Regional Ecosystem Office
333 SW 1st
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, Oregon 97208-3623
Phone: 503-808-2165 FAX: 503-808-2163

Memorandum

Date: November 13, 1997

To: Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Members (See Distribution List)

From: Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director

Subject: November 1997 Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Meeting Notes

Enclosed are notes from the November Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting. Issue summaries are included for:

Hot Topics included a question about the Appropriations Bill language dealing with forest planning regulations and possible connection to timber harvest. During our discussion of potential IAC meeting dates in 1998, Mel Moon conveyed an offer from the NW Indian Fisheries Commission to host an IAC field trip as did Paul Roush, BLM, California.

The next IAC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 1998, in Portland, Oregon. Logistical information will be sent out after the first of the new year. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact me at 503-808-2166, Linda Kucera at 503-808-2179, or your agency representative.

Enclosure

cc: REO, RCERT, Jim Pipkin

1038/lk

Date: November 13, 1997

Subject: November IAC Meeting Notes

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Distribution List


California
 Mark Stanley, California Resource Agency (Acting)
Francie Sullivan, Representative of California Counties

Oregon
 Paula Burgess, Assistant to the Governor for Natural Resources, Office of the Governor
Peter Green, Forest Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor (Alternate)
Rocky McVay, Representative of Oregon Counties

Washington
 Craig Partridge, Federal Agency Liaison
Dean Judd, Coordinator, Governor's Rural Community Assistance Team (Alternate)
Harvey Wolden, Representative of Washington Counties

Tribes
 Greg Blomstrom, Planning Forester, CA Indian Forest & Fire Management Council
Mel Moon, Commissioner, NW Indian Fisheries Commission
Jim Anderson, Executive Director, NW Indian Fisheries Commission (Alternate)
Katie Kruger, Environmental Policy Analyst, Quileute Tribe
Gary Morishima, Technical Advisor, Intertribal Timber Council
Guy McMinds, Executive Office Advisor, Quinault Indian Nation (Alternate)
Eric Hanson, Associate Director, Wildlife Department, Yakama Indian Nation (Alternate)

Federal Agencies
 Eugene Andreuccetti, Regional Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Bob Graham, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (Alternate)
John D. Buffington, Western Region Chief Biologist, BRD, U.S. Geological Survey
Michael Collopy, Center Director, Biological Resources Division, U.S.Geological Survey (Alternate)
Ken Feigner, Director, Forest and Salmon Group, Environmental Protection Agency
Thomas J. Mills, Station Director, Forest Service, PNW
Thomas Murphy, Director, Environmental Research Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency
Robert Lackey, Assoc. Director, Environmental Research Lab, Environmental Protection Agency (Alternate)
Stan Speaks, Area Director, Portland Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Dave Renwald, Wildlife Biologist, Portland Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs (Alternate)
Ron Jaeger, Area Director, Sacramento Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Michael Spear, Regional Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Tom Dwyer, Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
William Stelle, Jr., Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service
William Hogarth, Acting Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service (Alternate)
Elizabeth Holmes Gaar, Habitat Branch Chief, National Marine Fisheries Service (Alternate)
William Walters, Deputy Regional Director, National Park Service
Robert W. Williams, Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, R-6
G. Lynn Sprague, Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, R-5 (Alternate)
Elaine Zielinski, State Director, Oregon/Washington, Bureau of Land Management
Ed Hastey, State Director, California, Bureau of Land Management (Alternate)
Paul Roush, Wildlife Biologist, Bureau of Land Management, Arcata, CA

RCERT Ex Officio
 Karin Berkholtz, Program Assistant, Governor's Rural Community Assistance Team, State of Washington

Updated 08/15/97

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC)
ISSUE SUMMARY
Meeting Date: November 6, 1997 REO Contact/Phone: Curt Loop 503-808-2172
Topic: Activity Information Sharing (AIS)
Objective: To inform the members of the IAC of the accomplishments from FY 1997 and the current status of on-going activities, to review potential 1998 interagency accomplishments, and to review potential 1998 IAC meeting dates and agenda items.
Summary of Discussion/IAC Actions:

Activity Information Sharing Notebook

The IAC was presented with a copy of the AIS notebook and briefed on its purpose and contents. The purpose of the notebook is to highlight significant accomplishments achieved in FY 1997 and give the IAC members a current update of the status of ongoing work. Information is presented in a series of topic fact sheets. Each fact sheet gives a summary of key information about the topic along with a point of contact and any relevant enclosures needed to adequately explain the topic. Topic fact sheets are grouped into 5 categories which support the five goals of the Northwest Forest Plan. IAC member comments and suggestions were requested.

