Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, Science Policy Exchange Habitat Issues

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, Science Policy Exchange Incorporated in Fish and Wildlife Programs’ Scientific Principles Based on: Independent Scientific Group’s Return to the River and its Conceptual Foundation Fish and Wildlife Program Assumptions

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, Alternative Conceptual Foundation Return to the River (1996; 2006) Salmonid life history diversity and habitat diversity are linked Increases in habitat abundance, diversity, and connectivity increase salmonid life history diversity Increases in habitat and life history diversity increase salmon production Increased abundance and production increase resilience

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, Diversity – Productivity Linkage Normative River Processes –natural ecological processes and functions Habitat Complexity and Diversity Biodiversity –life history, population, phenotypic, genetic Salmonid Productivity –achieve or approach Council’s rebuilding goals

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, Alluvial River 3-D Ecosystem

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, FWP Scientific Principles 1. The abundance, productivity and diversity of organisms are integrally linked to the characteristics of their ecosystems. 2. Ecosystems are dynamic, resilient and develop over time. 3. Biological systems operate on various spatial and time scales that can be organized hierarchically. 4. Habitats develop, and are maintained, by physical and biological processes.

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, FWP Scientific Principles 5. Species play key roles in developing and maintaining ecological conditions. 6. Biological diversity allows ecosystems to persist in the face of environmental variation. 7. Ecological management is adaptive and experimental. 8. Ecosystem function, habitat structure and biological performance are affected by human actions.

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, Intensively Monitored Watersheds Rationale for IMW approach – Quantify salmon response to habitat actions at a watershed level experiment Extent of current efforts – Idaho, Washington, Oregon Example results from an IMW effort: – Fish Creek Speakers : Bob Bilby, Gordie Reeves

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, Habitat Strategies Current Habitat Strategies Increases in habitat capacity and productivity will lead to increases in fish and wildlife Assumes stable climate and human population Climate Change / Population Growth Restoration and habitat strategies need to account for climate change and population growth Examples and tools for planning Speakers : Susan Hanna, Peter Paquet

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, Nutrient Enhancement Rationale – Harvest and downstream mortalities were depriving upriver systems of salmon carcasses and marine derived nutrients Experiments / Case Studies – British Columbia, Oregon, Washington Conclusions Speakers: Pete Bisson, Matt Mesa

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Sep 12-13, Discussion Periods Time is limited –Focus on Science Summary and Policy Implications Discussion –Exchange between Council members, managers, and scientists –Emphasis on policy and manager’s perspective Schedule Enforcers