The Region's Fish and Wildlife Project Selection Process:
A Guide to Public Comment
Nearly 50 different species of fish and wildlife were affected by the construction of the 31 federal dams that dot the landscape of the Northwest.
How would you use $127 million every year to save the Northwest's salmon and other fish and wildlife? It may sound like a question you never thought you would have to answer, but as planners and managers implement changes to the Northwest's fish and wildlife recovery effort, your opinions and ideas may be worth more than you think.
Everyone agrees that $127 million is a lot of money. Unfortunately, mitigating all the changes development has made to the Columbia River Basin's fish and wildlife populations is a lot of work.
Nearly 50 different species of fish and wildlife were affected by the construction of the 31 federal dams that dot the landscapes of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. And, nearly 50 different states, agencies, tribes and governments are involved in making decisions about what to do about it.
So, where does the money for fish and wildlife recovery come from, and who decides how it is spent? The following pages help answer those important questions. In addition, you will find information about how to contact the planners, biologists, engineers and researchers who are leading the effort to ensure that the Northwest has healthy populations of salmon and other fish and wildlife and low-cost, reliable electricity well into the future.
How Public Money Helps Save Salmon and Other Species:
The Northwest's Fish & Wildlife Project Selection Process
A portion of the money Bonneville earns from selling electricity is dedicated to paying for projects designed to protect and enhance salmon and other fish and wildlife populations.
Through the Northwest Power Planning Council (an agency of the four Northwest states), the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (an agency of the region's state, tribal and federal fish and wildlife managers) and the Bonneville Power Administration, the Northwest reviews, selects, and implements publicly funded projects designed to protect and restore fish and wildlife.
Why? Because salmon and other fish and wildlife are an important part of the Northwest's heritage. In addition, treaties with Northwest Indian tribes reserved the tribes' rights to fish in the river. The United States and Canada also have a treaty that commits the United States to rebuilding Columbia River salmon runs. To fulfill treaty obligations, the United States must find a way to restore the species that have been affected by dams and other development.
That's where the Bonneville Power Administration comes in. Bonneville is a federal agency that markets electricity produced by the federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. A portion of the money Bonneville earns from selling electricity is dedicated to paying for projects designed to protect and enhance salmon and other fish and wildlife populations.
Under a 1995 agreement among the federal government, the region's tribes and Bonneville, the current fish and wildlife budget allocates approximately $127 million annually to these projects (about 3 percent of Bonneville's average annual revenues of approximately $3 billion). Because Bonneville is a federal agency, the project money must be allocated in a public process. What follows is a short description of that process.
The Fish and Wildlife Program
The Northwest Power Planning Council works with tribal, federal, state, regional and local governments; as well as industry, environmental groups and interested citizens to define the region's fish and wildlife recovery goals and to develop a framework for reviewing and selecting fish and wildlife recovery projects.
Each project paid for with money from the Bonneville Power Administration must be consistent with the Council's program. To ensure the program is based on the most up-to-date information, it is reviewed at least once every five years. The Council currently is considering ways to update the 1994 program.
Once the goals and regional framework are in place, the region's fish and wildlife managers and the public suggest specific measures to help the region meet its fish and wildlife goals.
Project Proposals
The Power Planning Council reviews and approves project selection criteria developed by the region's fish and wildlife managers through the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority.
Once the criteria are approved, Bonneville solicits specific project proposals from fish and wildlife agencies, universities, local governments and others. CBFWA, the Council, Bonneville, Trout Unlimited and the Public Power Council then hold a public review of the proposals to give the public a chance to review the proposals and helps the region's fish and wildlife managers refine and prioritize the recovery projects.
The region's fish and wildlife managers, again through CBFWA, then undertake the challenging task of developing a list of the highest priority projects, which they forward to the Power Planning Council and to a group of independent scientists called the Independent Scientific Review Panel for additional review.
During the 1996 prioritization effort, more than 400 proposals totaling some $270 million were submitted for possible funding. The region had $127 million to work with.
Scientific Scrutiny
Based on a recent amendment to the Northwest Power Act, the Council created an 11-member panel of independent scientists to review fish and wildlife recovery projects recommended by the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority.