Potential REO/RIEC NFP F& 1998 Accomplishment Goals

A draft list of items for consideration was handed out and discussed at the meeting. Several suggestions were made to increase the utility of the list: reorganize the list, possibly by NFP goals; assign priorities by trying to note those items that are "required" by the ROD; and include a brief narrative that describes each topic.

Proposed IAC Meeting Dates for 1998

The following dates were proposed for IAC meetings in 1998:

  • February 5
  • May 7 (Possible field trip; please, block out May 6-7, Wednesday - Thursday)
  • August 6 (Possible field trip; please, block out August 5-6, Wednesday - Thursday)
  • November 5

NW Indian Fisheries Commission and BLM in Northern California have each indicated an interest in hosting either the May or August meeting--more on that at a later date.

Potential IAC Topics for 1998

Two items were added to the potential IAC topics list for 1998, possible follow-up on issues that surface from the IAC/PAC survey results (report of the results will be reported at the February IAC meeting) and the results of the Riparian Reserve Module field tests.

IAC Agreements: None
RIEC Decisions: None
Follow-up Actions (who/what/when):

Activity Information Sharing Notebook

IAC members were requested to provide their comments about the AIS notebook to the REO. Comments concerning additional information which should be included in the notebook, fact sheets not needed in the notebook, frequency of updates, or format of the contents will assist the REO in providing the information required for the IAC members to carry out their responsibilities. Comments are requested by early January, so we can distribute revisions at the next IAC meeting in February 1998.

Potential REO/RIEC NFP F& 1998 Accomplishment Goals

Send a revised draft out to IAC for review and comment by November 21, incorporate comments and send out to IAC by mid-December.

Potential IAC Topics for 1998

Revised potential IAC topics for 1998 is attached.

Potential IAC Topics for 1998
Topics that will likely be covered during the February 5, 1998 IAC meeting:
  • FY 1997 Implementation Monitoring Report
  • Strategic Research Plan
  • Effectiveness Monitoring
  • NSO, MaMu, LSOG
  • Aquatic/Riparian
  • Social/Economic
  • Tribal
  • Survey & Manage/Biodiversity
  • NFP MOU Review Issues
  • IAC/PAC Relationship Survey
  • REO/RIEC FY 1998 Goals Report

Additional potential IAC agenda topics:

  • PAC/PIEC Follow-up to IAC/PAC Relationship Survey Results
  • Status of the Riparian Reserve Module Field Tests
  • Tuchmann Report Items Follow-up
  • New Information Process and NFP Changes
  • Validation Monitoring
  • BLM 3-year Plan Evaluations
  • Forest Service Plan Revisions
  • Salmon Initiative

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC)
ISSUE SUMMARY
Meeting Date: November 6, 1997 REO Contact/Phone: Dave Busch 503-808-2192
Topic: Effectiveness Monitoring of Aquatic and Riparian Systems
Objective: The objective for the IAC process (including discussions at the August 7 and November 6 IAC meetings and the IAC policy subgroup meeting on October 31) is to provide IAC member comments to the Research Executives for their consideration as they provide guidance to the Aquatic/Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Work Group.
Summary of Discussion/IAC Actions: The Research Executives and the Research and Monitoring Group presented a progress report on Aquatic/Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring (A/R EM) Plan development at the August 7 IAC meeting (Enclosure 1), as documented in the IAC meeting notes for that meeting. The issues outlined and discussed at that meeting were further developed in a September 23 memo (Enclosure 2) which was prepared as a preliminary agenda for the IAC policy subgroup meeting held on October 31. This IAC policy subgroup agenda material was supplemented by a faxed memo dated October 28 (Enclosure 3). The results of the policy subgroup meeting were incorporated into the agenda materials for the November 6 IAC meeting (Enclosure 4), and used as the basis for discussion.
IAC Agreements: The IAC discussed the 8 policy issues identified with the A/R EM Plan. The following comments are taken verbatim from the flip charts used to record comments during the discussion.
  • Focus only on forest plan does not help us with impacts on lands/groups other than Federal.
  • Scale concern: how to extrapolate to regional level without information from across all the watersheds?

