Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Recovery



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8.4Implementation Schedule


Recovery of listed species is a long process that requires sacrifice, patience, and courage. Because limited resources do not allow all actions to be implemented immediately, it is important to sequence actions according to their importance to recovery. This section of the plan describes a method for sequencing actions. Because of a lack of information, many details of the schedule remain undefined. For example, information is lacking on identification of response triggers, identification of milestones, and designation of management responses to triggering events. Nonetheless, general features of the implementation schedule can be described including the approach to prioritization of actions.

8.4.1Sequence of Actions


This plan has identified a large number of recovery actions that need to be implemented within the Upper Columbia Basin. As noted earlier, resources are not currently available to implement all the recovery actions in the near term. Therefore, it is important to sequence or prioritize actions within and between all sectors. In this section, the plan identifies a general framework for sequencing recovery actions within the Upper Columbia Basin.

The framework categorizes projects or actions based on multiple objectives and characteristics. It also establishes a general model for selecting and implementing actions that will lead to recovery of Upper Columbia spring Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout. The approach is based on biological effectiveness and socio-economic feasibility. Actions listed in Appendix G will serve as the basis for project prioritization. This framework is intended as a guide. It is not intended to exclude any projects listed in Appendix G from implementation. This framework has been used successfully in the Entiat subbasin. The framework may evolve as new information from RME becomes available.

Project sequencing is organized into four general “tiers” of priority (Figure 8.3Error: Reference source not found):

Tier I: Higher biological benefit; lower cost; higher feasibility

Tier II: Higher biological benefit; higher cost; lower feasibility

Tier III: Lower biological benefit; lower cost; higher feasibility

Tier IV: Lower biological benefit; higher cost; lower feasibility

The process of sequencing actions includes:



  1. Assigning a qualitative ranking of the biological benefits to each strategy. This ranking is based on how well each project addresses the VSP parameters.

  2. Rate the feasibility of each project. Criteria used to rate feasibility could range from professional and stakeholder input to an in-depth feasibility study. Criteria needed to describe feasibility should include at least: time to implement; constructability; acceptance by local governments; and acceptance by local stakeholders.

  3. Rate projects based on cost. Various methods can be used to estimate cost, but initially it can be quantitative.

After projects are rated on feasibility and cost, they are then compared to biological benefit. Those projects that are relatively inexpensive and ordered relatively high on feasibility and biological benefit will appear as Tier I projects. Tier IV projects have the lowest biological benefits and feasibility and relatively high costs. Projects in this tier should be implemented only if there are no projects within other tiers. Appendix L provides an example of the use of the prioritization framework.

Using this method, an implementation schedule for the Upper Columbia Basin was prepared (Appendix M). The implementation schedule is a living document that will be revised annually by the local habitat groups and the UCSRB and RTT.


8.4.2Assurances of Implementation


The various levels of governments, tribes, non-governmental entities, and citizens have made commitments through participation in on-going and developing processes and participating in actions (projects) throughout the Upper Columbia Basin. In particular, the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board has expended considerable political capital in developing this recovery plan by addressing difficult and sensitive issues. The success of this plan is dependent on the cooperation among agencies, entities, and citizens within and outside the region. The region has recognized that recovering spring Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout populations has positive effects to many aspects of the local quality of life.

8.5Public Education and Outreach


The recovery of spring Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout in the Upper Columbia Basin is dependent on the collective actions of the people in the region. Recovery cannot be accomplished through legislation, rules, or money. These are only tools for recovery. It depends on the cumulative effort of people working as individuals and collectively through and with organizations and governmental entities to achieve a common goal. In this case, the goal is the recovery of spring Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout to viable and sustainable levels. It must provide for the equitable sharing of burdens and benefits across affected interests and regions. Recovery will require fundamental changes in how we view, care for, and manage our fish, streams, and watersheds. A successful recovery program must work for people and fish. It must be sound biologically and technically and also be sensitive and responsive to regional and local cultural, social, and economic values. Documentation of public outreach efforts during the development of this plan is included in Appendix N.

