Time

Topics

Purpose

Presenter

10:00

Welcome

• Introductions & Recognition
• Certification of Meeting Notes
• Agenda Review

Housekeeping

Linda Goodman
Anne Badgley
Facilitator

10:15

Innovations in Species Conservation Symposium – Integrative Approaches to Address Rarity and Risk

Report

Randy Molina

10:45

Aquatic Monitoring Issues & Potential Federal/State/Tribal Collaboration Opportunities

Panel Discussion

Dave Powers, EPA

Steve Waste, Northwest Power Planning Council

11:45

Hot Topics

• Hydrography Framework Clearinghouse
• NWFP MOU and Potential ISC Meeting
• Litigation Report

Status and Progress Reports

Dale Guenther
Anne Badgley
Sue Zike, FS

12:00

Lunch

1:00

Public Comment

1:15

NWFP Review in Region 5

§  Introduction/background re: RIEC Review in 2002 (10 minutes)

• Forest Service Region 5 (California) Review: Findings and Action Plan

Information

Anne Badgley

Jack Blackwell, FS

2:15

Aquatic Conservation Strategy SEIS Summary

• Comment trends, schedule update

Update

Joyce Casey, FS

2:35

Survey & Manage SEIS Update

§         Schedule, potential future issues

Update

Dick Prather, BLM

2:50

Break

3:05

Five-Year Status Review of Northern Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet

Update

Barry Mulder, FWS

3:25

Stewardship Contracting

Status Report

Peggy Kain (FS) &
Jim Hallberg (BLM)

4:00

IAC Round Table

• Opportunity for discussion of current & future issues
• Future Topics

Open

Discussion

Anne Badgley

4:40

Close

• Review agreements, tasks & assignments
• Next meeting date and future topics
• Closing Comments

Housekeeping

Facilitator
Anne Badgley
Linda Goodman

4:45

Adjourn

Presenter/Sponsor:  Randy Molina, Pacific Northwest Station, 541-750-7391

REO/RMG Contact/Phone:  Dave Busch, 503-808-2192

Issue Statement: Randy Molina will present an overview of the Innovations in Species Conservation Symposium held April 28-30, 2003 in Portland, Oregon.  He will also share the “Next Steps” the Steering Committee is taking with the lessons learned.

Background:  In response to a request by the RIEC to facilitate exploration of different approaches to managing for conservation of species, particularly species which are rare or little-known, a three-day symposium, international in scope, was held to examine alternative strategies for conserving these species.  Agenda items included statutory, regulatory and policy framework for managing and conserving rare species and species at risk.  Abstracts of the presentations can be viewed at: http://outreach.cof.orst.edu/isc/nagleab.htm

Analysis and Options:  Symposium steering committee members are evaluating symposium findings and preparing a “white paper.”  The purpose of the white paper is to evaluate the information presented at the symposium, review pertinent information in the scientific literature, and develop possible options for managers to consider for the conservation of rare and little known species.  The paper will focus on the various types of conservation approaches available and how they can be used in combinations to meet different conservation management goals. It should be available in December 2003.

Organizational/Funding Implications:  None at this time.

Action Required:

         IAC Review & Discussion

         RIEC Decision

         IAC Recommendation

  xx    Other:  Information and  potential future discussion topic         

Topic:  AQUATIC MONITORING ISSUES & POTENTIAL FEDERAL/ STATE/TRIBAL COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES

Presenter/Sponsor:  Dave Powers (EPA) and Steve Waste (Northwest Power Planning Council)

Panel: Steve Lanigan (Aquatic/Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Program), Kelly Moore (Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board), Steve Leider (Washington Governor's Salmon Recovery Office), Scott Downie (California Dept of Fish & Game), Phil Larsen (EPA), Brett Roper (PACFISH/INFISH Effectiveness Monitoring)

REO Contact/Phone:  Dave Busch, 503-808-2192

Issue Statement:  The objective is to brief the IAC on ongoing efforts to develop a Pacific Northwest aquatic monitoring partnership.