All 11 scientists were nominated for the panel by the National Academy of Sciences. The panel is designed to ensure that the Council obtains sound, objective scientific input into its decisions about fish and wildlife recovery measures in the Columbia River Basin and that public funds are used for only the most scientifically credible projects.
The Independent Scientific Review Panel reviews the projects to ensure they are:
- Consistent with the Council's fish and wildlife program;
- Based on sound science principles;
- Benefit fish and wildlife; and, that they
- Have clearly defined objectives and outcomes with provisions for monitoring and evaluating results.
Public Review
Following the scientific review, the Council analyzes the recommended projects, conducts public consultations and invites comments on the projects themselves and on the scientific review.
During the 1996 process, the Council received comments from parties as diverse as the Public Power Council, the Columbia River Alliance, Oregon Trout and Bonneville. The Council will accept public comments for at least 30 days after receiving the managers' recommendations.
The fish and wildlife managers then have an opportunity to review the comments and make changes to their recommendations.
Cost-Effectiveness Review
The Northwest Power Planning Council must determine whether the proposed projects are cost-effective. The Council conducts its own analysis, and also established an Independent Economic Analysis Board to provide advice on and improve cost analysis of fish and wildlife recovery measures. The panel's advice helps the Council conduct annual cost-effectiveness reviews of the proposed projects.
Approving Projects
When the Council is satisfied the proposed projects are consistent with the goals and objectives of its fish and wildlife plan, are based on sound science principles, employ cost-effective measures, consider ocean conditions, and have been thoroughly reviewed by the public, it recommends that Bonneville fund them. Bonneville has sole authority to select project contractors, define the scope of work and negotiate budgets and contract terms. Bonneville employs a staff of contract officers and project managers to write, oversee and manage individual projects recommended by the Council.
Project Oversight
To ensure its plan is effectively implemented, the Council periodically selects individual projects for additional review. Last year the Council used its continuing oversight process to reduce the cost of several projects by hundreds of thousands of dollars and to re-direct the savings to other worthwhile efforts.
Fish and Wildlife Project Selection Is No Simple Task:
A List of Answers to Common Questions
Q. Where does the $127 million spent on fish and wildlife projects every year come from?
A. Under a 1995 agreement among the Bonneville Power Administration, the federal government and the region's tribes, Bonneville must dedicate an average of $127 million a year to implementation of the Council's fish and wildlife program. Bonneville is a federal agency that obtains revenues by marketing the electricity produced from the federal dams in the Columbia River Basin.
Q. Who decides which projects to fund?
A. Projects are reviewed by the region's fish and wildlife managers through an organization called the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA). CBFWA provides recommendations to the Power Planning Council. The Council uses a group of independent scientists to review the recommendations. After the scientific review, the Council conducts a cost-effectiveness evaluation to ensure the projects make the best use of the public's money; considers the impacts ocean conditions might have on the projects' success; and, solicits public comments. After the Council finishes its review, it makes recommendations to the Bonneville Power Administration. Bonneville then selects contractors to do the work.
Q. How many projects receive money from Bonneville every year?
A. The number of projects varies depending on the cost of those selected. For Fiscal Year 1997, about 400 project proposals were reviewed. Ultimately, only 224 were recommended for funding. Many major initiatives, for example, construction of a new hatchery, are made up of several individual projects. For this reason, the actual number of major initiatives is less than 224.
Q. What are the criteria for determining which projects receive support?
A. The fish and wildlife managers are responsible, through the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority, for developing the criteria for reviewing and prioritizing projects designed to implement the region's fish and wildlife plan. Detailed descriptions of the criteria used are available from CBFWA. Generally, the criteria include: priority species; cost considerations; project integration and partnerships; cost-effectiveness; consistency with the Council's fish and wildlife program; long-term manageability; connectivity with existing efforts and scientific viability, among other things.
Q. Who are project sponsors accountable to once their projects are approved?
A. Bonneville has sole authority to oversee contracting and management of projects. However, the Power Planning Council periodically selects projects for additional scrutiny. In addition, even ongoing projects are reviewed annually.
Q. Can a project be altered once it has received funds?
A. Project sponsors may make small changes in their project (plus or minus 10 percent of particular budget line items) after consulting with Bonneville. For larger changes, a project must go back for review by the fish and wildlife managers and the Power Planning Council.