8.5.1Goal


It is a goal of public education and outreach to engage the public as an active partner in implementing and sustaining recovery efforts. This goal will be achieved by building public awareness, understanding, and support; and by providing opportunities for participation in all aspects of recovery implementation. The term “public” is intended to be inclusive of individuals, community groups, environmental and conservation organizations, businesses, agricultural interests, recreational interests, and others with a stake or role in achieving recovery.

Through a collaborative process, members of the public and scientists will exchange information and tools needed to effectively support and participate in recovery. This effort must continue so that support for recovery increases over time and integrates the continual changes in the local and regional environments. Recovery is sharing responsibility and requiring coordinated and complementary participation at the federal, tribal, state, local, and citizen levels.


8.5.2Principles


Planning and implementation must be done in a collaborative and transparent manner with opportunities for the public to be fully engaged and involved at each step. Decisions for recovery of salmon and trout affect the future of all those who live and work in this region, so the counties are committed to understanding the diverse needs and concerns of the public, and to learning from experiences.

The dissemination of information should be thorough and a shared responsibility to ensure the education of the public and to promote the broadest understanding of the region's needs. Additionally, existing information will be used to characterize community goals related to regional recovery planning and adaptive management including such aspects as economic development, land use, environmental perspectives, and social issues.

Public participation is a dynamic activity that requires teamwork and commitment. In developing this plan, it has become clear that engaging the interested citizen is challenging. Effective public participation and involvement requires building relationships. Local citizens have more confidence and ownership of local processes than regional processes.

8.5.3Implementation


As noted above, public education and outreach is a responsibility shared by all implementation partners. Each implementing partner must have an effective public education and outreach effort tailored to its recovery responsibilities and the needs of its constituency. Each implementing partner must also be able to represent the regional recovery effort accurately and consistently and to put its actions in the broader context of the regional effort. While the purpose of these programs is to build awareness, understanding, support, and participation, multiple public education and outreach efforts also have the potential to overwhelm and confuse the public and to be repetitive and wasteful. Therefore, existing functional watershed groups/venues should be used as often as possible for information sharing.

The implementation approach relies largely on the individual implementing partners. It also identifies measures and actions to coordinate and integrate these individual efforts into an effective regional public education and outreach effort that will help ensure consistency, avoid redundancy, and leverage efforts and resources.



A regional education and outreach program will be established to support, assist, and coordinate local efforts by implementation partners. The UCSRB in consultation with the implementing partners will develop the regional program. The program will be consistent with the principles discussed above and will:

  • Develop and distribute informational and educational materials explaining the reasons for the recovery effort and the goals, strategies, measures, actions, and priorities of the recovery plan.

  • Coordinate and facilitate communication and information sharing among agencies, governments, organizations, and the public. This will include a regional communications network, information clearinghouse, and identification of informational contacts for implementing partners.

  • Identify opportunities for and assist implementing partners in integrating or consolidating similar, duplicative, or complementary education and outreach efforts. Provide the public with information on implementation actions throughout the region, including notice of opportunities to participate and information sources.

  • Provide the public with information on the progress, status, and achievements of recovery actions throughout the region.

  • Encourage and assist schools and educational organizations, such as conservation districts and WSU cooperative extension, to integrate salmon recovery into their environmental, agricultural, watershed, water quality curriculum, and classes. Also support agency, local government, and utility educational programs promoting actions by individuals to protect and conserve water resources.

  • Coordinate briefings and presentations to civic, business, trade, environmental, conservation, and fishing organizations on the regional recovery program, actions, and progress.

  • Establish regional measures to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of organizations, businesses, and individuals. Publicize incentive programs for the protection and restoration of water resources and habitat and encourage landowner participation.

  • Encourage business and professional organizations to adopt and promote implementation of best management practices for the protection and restoration of fish and habitat.

  • Encourage and assist local or community organizations interested or involved in watershed and habitat protection and restoration.

  • Develop a resource publication to assist implementing partners and the public with funding education and recovery programs and projects.

In concert with the development of the public education and outreach plan, the implementing partners will be requested to prepare an education and outreach plan for their implementing activities. While public entities are already required by law or rule to have some form of public education and outreach, these plans would help to ensure that efforts by the implementing partners are consistent with the principles and regional program discussed above and coordinated with the efforts of other implementing partners.


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