- Comprehensive analysis of some set of watersheds with use of statistical projections for regional look.

  • How do you evaluate individual practices?
  • How detailed, how many, etc., watersheds?
  • What is the expectation of this group? What is the target?
  • Technical challenge is what kind of sampling scheme do we need region-wide to be able to aggregate information to produce regional looks.
  • Need information at province level to answer questions about specific fish species.

- Scale: province or ESU.

  • Waste of everyone's time and money if we do not proactively figure out what the "20" pieces of common information are we want to collect, and make sure they are collected so they can be used by/for others.
  • We should all be following the same protocols.
  • Agree on a "core" set of indicators.
  • Message as I hear it is that this is an area we have some opportunities to be really proactive -- enormously expensive.
  • Challenge everyone around the table to help us:

- Minimums to meet NFP requirements right now.

- Keep talking and looking for ways to be proactive to look beyond the minimums with the involvement of everyone around the table.

  • Who are the people we want to communicate this information to?
  • Information collected is useful to on-the-ground managers.
  • To the degree we can, select watersheds we are working on -- help us avoid duplications, if possible.
  • Be careful there are sufficient watersheds looked at that are not entered for management reasons so that regional looks are appropriately balanced.
  • "Breezeways" and "Doors" -- links -- we will need to know who/what these are to build capability into the plan.
  • Focus on quantitative as well as qualitative.

- Quantitative: big picture, homogenized from information at the watershed level.

- Qualitative: use qualitative approach to address exceptions/anomalies.

  • We are not going to have one plan with minor options -- but, we will have a "minimum plan" with more aggressive options.

In response to a question from an IAC member, these comments were summarized at the meeting on flip charts, with corrections requested, as follows:

  • Try and seize opportunity we have to be active seeking cooperative efforts -- be explicit about initiatives we will try to link to.
  • Look for core indicators and consistent protocols -- but with concern for time and cost.
  • Consider province/ESU as an important scale.
  • Technical challenges:

- Sampling scheme to tie watersheds to regional or subregional goals.

- Try to make results useful at local scale to land managers.

- Focus on watersheds with land management action already (and obverse, without actions, such as key watersheds).

  • Be explicit about our goals.
  • Work on both qualitative and quantitative at the same time (in near term).

All of these comments will be sent to the Research Executives for their consideration as they provide additional guidance for the A/R EM work group.

Follow-up Actions (who/what/when): The Research Executives will continue actions to produce an A/R EM Plan for RIEC consideration. A status report is to be presented at the February 1998 IAC meeting, including A/R guidance and schedule.

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC)
ISSUE SUMMARY
Meeting Date: November 6, 1997 REO Contact/Phone: Gary S. Sims 503-808-2174
Topic: IAC/PAC Relationship Survey
Objective: The purpose for the presentation was to update IAC members on the status of the ongoing IAC/PAC relationship review.
Summary of Discussion/IAC Actions: Gary Sims reviewed the results from the IAC/PAC relationship survey to date and agreed to provide a status report at the February IAC meeting. In the interim, he will try to poll as many additional PACs as the schedule permits and will summarize his results so they can be considered as part of the MOU review process.

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC)
ISSUE SUMMARY
Meeting Date: November 6, 1997 REO Contact/Phone: Jim Pipkin 202-208-4123
Topic: NFP Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Review Discussion
Objective: The intent of the presentation was to describe the goals and schedule for the MOU review process and seek comments.
Summary of Discussion/IAC Actions: Jim Pipkin provided an overview of the MOU review process, goals, and schedule. He provided a questionnaire for IAC members and led a discussion covering the individual topics. (The questionnaire and discussion was similar to Jim's presentation to the RCERT members on the previous day, November 5.)

If returned promptly, the questionnaires will be considered by Jim as he prepares a "scoping memorandum", outlining issues and alternatives. This memorandum is tentatively scheduled for completion in mid-December.