Q. Is there room for my voice to be heard in the project selection process?
A. Absolutely! Because Bonneville is a public agency, fish and wildlife project money must be allocated in a public process. The Northwest Power Planning Council accepts public comments on the managers' and scientists' project recommendations. For the dates, times, locations and deadlines for public comments on project recommendations, contact the Council and ask for the public affairs division.
Fish and Wildlife Project Selection Process: Timeline
Here are the key dates in the process of selecting projects for Fiscal Year 1998:
Dec. 1, 1996 to Feb. 1, 1997 Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority reviews Fiscal Year 98 projects.
March 7 to April 7 New project proposals prepared and submitted to the Basin Authority.
June 1 Basin Authority submits projects to Council and Independent Scientific Review Panel.
July 15 Independent Scientific Review Panel submits its review to the Council.
July 15 to Aug. 28 Cost-effectiveness review
Review of ocean conditions
Public comment (written comments due by August 21st)
Additional Council review.
Aug. 29 to Sept. 9 Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority revises its recommendations as necessary, based on public comments, scientific review and cost-effectiveness review.
Sept. 15 Council decides which projects to recommend to Bonneville.
Sept. 16 to Oct. 1 Bonneville negotiates with project contractors.
Oct. 1 Fiscal year 1998 begins.
Ongoing Council conducts individual project reviews, managment audits.
Fish and Wildlife Species Of the Columbia Basin:
Council Program Helps More Than Salmon
The Northwest Power Planning Council's Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program is designed to protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife, and related spawning grounds and habitat, of the Columbia River Basin that have been affected by hydroelectric dams. A partial list of the fish and wildlife species that annual projects are designed to help includes:
Anadromous fish
Spring, summer and fall chinook salmon
Coho salmon
Sockeye salmon
Chum salmon
Steelhead
Resident fish
Rainbow trout
Bull trout
Lahontan trout
Westslope cutthroat trout
Redband trout
Brook trout
White sturgeon
Burbot
Kokanee salmon
Walleye
Yellow perch
Largemouth bass
Wildlife
Elk
Black bear
Cougar
Mule deer
White-tailed deer
Pygmy rabbit
River otter
Grizzly bear
Bighorn sheep
Birds
Great blue heron
Northern spotted owl
Ruffed grouse
Band-tailed pigeon
Bald eagle
Sharp-tailed grouse
White pelican
Swainson's hawk
Ring-necked pheasant
Black-capped chickadee
Mallard duck
Readhead duck
Peregrine falcon
Pileated woodpecker
Economics and Proposed Projects
Evaluating Cost-Effectiveness
Council Responds to Congressional Concerns
A recent amendment to the Northwest Power Act requires the Northwest Power Planning Council to conduct a cost-effectiveness evaluation of proposed fish and wildlife projects before those projects receive funding.
The Council is initiating a number of actions to ensure fish and wildlife projects make the best use of public resources
To conduct the cost-effectiveness evaluation for proposed 1998 projects, the Power Planning Council called on its panel of nine independent economists, the Independent Economic Analysis Board (IEAB), to assist the Council's staff in the development of a cost-effectiveness methodology.
As a first step, the staff is working with the IEAB on a cost-effectiveness methodology. The draft methodology analyzes the possibilities and challenges associated with conducting a cost-effectiveness review for fish and wildlife projects. A near-final version of the methodology will be presented to the Council at its August meeting along with a comment letter from the IEAB.
To begin implementing the cost-effectiveness methodology, the Council is initiating a number of actions to ensure fish and wildlife projects make the best use of public resources and to satisfy the Power Act amendment. Those actions include:
- Implementing an independent scientific review to provide guidance regarding which projects are likely to provide the most benefits to fish and wildlife. The independent science review also will focus attention on monitoring and evaluation of projects, another step to more effective management of the fish and wildlife program.
- Conducting an independent audit of the contracting process the Bonneville Power Administration uses to award and manage project funds. The audit will help the Council ensure that proper controls are in place at every step of project implementation and that the information necessary to ensure project accountability is readily available.
- Developing a comprehensive array of project and fish and wildlife program costs, including out-year budget needs.
- Supporting Bonneville's use of an independent contractor to provide a check on the accuracy of capital cost estimates for construction-related projects and to provide suggestions for how to cut those costs while achieving the same objectives.
