Columbia River Basin White Sturgeon Framework Lynn Palensky Northwest Power and Conservation Council Portland, Oregon USA July 2013
Northwest Power and Conservation Council Interstate compact of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington Authorized by NW Power Act of 1980 8 members appointed by the 4 governors Funded by rate-payers through BPA Headquarters in Portland, Oregon+ state offices
Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program “...program to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife, in the Columbia River and its tributaries affected by the development & operation of the of hydroelectric projects while assuring an adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable power supply.” Annual f&w budget of >$250m (of which 4-5% is allocated to sturgeon) Over 400 projects & programs funded; each reviewed by independent scientists
1,954 Km long Originates in Columbia Lake, BC 2 countries 6 states 1 province 3 First Nations 16 Native American Tribes
Science Review Independent Science Review Panel (ISRP) Scientific Criteria defined in Program Applied to all Bonneville-funded projects ISRP called for comprehensive Columbia River Sturgeon plan
ISRP Recommendations for sturgeon 1.Basinwide management plan 2.Factors affecting recruitment 3.Importance of estuary and ocean in production 4.Productivity above Bonneville Dam 5.Review of harvest regs, consider seasonal restrictions, and improve methodologies to assess stock status
Sturgeon Framework 1.5 years to develop Existing information Manager, Expert & Public input ISRP review available on June 24 Revisions for final document (now) 2 nd round of comments
Sturgeon Framework Planning Area, Management Entities Plans, Policies, and Programs Biology & Life History Current Status Fisheries Management Unit Summaries Limiting Factors & Threats Gap Analysis: Critical Uncertainties
Management Units
Limiting Factors & Threats
Recommendations Hatcheries Hydro Passage at dams Ecology / Population Dynamics / Predation Outreach
Challenges Multiple partners Funding Management units – Different managers – Geography – Goals Balance goals of conservation and harvest
Next Steps Last set of comments 7/1/13 Revisions to Framework through fall Invite manager/expert comments on revisions Uses: – Basis for developing supplementation opportunities – Increase funding to study and conserve sturgeon – Increase conservation/awareness – Guide mitigation priorities in the CR basin –
Questions?