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:

August 9, 2004

To:

Regional Interagency Executive Committee (see attached distribution list)

From:

/s/Anne Badgley, Executive Director

Subject:

REGIONAL INTERAGENCY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING NOTES – July 21, 2004

 

Enclosed please find notes for the July 21, 2004 Regional Interagency Executive Committee (RIEC) meeting held in Florence, Oregon. Primary topics discussed at the breakfast meeting included an update on BLM resource plan objectives, use of new information in a Biological Opinion, and a review of the IAC field trip. Informal summary notes for these topics have been attached for your information.

Our next meeting is scheduled for October 5, 2004 from 8 a.m to 12 noon at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Third Floor Conference Room, 911 NE 11th Ave, Portland, Oregon. Additional information regarding this upcoming meeting will be sent to you shortly.

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 – July Meeting Notes (2p)

cc: Presenters, REO Staff, & PAC DFOs

1973/kc

Distribution List for RIEC

Dave Allen, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Terry Rabot, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Alt)
Elaine M. Brong, Bureau of Land Management
Mike Mottice, Bureau of Land Management (Alt)
Jon Jarvis, National Park Service
Rory Westberg, National Park Service (Alt)
Linda Goodman, Forest Service
Jim Golden, Forest Service (Alt)
Bob Graham, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Dianne Guidry, Natural Resources Conserv. Service (Alt)
Col. Richard W. Hobernicht, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Curt Loop, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Alt)
Anne Kinsinger, U.S. Geological Survey Western Region
Carol Schuler, U.S. Geological Survey W. Region (Alt)
Robert Lohn, NOAA Fisheries
Mike Crouse, NOAA Fisheries (Alt)
Tom Fontaine, Western Ecology Division, EPA
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, West. Ecology Division, EPA (Alt)
Dave Powers, Environmental Protection Agency
Socorro Rodriguez, Environ. Protection Agency (Alt)

tan M. Speaks, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Alex Whistler, Bureau of Indian Affairs (Alt)
Tom Quigley, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forest Service
Cindi West, Pacific Northwest Research 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)
Jim Sedell, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service
Garland Mason, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service (Alt)

 

ISSUE SUMMARIES

Topic: UPDATE ON BLM RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN REVISIONS

Presenter: Elaine Brong, BLM State Director, Oregon/Washington

REO Contact: Debbie Pietrzak/Pat Geehan (BLM/REO Rep)

Summary of Discussion: Elaine Brong provided an overview of the mandates, challenges, funding, and general planning process that the BLM is working on. She stated that the BLM expects to work with interested publics in a variety of venues. She indicated that they are looking for ideas and involvement from the RIEC agencies on the alternatives and she plans to try to have discussions with each agency.

There were several questions from the RIEC members, some dealing with funding, modeling, science, and analytical processes. Elaine recognized the amount of science work created over the last 10 years, and that it would be incorporated into the documentation. She also clarified that the California State Office was not undertaking the same planning process.

RIEC Decisions/Next Steps: There was general agreement to continue these discussions and incorporate periodic updates in the agendas.

Topic: USE OF NEW INFORMATION IN A BIOLOGICAL OPINION

Presenter: Dave Allen, Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

REO Contact: Jay Watson (FWS Rep)

Issue Statement: New and updated biological and management information is being compiled for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Northern Spotted Owl 5-year status reviews. This information will be used to ensure that the designation under the Endangered Species Act is accurate.

Summary of Discussion:

  • The Fish and Wildlife Service, in response to timber industry litigation, is conducting a Northern Spotted Owl 5-year review under the Endangered Species Act.
  • The review will consider whether new information suggests the species is increasing, declining, or stable; if existing threats are increasing, the same, reduced, or eliminated; if there are any new threats; or if new information or analysis might lead to question any of the original listing determination conclusions.
  • The interagency monitoring report Status and Trends in Demography of Northern Spotted Owls, 1985 – 2003 is in draft. The independent peer review by the Ecological Society of America has been completed.
  • Because of the complexity of the information, evaluation of available biological information was contracted to Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI) of Portland, OR. Their report is expected in late August 2004.
  • The Fish and Wildlife Service’s conclusion on the regulatory status of the Northern Spotted Owl is due by November 15, 2004.

Next Steps (who/what/when): It was agreed to have Dr. Steve Courtney, SEI, present preliminary conclusions, including their review of Northern Spotted Owl population status and trends, habitat use and trends, barred owls, genetics, West Nile virus, information gaps and uncertainties, and conservation strategies in August. The Regional Ecosystem Office will contact Dr. Courtney and make the necessary arrangements for the meeting.

 

Topic: REVIEW OF IAC FIELD TRIP

REO Contact: Anne Badgley, REO

Summary of Discussion: The RIEC briefly reviewed the IAC field trip and discussed if future field trips should occur. Quotes describing the field trip captured during this discussion include: "Very beneficial," "Powerful success," "Positive session," and "Problems/restrictions identified." There were positive remarks made regarding the increased communications during this meeting and a desire to continue seeking ways to improve communications among the members.

RIEC Decisions: Proceed with plans for California field trip in Winter/Spring 2005.

Next Steps (who/what/when): Additional discussions regarding how best to fund future activities of this type are needed. REO staff will proceed with planning for and implementing the field trip in 2005.

 

Attendance:

Dave Allen (FWS)

Linda Goodman (FS)

Shawne Mohoric (FS)

Anne Badgley (REO)

Bob Graham (NRCS)

Steve Morris (NOAA/REO)

Elaine Brong (BLM)

Glenn Lahti (BLM)

Dave Powers (EPA)

Kath Collier (REO)

Laurie Lee Jenkins (NPS/REO)

Paul Roush (BLM)

Mike Crouse (NMFS)

Heidi Krouse (REO student)

Carol Schuler (USGS-FRESC)

Phil Dietrich (FWS)

Teresa Kubo (EPA/REO)

Jay Watson (FWS/REO)

Tom Fontaine (EPA)

Becky Loomis (REO)

Rory Westberg (NPS)

Dave Gibbons (FS, CA)

    

Handouts:

- Contact Lists: IAC, RIEC (with Alternates), Designated Federal Officials, and Regional Ecosystem Office
- "July 21 IAC/RIEC Meeting – Status of the 5-Year Reviews for the Northern Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet"
- Northwest Forest Plan Meeting Evaluation Questionnaire