RIEC Prework August 5, 2003

Regional Ecosystem Office 333 SW 1st P.O. Box 3623 Portland, Oregon 97208-3623 Website: www.reo.gov E-Mail: REOmail@or.blm.gov Phone: 503-808-2165 FAX: 503-808-2163
	Memorandum
Date:	July 23, 2003
To:	Regional Interagency Executive Committee (see attached distribution list)
From:	Anne Badgley, Executive Director
Subject:	REGIONAL INTERAGENCY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA & PREWORK - 8:00-10:00 a.m. - August 5, 2003

Enclosed please find a proposed agenda for the August 5, 2003 Regional Interagency Executive Committee (RIEC) meeting which begins at 8:00 a.m. and transitions to an Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting in the same room at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Mt. Hood A Conference Room at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, located at 8235 NE Airport Way, Portland, Oregon 97220.

Primary topics to be discussed at the meeting include:
- Jack Blackwell will discuss the recent visit by Jack Ward Thomas to review the implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan in California.
- We will be examining and making decisions on various Northwest Forest Plan budgets.
- We will wrap up with a look at future meeting dates, and after a quick break move into an Intergovernmental Advisory Committee meeting in the same room.

Finally, we are inviting and expecting some special guests at the IAC meeting who are particularly interested in the Aquatic Monitoring and potential collaboration opportunities presentation. A list of potential attendees will be provided to you at the RIEC meeting.

I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting. If you have any questions regarding this material, please contact your REO Representative, Kath Collier (503-808-2179), or me (503-808-2165).

Enclosures:

1 - Monitoring Budget Summary (1p) (not attached)
2 - 2004 REO Budget information (2p) (not attached)
3 - RIEC/IAC Proposed Calendar (1p) (not attached)

cc: Presenters, REO, & PAC DFOs

1845/kc

Distribution List for RIEC
Dave Allen, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Dave Wesley, US Fish & Wildlife Service (Alt)
Elaine M. Brong, Bureau of Land Management
Judy Nelson, Bureau of Land Management (Alt)
Jon Jarvis, National Park Service
Jim Shevock, National Park Service (Alt)
Linda Goodman, Forest Service
Lisa Freedman, Forest Service (Alt)
Bob Graham, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Dianne Guidry, Natural Resources Conservation Service (Alt)
Col. Richard W. Hobernicht, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Curt Loop, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Alt)
Anne Kinsinger, USGS Western Region
Dave Busch, USGS/REO (Alt)
Robert Lohn, National Marine Fisheries Service
Mike Crouse, National Marine Fisheries Service (Alt)
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, Western Ecology Division, EPA
Dan McKenzie, Western Ecology Division, EPA (Alt)
Dave Powers, Environmental Protection Agency
Dan Opalski, Environmental Protection Agency (Alt)
Stan M. Speaks, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Alex Whistler, Bureau of Indian Affairs (Alt)
Tom Quigley, Pacific Northwest Station, Forest Service
Cindi West, Pacific Northwest Station, Forest Service (Alt)

California Federal Executives

Kent Connaughton, Forest Service
Kathy Anderson, Forest Service (Alt)
Steve Thompson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
John Engbring, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Alt)
Phil Detrich, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Alt)
Michael Pool, Bureau of Land Management
Paul Roush, Bureau of Land Management (Alt)

Regional Interagency Executive Committee (RIEC) Meeting

August 5, 2003 – Proposed Agenda
Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, Portland, Oregon

Time	Topics	Purpose	Presenter
8:00	Welcome § Introductions § Agenda Review	Housekeeping	Linda Goodman Facilitator
8:05	The First Four Months in Review § Status of the REO Transition in 2004 § Northwest Natural Resources Executive Forum in Review	Progress Report	Anne Badgley
8:20	NWFP Review in Region 5 § Introduction/background regarding RIEC Review in 2002 (10 minutes) § Forest Service Region 5 (California) Review: Findings and Action Plan	Information	Anne Badgley Jack Blackwell
9:15	Interagency Budgets § Monitoring Program Budget § Regional Ecosystem Office Budget § Geographical Information Systems Budget	Information Decision Decision	Jon Martin Anne Badgley Nancy Diaz
9:40	Closing § Review of agreements, tasks, & assignments § Future meeting dates and topics § Preview of the following IAC meeting	Housekeeping	Facilitator
9:45	*Break and Transition to IAC meeting*

Regional Interagency Executive Committee – August 5, 2003 – Page 2

Topic: THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS IN REVIEW – REO TRANSITION
Presenter/Sponsor/REO Contact/Phone: Anne Badgley, REO Executive Director, 503-808-2165
Issue Statement: Anne will provide an overview of her first four months as REO Executive Director, the ongoing transition to a new "leaner" organizational structure, and next steps.
Background: In FY 2004, the REO will be considerably reduced in size. The staff is developing procedures for continuing staff functions in a decentralized environment and methods to further streamline operations. As part of this process, the REO staff has been updating a key staff handbook (previously distributed in 2000) that describes roles, responsibilities, and process.
Organizational/Funding Implications: Changes are resulting in significant budget reductions (see Interagency Budgets for Fiscal Year 2004).
REO Staff Proposal: Suggest another short report to the RIEC again in September.
Action Required:	xx Information Decision

Topic: REPORT ON NORTHWEST NATURAL RESOURCES EXECUTIVE FORUM

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

Issue Statement: A Northwest Natural Resources Executive Forum on water issues was held on June 3, 2003. We will bring you up-to-date on the meeting and feedback.