November 6, 1997 IAC Meeting Handouts

Handouts:

Activity Information Sharing Notebook--November 6, 1997
Aquatic/Riparian Monitoring Policy Issues Report--September 23, 1997
Aquatic/Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Overheads and Update to the Agenda Topic Overview
Correspondence of Interest-Available for requests
IAC August Meeting Notes
IAC November Meeting Agenda
IAC Charter Renewal Status Report
IAC Identification List
IAC November Prework Package
Organizational Chart NFP
PIEC Identification List
Potential IAC Topics for 1998
Potential REO/RIEC NFP FY 1998 Accomplishment Goals (draft)
Provincial Advisory Committee-Designated Federal Official Survey
Questionnaire for the IAC Review of the NFP--Scoping Report
REO Functional Statement Packet
REO Telephone Directory
RIEC Identification List
Survey and Manage--Fungi Report--September 1997

Publications available on request:

Effectiveness Monitoring Report-Final-August 7, 1997
Implementation Monitoring Report-Final-March 3, 1997
Institutional Barriers & Incentives for Ecosystem Management: A Problem Analysis-February 1996
Interagency Salvage Program Review-October 8, 1996
Interagency Vegetation Information-June 1, 1995
Keystone National Policy Dialogue on Ecosystem Management-October 1996
Natural Resource Partnership Proposal-Cost-Effective Results through Public/Private Partnership-Draft
Record of Decision (ROD)
Strategic Research Plan to Support Implementation of the NFP-May 23, 1997
The Northwest Forest Plan-A Report to the President & Congress-December 1996
WA Guide-Section I-August, 1995
WA Guide-Section II (Modules)-November 1, 1995 and Module Update October 16, 1997
WA Guide-Riparian Reserve Evaluation Techniques and Synthesis Module-February 1997 (draft)
Species Information, Addendum to Appendix B-February 1997 (draft)

 
* Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Meeting * November 6, 1997 * Attendance List *

* Intergovernmental Advisory Committee and Alternates *

Name Title Agency
Benson, Gary Station Director Forest Service, PNW
Berkholtz, Karen RCERT Representative Ex Officio
Blomstrom, Greg Forester Planner CA Indian Forest & Fire Mgmt. Council
Busch, Dave Representative U.S. Geological Survey, Research
Feigner, Ken Director, Forest and Salmon Group Environmental Protection Agency
Graham, Bob State Conservationist Natural Resources Conservation Service
Green, Peter State Representative State of Oregon
Holmes-Gaar, Elizabeth Habitat Branch Chief National Marine Fisheries Service
Kupillas, Sue Representative of OR County State of Oregon Counties
Moon, Mel Commissioner NW Indian Fisheries Commission
Morishima, Gary Technical Advisor Intertribal Timber Council
Murphy, Tom Deputy Director Envir. Research Lab Environmental Protection Agency
Partridge, Craig State Representative State of Washington
Pipkin, Jim Office of the Secretary U. S. Dept. of Interior
Speaks, Stan Area Director Bureau of Indian Affairs
Stanley, Mark State Representative Resources Agency, State of California
Sullivan, Francie Representative of CA Counties State of California Counties
Walters, Bill Deputy Field Director National Park Service
Wesley, Dave Acting Assistant Regional Director U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Williams, Bob Regional Forester Forest Service, R-6
Zielinski, Elaine State Director Bureau of Land Management, OR/WA

Regional Ecosystem Office
Alverts, Sharon Receptionist Forest Service
Bacon, Tony GIS Technician Contractor
Belisle, Harold Representative Bureau of Land Management
Blatnick, Sharon Administrator Officer Forest Service
Guenther, Dale GIS Administer Forest Service
Knowles, Don Executive Director Regional Ecosystem Office
Kucera, Linda Facilitator U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Loop, Curt Representative U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers
McKenzie, Dan Research & Monitoring-Leader Environmental Protection Agency
McNair, Ranotta Representative Forest Service
Milestone, Jim Representative National Park Service
Sims, Gary Representative Bureau of Indian Affairs
Tehan, Mike Representative National Marine Fisheries Service
Watson, Jay Representative U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Ystad, Laurie Secretary Forest Service

* Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Meeting * November 6, 1997 *
* Other ** Attendees *
Name Title Agency
Carns, Craig   Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
Clauson, Steve Agency Representative Forest Service, R-5
Davies, Bruce   NW Indian Fish Commission
Fulberton, Dawn   Quinault Indian Nation
Judd, Dean RCERT Member State of Washington
Kratz, Kim   National Marine Fisheries Service
Morris, Steve   National Marine Fisheries Service
Motanic, Don Technical Specialist Intertribal Timber Council
Rheiner, Bob NW Economic Revitalization Bureau of Land Management
Rich, C.R. Vigil   Natural Resources Conservation Service
Roush, Paul Wildlife Biologist Bureau of Land Management
Saranich, Ron Multi-Agency Command Forest Service, WO
Solliday, Louise Governor Watershed Advisor Natural Resources, State of Oregon

