Adaptively Managing the Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan

The Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) and partners have established an Adaptive Management Framework for the implementation of tributary habitat actions in the Upper Columbia.   The Adaptive Management Framework is designed to monitor and assess the results of habitat actions, and make changes either to overall recovery strategies, or to details of on-the-ground implementation, based on those results.  Our workshop and synthesis report included 5 sessions that analyzed and reported on 1) species status and trend 2) implemented actions, limiting factors, and threats 3) habitat status and trend 4) habitat action effectiveness and 5) data gaps and information needs.  The objectives of the science workshop were to update the status assessments with most recent data, interpret information gathered from monitoring and research, assess deviations from targets or anticipated results, and recommend changes in policies or management actions where appropriate.

Some of our conclusions included:

• Populations of spring Chinook and steelhead in the Upper Columbia remain at high risk for abundance/productivity and spatial structure/diversity measures.  There have been observable changes in status at scales smaller than the ESU but the duration of those changes has not been long enough to affect risk levels at the ESU scale. 
• Not all past actions have been focused on the primary limiting factors, although many actions were implemented before the Recovery Plan was in place and priorities were less clear.
• Actions that increase juvenile survival and growth should be the highest priority for improving VSP status.
• Changes in habitat status have been detected at small scales (trends were demonstrated at the project level, reach level, and at larger scales) but more time and more data is necessary to make a determination for habitat at the population and ESU scale. 
• Actions which have a short life span and which do not restore ecosystem processes are likely to be less effective in the long term.
• The RTT recommends that the preferred sequence of actions is to protect high-quality habitats and restore connectivity and watershed processes before implementing instream habitat improvement projects. 

The results of the synthesis paper were presented to the watershed action teams (implementers), policy makers (UCSRB and management/regulatory agencies) and the public.  The recommendations have been made and the next step of “adaptation” is underway in the Upper Columbia.