Background:  State/Federal monitoring specialists have been meeting since November 2000 to explore how to better integrate and coordinate our respective watershed condition monitoring programs.  Potential for integration has been identified in three general areas:

• Sample design that facilitates making inferences at different scales,
• Adoption of common field attributes and protocols,
• Data sharing, management, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting

Although the initial focus has been on watershed condition monitoring, future coordination efforts may expand to include fish population monitoring and project implementation monitoring. Opportunities also exist to improve coordination with Tribal and other monitoring programs.

Analysis and Options:  The presentation will recap informal efforts and issues addressed to date, including the overlap among agency mandates and geographical areas, benefits of coordination, steps needed to share data, actions to improve integration/coordination, and  potential options for future monitoring integration. In addition, a panel of regional specialists will provide a brief overview of current State/Federal watershed condition monitoring efforts.  Specifically, they will discuss questions being addressed in each program, sample design and basic protocols being used, and how data are being stored and shared.

Organizational/Funding Implications:  An integrated State/Federal/Tribal watershed condition monitoring effort would enhance availability of monitoring information. Such an effort would facilitate earlier and more accurate trend detection. It would also provide a method for evaluating status and trends at various landscape scales. In an integrated program, State, Federal, and Tribal agencies would use similar random sampling design and common protocols for a core set of attributes. Common analysis tools would extend the use of the monitoring information across several initiatives such as the Northwest Forest Plan, Interior Columbia Basin, and watershed and aquatic biota programs in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho.

REO Staff Proposal:  Inform the IAC about ongoing coordination efforts and future opportunities.

Action Required:

  x     IAC Review & Discussion

         RIEC Decision

         IAC Recommendation

         Other:                          

Topic: CERTIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PNW HYDROGRAPHY FRAMEWORK CLEARINGHOUSE

Presenter/Sponsor: Dale Guenther, 503-808-2188

Issue Statement: We are pleased to announce the certification and implementation of the Pacific Northwest Hydrography Framework Clearinghouse. 

Background: For several years the REO has been coordinating with Intergovernmental Resource Information Coordination Committee (IRICC) in the development of a seamless hydrography Geographical Information System (GIS) data set.  It has taken considerable time and effort to ensure that the core data definitions, protocols, and clearinghouse structure meet the many requirements of State and Federal agencies. Using specially designed software housed on a computer in REO, users at the field level are now able to ‘check out’ and maintain their hydrography information in coordination with other partner information.

With the implementation of the Hydrography Framework Clearinghouse State, County, and Federal agencies will be able to coordinate and share hydrography (stream, lake, spring, and watershed) information in a coordinated and seamless fashion.  Individual agency datasets are now being combined into the Clearinghouse, allowing each partner to efficiently update and manage this GIS information through the Internet. 

Update:   The BLM, FS, and States of Oregon and Washington have signed an MOU supporting the clearinghouse.  The Clearinghouse will be the primary location for hydrography information in the Pacific Northwest, with each agency committing to the maintenance of this Clearinghouse information.

Organizational/Funding Implications: No new implications.  Agencies have already factored this in agency budgets. 

This system is unique nationwide.  No other group has developed the interagency coordination necessary to develop such a system, nor the commitment to maintain a single dataset across agencies.  Success for this project is primarily due to the clear support from agency executives for Framework implementation.

Action Required:

   x     Information            Decision

Topic:  NWFP REVIEW IN REGION 5

Presenter/Sponsor:  Jack Blackwell, USDA Forest Service, Region 5

REO Contact/Phone:  Shawne Mohoric, 503-808-2175

Issue Statement:  Jack Blackwell, USDA Forest Service, Region 5 (California) Regional Forester, will provide an overview and associated findings of a recent review (see attachment 1)

Background:  During the last week in June, Regional Forester Jack Blackwell initiated a review of Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) implementation on four National Forests in California.  Forest Ecologist Jack Ward Thomas participated in the review and previously served as the team lead for scientists who designed the architecture of the plan.

Analysis and Options:  The purpose of the review was to identify:  (1) areas where the Forest Service (FS) can improve management to accomplish the ecological and social outcomes envisioned when the plan was adopted in 1994; and (2) ways to improve accomplishment of the National Fires Plan goals to protect communities, watershed and wildlife habitat.