Enclosure 5: Revised Attendee Lists for the August 7, 1997 IAC Meeting
* Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Meeting * August 7, 1997 * Attendance List *

* Intergovernmental Advisory Committee and Alternates *

Name Title Agency
Belisle, Harold Representative Bureau of Land Management, OR/WA
Bell, Amy Deputy Supervisor WA Dept Natural Resources-State Rep.
Berkholtz, Karin RCERT Representative Ex Officio
Blomstrom, Greg Forester Planner CA Indian Forest & Fire Mgmt. Council
Buffington, Doug Western Region Chief Biologist U.S. Geological Survey
Dwyer, Tom Deputy Regional Director U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Feigner, Ken Director, Forest and Salmon Group Environmental Protection Agency
Holford, Turk Area Forester Bureau of Indian Affairs
Jope, Kathy Chief, Research & Resources National Park Service
Mills, Tom Station Director Forest Service, PNW
Moon, Mel Commissioner NW Indian Fisheries Commission
Morishima, Gary Technical Advisor Intertribal Timber Council
Murphy, Tom Deputy Director Envir. Research Lab Environmental Protection Agency
Stanley, Mark Member of Team, For.&Rur.Ec.Dev. Resources Agency, State of California
Sullivan, Francie Representative of CA Counties State of California Counties
Tehan, Mike Representative National Marine Fisheries Service
White, Bill Assistant State Conservationist Natural Resources Conservation Service
Williams, Bob Regional Forester Forest Service, R-6
Wolden, Harvey County Representative Skagit County, State of Washington

Regional Ecosystem Office
Alverts, Sharon Receptionist Forest Service
Benson, Gary Research Forest Service, PNW
Busch, Dave Monitoring USGS, Biological Resources Division
Ellenwood, Jim GIS Technician Forest Service
Guenther, Dale GIS Administrator Forest Service
Hokkanen, Virginia Acting Adm. Officer Forest Service
Knowles, Don Executive Director Regional Ecosystem Office
Kucera, Linda Facilitator U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Loop, Curt Representative U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers
McKenzie, Dan Research & Monitoring-Leader Environmental Protection Agency
McNair, Ranotta Representative Forest Service
Milestone, Jim Representative National Park Service
Sims, Gary Representative Bureau of Indian Affairs
Tehan, Mike Representative National Marine Fisheries Service
Watson, Jay Representative U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Wilson, Karen GIS Technician Forest Service
Ystad, Laurie Secretary Forest Service

Enclosure 5: Revised Attendee Lists for the August 7, 1997 IAC Meeting
* Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Meeting * August 7, 1997 *

* Other ** Attendees *

Name Title Agency
Benkert, Kate   U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Boysen, Karsten Public Relations Manager Quileute Tribe
Bradley, Alex   Olympic PAC
Christensen, Chris   PNW, Forest Service
Clauson, Steve Agency Representative Forest Service, R-5
Davis, Bruce   NW Indian Fisheries Commission
Duff, Scott RCERT Member State of Oregon, USDA/RECD
Furniss, Mike Work group leader Forest Service, R-5, Aquatic/Riparian EM
Gibbs, Allen Public Info Officer Forest Service
Gloman, Nancy RCERT Member U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Gobin, Steve Govt. Affairs Liaison Tulalip Tribe
Hoffman, Cat Chief, Natural Res. Mgmt. Olympic National Park
Humphrey, Ron Forest Supervisor Forest Service
Hurd, Martha Special Projects Coordinator WA Department of Natural Resources
Jenkins, Kurt Resources Biologist USGS Biological Resources Division
Kitchel, Phillip Clallam County Commissioner State of Washington
McMinds, Guy Executive office Advisor Intertribal Timber Council
Motanic, Don Technical Specialist Intertribal Timber Council
Phillips, Dick Economist Forest Service
Pipkin, Jim Special Asst. & Counselor to Sec. U.S. Department of the Interior
Roush, Paul Wildlife Biologist Bureau of Land Management
Schein, Ed Resources Biologist USGS Biological Resources Division
Seaman, Erran Resources Biologist USGS Biological Resources Division
Snow, Kathleen Public Information Officer Forest Service
Wesley, Dave Acting Assistant Regional Director U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service