost is a two edge sword, having both benefit and detriment. Forestry, Agriculture and Urban expansion has each in its own way affected the ecological equilibrium.
The Oregon Plan For Salmon and Watersheds has protocols for stream temperature, dissolved Oxygen, pH, conductivity, nitrogen/phosphorus concentration, turbidity, macroinvertebrates, pesticides and toxic chemicals. Streams near urban high tech industry ought to have other salts/ion monitored. The monitoring for the basic TMDL would support the scientific data required for standards in describing the desired result of a project in most cases. Sites for the data collection above the project , at the project and below the project will describe the water quality and help prioritize project areas of need.
A cost effective integrated system is available in a strategy directed proposal concept. This innovative system will be exceptionally useful in remote monitoring for real time and near real time data delivery for Fish and Wildlife managers and the public.
IV. Language To Amend The Fish And Wildlife Program.
The 1994 Fish and Wildlife Program Section 3.2 Monitoring and Evaluation discusses the need for Adaptive Management. This is the creative method of project implementation without the complete scientific certainty or complete consensus and requires a feedback loop. Monitoring and evaluation provides the feedback for management change if needed. This is a good idea and leads into the next sections.
Section 3.3 "Develop Coordinated Information System and Prepare Monitoring Report", has Streamnet as a excellent base system for coordination of information, but improvement could exist with language change to be more inclusive of the general public supporting its education. 3.3A "Fund Coordinated Information System." (delete bold words and add the underlined words) "The Coordinated Information System should be maintained as an objective vehicle for and dissemination of information to and from all parties" Federal,State, Tribal, including non-profit and for profit entities.
"It should be developed in close cooperation with fishery managers and other concerned parties." Federal, State, Tribal, including non-profit and for profit entities.
Part 6. Scientific Foundation.
Principal 7.
"Ecological management is adaptive and experimental." This principal requires the monitoring and evaluation data that good science gets with the empirical method.
Principal 8, "Human actions modify ecosystem function and biological performance." Directly involved are the Dams and economic magnets for civilization/population. The natural resource exploitation brings the question forward as to the sustainability of actions and the biological carrying capacity of our natural vs. human created environment. This is very evident in water quality monitoring of the habitat of endangered species that live in that water.
V. Addendum.
On Earth Day 2000 at Pioneer Square, Clouston Energy Research had an "Activist Booth" and I (Sidney Clouston) spoke on the "Freedom Stage" at 5PM. I discussed the proposal that was not funded by Bonneville Power Administration due to the poor review by the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority and the Independent Scientific Review Board. I mentioned that the much of the same content of that proposal was the subject of a funded proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency for the Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) program. At the booth I had a six parameter sonde (instrument) and a poster that explained that the system could provide real time or near real time data via a Geosynchronous Orbital Environmental Satellite (GEOS) downlinked to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and onto the internet. The reader should know that the satellite link is free to the collaborator LANL and their Neighborhood Environmental Watch Network (NEWNET).
I asked three questions in a random survey of the many people that I could engage in conversation. Over ninety-nine percent (99%) of the questions were answered in the affirmative. The questions and signatures are attached for this review.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this iteration of the
Fish and Wildlife review.