Action Required:

   x    IAC Review & Discussion

         RIEC Decision

         IAC Recommendation

         Other:                          

Presenter/Sponsor: Joyce Casey, Project Lead

REO Contact/Phone: Steve Morris 503-808-2176

Issue Statement:  Joyce Casey will provide an update on the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) process. 

Background:  In March 2003, the FS and BLM issued a draft SEIS to clarify language in the Record of Decision for the Northwest Forest Plan regarding the Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS). The SEIS includes two alternatives:  No action (no change to the current wording), or   Proposed Action which includes the following elements (see the draft SEIS for the exact language):

• Watershed and broader scales for Federal land managers should be used to evaluate progress toward achievement of the ACS objectives.
• No single project should be expected to meet all ACS objectives.
• Projects must be designed to follow ACS (which includes language regarding how project records are maintained).
• References to ACS objectives in the standards and guidelines do not require decision makers find that site-scale projects, in themselves, will fully attain ACS objectives. 

Analysis and Options:  The SEIS public comment period has closed, comments have been collected and analyzed, and results tabulated. Significant issues arising from the comments will be discussed as appropriate. 

Action Required:

   x    IAC Review & Discussion

         RIEC Decision

         IAC Recommendation

         Other:                          

Topic:  SURVEY & MANAGE SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (SEIS) UPDATE

Presenter/Sponsor:  Dick Prather, Team Leader, Survey and Manage SEIS Team, 503-326-2354

REO Contact/Phone:  Jay Watson, 503-808-2178

Issue Statement:  A supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) addressing Survey and Manage (S&M) provisions of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) has been drafted and is available for public comment through August 22, 2003.

Background:  S&M mitigation measures were added to the NWFP late in the process to provide additional protection for hundreds of rare and little known species.  The measures provide for the management of known species sites, site-specific pre-disturbance surveys, and/or landscape level surveys for various species.  In January 2001, a S&M SEIS and Record of Decision were completed to clarify the S&M standards and guidelines (S&G), reduce conflicts, eliminate inconsistent or redundant practices, and establish an annual species review process.  The documents included provisions for moving species between management categories, and removing or adding new species to the S&M list. 

Analysis and Options:  A new S&M SEIS is being developed as a part of a settlement agreement (Douglas Timber Operators v. Dept. of the Interior and the Dept. of Agriculture).  The settlement agreement requires the preparation of a SEIS to evaluate removal of S&M mitigation measures from the NWFP.  The 2003 SEIS analyzes the effects and costs related to three alternatives that either:

1. Maintain the current S&M S&G,
2. Removes S&M S&G and utilizes the FS and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Special Status Species Programs (SSSP) (Proposed), or
3. Blends components of the current S&M S&G and agency SSSP, placing the “rare” category species under S&M, and the “uncommon” category species under SSSP.  This alternative also removes the requirement for pre-disturbance surveys in stands that have do not have late-successional or old-growth characteristics. 

The FS and BLM published a Notice of Intent to prepare a S&M SEIS in the Federal Register on October 21, 2002.  The public comment period on that SEIS began May 23 and closes August 22.  Written comments should be addressed as follows:

     Mailing Address:
               Survey and Manage
               Argonne National Laboratory
               EAD/900
               9700 South Cass Avenue
               Argonne, IL 60439

     Facsimile:  1-866-542-5904 (toll free)

     Internet:  http://web.ead.anl.gov/surveyandmanage

The Final SEIS is scheduled for publication in November 2003.  Pending completion of a Record of Decision (planned for December 2003), the agencies continue to implement the NWFP S&M standards and guidelines as amended in January 2001.

Action Required:

   x    IAC Review & Discussion

         RIEC Decision

         IAC Recommendation

         Other:  Information

Topic:  FIVE-YEAR REVIEW OF NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL AND MARBLED MURRELET

Presenter/Sponsor:  Barry Mulder, Forest Resources, Ecological Services, Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR  9503-872-2508)

REO Contact/Phone: Jay Watson 503-808-2178

Issue Statement:  This presentation will provide an overview of the five-year reviews that are being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for the Northern Spotted Owl and the Marbled Murrelet.  Cooperating Federal agencies may be contacted by FWS contractors and asked for information regarding Northern Spotted Owls and/or Marbled Murrelets.