- Continuing individual project reviews, in which questions about the scope, effectiveness and other issues related to specific projects are scrutinized by the Council and its staff.
- Considering recommendations for further cost-effectiveness reforms in the project selection process from the Independent Scientific Review Panel, the IEAB, the independent contracting audit and the public. Examples of these recommendations might include greater emphasis on independent peer review, competitive bid procedures, eliminating potential or perceived conflicts of interest, and improved monitoring and evaluation.
- Working with the Drawdown Regional Economic Group to refine estimates of the opportunity costs of various recovery alternatives. That is, the broader economic effects of recovery actions on power, navigation, irrigation, and the rest of the region's economy.
Review of Proposed FY 1998 Projects
ISRP Report 97-1
Who's Who In the Project Selection Process
A list of Contacts for Comments or More Information
Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority
Brian J. Allee, Ph.D., executive director
2501 S.W. First Avenue, Suite 200, Portland, Oregon 97201.
Phone: 503-326-7031
Fax: 503-326-7033
E-Mail: tana@cbfwf.org
WWW: http://www.cbfwf.org/~cbfwf
CBFWA's participating members:
National Marine Fisheries Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Burns-Paiute Tribe
Coeur D'Alene Tribe
Colville Confederated Tribes
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation
Kalispel Tribe of Indians
Kootenai Tribe
Nez Perce Tribe
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
Shoshone-Paiute Tribes
Spokane Tribe
Yakama Indian Nation
Independent Scientific Review Panel
Willis McConnaha, liaison
851 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 800-452-5161
Fax: 503-795-3370
WWW: (click on fish and wildlife issues)
The ISRP's members:
Peter Bisson, Ph.D., research fish biologist, U.S. Forest Service, Olympia, Washington
Charles Coutant, Ph.D. senior research ecologist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Robert Francis, Ph.D., professor and director, Fisheries Research Institute, U of W
Dan Goodman, Ph.D., professor of biology, Montana State University
Susan Hanna, Ph.D., associate professor, agricultural and resource economics, Oregon State University
Nancy Huntly, Ph.D., associate professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University
Jim Lichatowich, M.S., consultant, former assistant chief of fisheries, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
Lyman McDonald, Ph.D., president, senior biometrician, Western Ecosystems Technology, Cheyenne, WY.
Brian Riddell, Ph.D., section head for salmon stock assessment & enhancement evaluation, Pacific Biological Station, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Nanaimo, British Columbia
Jack Stanford, Ph.D., Bierman Professor, director, Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana
Richard N. Williams, Ph.D., graduate affiliate faculty, Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Idaho
Independent Economic Analysis Board
Terry Morlan, liaison
851 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 800-452-5161,
Fax: 503-795-3370
E-Mail: ieab@nwcouncil.org
WWW: (click on fish and wildlife issues)
IEAB members:
Kenneth Boire, consulting economist, former chief economist at the North Pacific Division
of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Emery N. Castle, Ph.D., professor emeritus of economics, Oregon State University
Joel Hamilton, Ph.D., professor of agricultural economics and adjunct professor of statistics, University of Idaho
Daniel D. Huppert, Ph.D., associate professor, Institute for Marine Studies, U of Wash.
Lon Peters, Ph.D., president, Northwest Economic Research, Inc., former senior economist for the Public Power Council
Jack Richards, Ph.D., instructor of economics, Portland State University; retired from the National Marine Fisheries Service
Anthony Scott, Ph.D., professor emeritus of economics, University of British Columbia.
Paul Sorenson, founder and principal of Belyea, Sorenson, Trottier & Associates, an economics consulting firm in Bothell, Washington.
Bonneville Power Administration
Robert D. Lohn, Director, Fish and Wildlife Division
905 NE 11th - EWP, Portland, Oregon, 97232
Phone: 503-230-5215
E-Mail: fwprojects@bpa.gov
WWW: http://www.bpa.gov (click on "corporate" then "fish & wildlife")
Northwest Power Planning Council
Steve Crow, Executive Director
851 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1100, Portland, Oregon, 97204
Phone: 800-452-5161
Fax: 503-795-3370
E-Mail: comments@nwcouncil.org
WWW: (click on "F&W Project Selection Process")