Background: The concept of a Forum to discuss natural resource issues broader than the NWFP evolved out of a RIEC Executive Offsite meeting in October of 2002. It was agreed that such a forum would provide a valuable opportunity for Federal executives (RIEC and non-RIEC) to meet one another; discuss emerging and ongoing issues; share experiences and lessons learned; and think strategically about opportunities to collaborate more effectively across Departments and agencies.

Analysis and Options: On June 3, 2003, 35 Regional Executives from six Departments of the Federal Government and 12 Federal agencies gathered together. Several presentations were made in the morning. John Keys, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, provided an overview of the Secretary of the Interior’s Western Water initiative. Other presenters provided background regarding the status of the water supply throughout the west, the Klamath Basin situation, and other western water issues. The balance of the meeting was devoted to considering lessons learned in the Klamath Basin and elsewhere, potential solutions, and opportunities for collaboration. Discussion focused largely on interagency actions that need to be taken before (and/or after) a crisis develops.

A questionnaire evaluating the session was sent to participants. A summary of their responses will be provided at the meeting. Generally, responses have been very positive.

REO Staff Proposal: Several agencies have indicated an interest in hosting a Forum meeting. The REO will provide the future host agency with contact information from the June 3, 2003 meeting.

Action Required:

xx Discussion/request for volunteer to host next meeting

Regional Interagency Executive Committee – August 5, 2003 – Page 3

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.
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 Review & Discussion

Regional Interagency Executive Committee – August 5, 2003 – Page 5

Topic: CLOSING – FUTURE MEETING DATES
Presenter/Sponsor/REO Contact/Phone: Anne Badgley, Executive Director, 503-808-2165
Issue Statement: The goal of this segment is to outline proposed and gain general approval for the calendar dates and meeting types through 2004 (see attachment 3 – RIEC/IAC 2003-2004 Meeting Schedule – DRAFT). We will also be asking for your input on potential topics and issues.
Action Required:	Information xx Decision

Potential topics for the October 2, Meeting:

November IAC Meeting Topics and Issues
Potential ISC meeting or direction regarding the new Memorandum of Understandings
Follow-up on Region 5 Review
Interagency Monitoring Budget Proposal (Decision)
Results of NSO Monitoring Review
Impacts and Opportunities associated with the Pacific Fisher Status Review
Proposed Section 7 Endangered Species Act Counterpart Regulations

Status updates on:

REO Transition, GIS/IT Option Implementation
Five-Year Review of the Northern Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet comment period and next steps
Survey & Manage SEIS and the planned Notice of Decision in December

Topic: REPORT ON NORTHWEST NATURAL RESOURCES EXECUTIVE FORUM
Presenter/Sponsor/REO Contact/Phone: Anne Badgley, REO Executive Director, 503-808-2165
Issue Statement: A Northwest Natural Resources Executive Forum on water issues was held on June 3, 2003. We will bring you up-to-date on the meeting and feedback.
Background: The concept of a Forum to discuss natural resource issues broader than the NWFP evolved out of a RIEC Executive Offsite meeting in October of 2002. It was agreed that such a forum would provide a valuable opportunity for Federal executives (RIEC and non-RIEC) to meet one another; discuss emerging and ongoing issues; share experiences and lessons learned; and think strategically about opportunities to collaborate more effectively across Departments and agencies.
Analysis and Options: On June 3, 2003, 35 Regional Executives from six Departments of the Federal Government and 12 Federal agencies gathered together. Several presentations were made in the morning. John Keys, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, provided an overview of the Secretary of the Interior’s Western Water initiative. Other presenters provided background regarding the status of the water supply throughout the west, the Klamath Basin situation, and other western water issues. The balance of the meeting was devoted to considering lessons learned in the Klamath Basin and elsewhere, potential solutions, and opportunities for collaboration. Discussion focused largely on interagency actions that need to be taken before (and/or after) a crisis develops. A questionnaire evaluating the session was sent to participants. A summary of their responses will be provided at the meeting. Generally, responses have been very positive.
REO Staff Proposal: Several agencies have indicated an interest in hosting a Forum meeting. The REO will provide the future host agency with contact information from the June 3, 2003 meeting.
Action Required:	xx Discussion/request for volunteer to host next meeting