FCRPS Adaptive FCRPS Adaptive Management Management

Implementation Implementation Plan Plan

(AMIP)(AMIP)

1September 15, 2009September 15, 2009

Administration ConclusionsAdministration Conclusions

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• As implemented with this new adaptive management implementation plan, the 2008 Biological Opinion (BiOp):

• Is biologically and legally sound

• Is based on the best available scientific information

• Satisfies the ESA jeopardy standard

• The current BiOp reflects great regional consensus of states and tribes in support of a salmon plan for the hydropower system.

• We would like to get to work and move on to implementation of salmon actions “on the ground.” It is time to end the litigation.

Administration ReviewAdministration Review• The Obama Administration engaged in a substantial

review of the BiOp at Judge Redden’s invitation. Participants included agency leadership from NOAA, CEQ, DOI, DOD & DOE.

• We conducted listening sessions with parties to the litigation and with agency and independent scientists. We also considered the points raised in a May 2009 letter from Judge James A. Redden.

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Administration ReviewAdministration Review

Our review indicated the science underlying the BiOp was sound, but that there was uncertainty in some predictions of future fish status. As a result, we have developed an insurance policy for the fish that will be implemented as part of the 2008 BiOp.

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Adaptive Management Implementation Adaptive Management Implementation PlanPlan• Accelerates and enhances certain BiOp mitigation

actions

• Enhances research and monitoring to evaluate fish status and habitat conditions

• A new contingency plan to address the possibility of a significant decline in the abundance of listed fish and biological triggers that result in contingency actions

• Dam breaching studies as a contingency of last resort

• Ongoing commitments to regional collaboration and science review

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Accelerated & Enhanced Actions Accelerated & Enhanced Actions

• Commitments to additional Estuary restoration projects under a new agreement with the State of Washington

• Efforts to control predators and invasive species

• Biologically-based changes to spring and summer spill

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Enhanced Research, Monitoring & Enhanced Research, Monitoring & EvaluationEvaluation

What?• Improved adult status and trend monitoring• Improved Intensively Monitored Watersheds• Improved juvenile status and trend monitoring• Improved habitat monitoring• Enhanced Life -cycle modeling

Why?• To better measure effectiveness of BiOp actions• To better monitor climate change impacts• To collect additional information to evaluate triggers

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Biological Triggers for Implementation Biological Triggers for Implementation of Contingenciesof Contingencies• Early Warning Indicator: tripped if the four-year average adult

wild fish abundance for a species falls below the lowest 20th percentile of abundance, based on the currently available data

• Significant Decline Trigger: tripped if the four-year average adult wild fish abundance for a species falls below the lowest 10th percentile of abundance, based on the currently available data

• Additional triggers (including juvenile triggers) will be defined in the future through the collaborative Regional Implementation Oversight Group (RIOG).

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Example:

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Example:

Tripping the Early Warning IndicatorTripping the Early Warning Indicator

• Within 120 days of NOAA Fisheries determining that an Early Warning Indicator was tripped, the Action Agencies (in coordination with NOAA Fisheries, the RIOG, and other regional parties) will:

• Evaluate the likely status of the species in question;

• Determine whether a Significant Decline Trigger is likely to be tripped;

• If so, determine what Rapid Response Actions to take

• Implement actions as soon practicable (not later than 12 months after indicator observed)

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Within 90 days of NOAA Fisheries’ determining that the Significant Decline Trigger was tripped, the Action Agencies (in coordination with NOAA Fisheries, the RIOG, and other regional parties) would:

• Determine which Rapid Response Actions to take for a particular species; and

• Implement the actions as soon as practicable (not later than 12 months after the trigger occurs)

Tripping the Significant Decline TriggerTripping the Significant Decline Trigger

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Contingency ActionsContingency Actions• Rapid Response Actions are to be implemented

within one year of a trigger.

• Examples:

• Additional hydro operations

• Increased predator control

• Safety-net hatcheries

• Certain harvest controls within existing agreements

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Contingency ActionsContingency Actions• Long-Term Contingency Actions are to be developed

by 2011.

• Examples:• Additional hydro system actions

• Enhanced predator controls

• Certain harvest controls

• Conservation hatcheries

• Species reintroduction

• Study of operation of John Day Dam at minimum operating pool

• Study of lower Snake River dam breaching

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Lower Snake River Dam Breaching Lower Snake River Dam Breaching Studies Studies •The Corps creates a study plan by March 2010, including scope, schedule and budget to complete technical studies and formulate a decision process

•NOAA/ Region builds analytic tools by December 2012 for full Life-cycle analysis of all contingent actions

•Upon Significant Decline Trigger— All-H analysis completed within six months to initiate technical studies. Corps conducts technical studies in two years (biology, economics, engineering, environmental impacts)

•Then, Administration decides if evidence exists to move to EIS and Decision Process whether to request Congress authorize to breach one or more dams

•Dam breaching is a contingency of last resort due to uncertainty of biological effects and significant impacts to local communities and the environment

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Ongoing Regional Collaboration & Ongoing Regional Collaboration & Independent Scientific ReviewIndependent Scientific Review

• To continue partnerships with states & tribes

• To provide for ongoing science input

• To ensure transparent reporting on progress

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ImplementationImplementation

• Science-based plan with commitment to implement it

• Broad regional support

• Commitment to fund

• BPA new rates already in place

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