Background:  In January, 2003, the Department of the Interior entered into Settlement Agreements with the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) and the Western Council of Industrial Workers to conduct five-year status reviews of the Northern Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet by April 30, 2004 (the original completion deadline for these reviews was extended to April 30, 2004 based on a request from the AFRC dated June 20, 2003). 

Five-year reviews are required by Section 4(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to ensure that a species' listing classification as either threatened or endangered is accurate.  A five-year review assesses the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review and determines if the present classification is still accurate. The Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) and Marbled Murrelet (MM) were originally listed as threatened or endangered in 1990 and 1992, respectively.  This information was taken from Fed. Reg. April 21, 2003.

The five-year review considers information such as: population and demographic trends; dispersal and habitat use; genetics and species competition; and habitat amount, quality, and distribution.  The review will determine whether the new information, or analyses of information existing at the time of listing, suggest changes to species' populations; changes to existing threats, and if any new threats have arisen. At the conclusion of this review, the FWS may initiate a separate action to propose changes to the threatened and endangered listing. 

The best scientific and commercial data related to the NSO and MM since their original listings has been requested from Federal agencies and (reference: April 21, 2003 Federal Register, Vol. 68(76):19569-19571).

Analysis and Options: The FWS has extended the comment period to August 20, 2003 to allow the public more time to submit information.  The FWS is also seeking the assistance of a contractor to organize and facilitate teams of external experts to evaluate, synthesize, and interpret information.  Results from the Interagency Monitoring Program Northern Spotted Owl Monitoring Teams demographic workshop to be held January 4-11, 2004 must also be considered (as identified in the Settlement Agreement) which will require close cooperation between the workshop sponsors and the FWS contractors.  The deadline for the contractor's final (peer-reviewed) report is February 15, 2004.

Action Required:

         IAC Review & Discussion

         IAC Recommendation

         RIEC Decision

        Other:     Update  _

Topic:  STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTING

Presenter/Sponsor:  Peggy Kain, Group Leader, Forest Products and Vegetation Management, Region 6 (FS) and Jim Hallberg, County Payments Implementation Coordinator (BLM)

REO Contact/Phone:  Shawne Mohoric, 503-808-2175

Issue Statement:  In April, IAC members identified Stewardship Contracting as a potential future topic.  Recent changes to the Stewardship program implementation make this a good time to provide the IAC with an update and status of the program implementation in the FS and BLM.

Background:  Congress created the Pilot Stewardship Program in the 1999 Interior Appropriations Act.  It was intended to improve the FS’s ability to meet forest restoration and hazardous fuel reduction goals while providing new economic opportunities for local communities by hiring local contractors to do the work. The agency was allowed to start 28 projects per year. 

Analysis and Options:  A rider in the FY ’03 omnibus spending bill expanded the program, allowing an unlimited number of projects, and extending the program through 2013. The rider also allows projects on BLM lands.  Guidance on how the program should be expanded is currently under development.

Action Required:

   x     IAC Review & Discussion

         RIEC Decision

         IAC Recommendation

         Other:                          

Topic:  Round Table Open Discussion

Presenter/Sponsor/REO Contact/Phone:  Anne Badgley, REO Executive Director, 503-808-2165

Issue Statement:  In this meeting, we will be introducing a Round Table Open Discussion session aimed at increasing dialog opportunities among committee members for items that may not fit within the normal agenda.  Topics within this time may include ‘early alerts’ for upcoming issues and activities, topics for future meetings, agenda items, and any other NWFP issues of interest to the members.

REO Staff Proposal:  To help keep this segment lively, we are asking that topics needing more than 5 minutes be scheduled as a hot topic or regular agenda item.

Action Required:

         IAC Review & Discussion

         RIEC Decision

         IAC Recommendation

  xx    Other:  Information sharing