IMST's independent projects deal with the scientific basis for management of resources relative to the Oregon Plan. These are areas of work identified by the Team as crucial to the programs of the State that influence the outcome of the Oregon Plan. These projects usually lead to technical reports.
IMST discusses current projects at subcommittee meetings and Team meetings. Both are open to the public. Please check meeting agendas to determine when projects will be discussed.
Download a draft outline for the report
Most of Oregon is east of the Cascade crest, a region that differs markedly from western Oregon in climate, hydrology, and
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| IMST is examining how management of the diverse upland, lowland, riparian, and aquatic systems of Eastern and Central Oregon can be scientifically compatible with accomplishing the mission of the Oregon Plan. |
Download a draft outline for the report
IMST is currently working on a project on urban and rural residential land uses. The goal of this project is to determine how urban areas and their management can be scientifically compatible with accomplishing the mission of the Oregon Plan for
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| Urban areas have unique challenges when addressing salmonid and watershed restoration because the urban landscape is heavily modified. |
Wild salmonids occur and rely on all aspects of the Oregon landscape, including urban and rural residential areas. Urban areas cover approximately 6% of the area of the state of Oregon. While modest in geographic scale, it is important to recognize that urban areas include habitat for salmonids that is used for spawning, rearing, and transit. This urban-based habitat is no more or less important than other habitat, but historically it has received much less attention.
The technical report resulting from this project will include recommendations to state agencies involved in salmonid recovery and land management.
This report was prepared by the IMST after discussions and a
joint workshop with OWEB which identified the need for general scientific
guidance
on the use of indicators and status/trends data in the evaluation of
restoration efforts. It is intended for use by partner agencies in
the Oregon Plan
for Salmon and Watersheds in deliberations about the role of high-level
ecological indicators in answering questions about the effectiveness
of the Oregon Plan, especially watershed restoration activities and
programs.
The paper is focused on scientific (not policy) topics related to developing,
analyzing, reporting, and using ecological indicators. The paper
synthesizes scientific information about high-level indicators and
present examples of indicator use from the U.S. and other countries. The
final report was released on September 10, 2007.