Independent Multidisciplinary Science Team

Independent Multidisciplinary Science Team
Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds

July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007 Annual Report

June 28, 2007

Current Members of IMST

Neil Christensen, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University (emeritus)
Michael Harte, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University
Robert M. Hughes, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University
Vic Kaczynski, Consulting Fisheries Scientist
Nancy Molina, Cascadia Ecosystems
Carl Schreck, Biological Resources Division, USGS, US Department of Interior
Carlton Yee, Yee Forestry Associates


Accomplishment Report At A Glance

As the Oregon Plan’s primary science advisory team from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, the IMST:

  • Provided scientific reviews and information for key state initiatives, including the draft coastal coho and Rogue River spring Chinook conservation plans (ODFW), Clackamas River bull trout reintroduction feasibility study (USFS and ODFW), the use of indicators in restoration effectiveness evaluations and more. . .
  • Developed scientific and technical information regarding the role of urban areas and Eastern Oregon ecosystems in accomplishing the goals of the Oregon Plan (reports in progress)
  • Developed new avenues for communicating scientific materials to state agencies, the Legislature, and the public

Introduction

The Independent Multidisciplinary Science Team (IMST) is a seven-member team of scientists who advise the State of Oregon on science related to the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (Oregon Plan). The IMST was established by the Oregon Legislature in 1997 (ORS 541.409), and its members are jointly appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. The team represents the disciplines of fisheries (including artificial propagation), oceanography, stream ecology, forestry, range management, watershed science, and agricultural land management. Information about current IMST members can be found here.

This report documents the Team’s activities and accomplishments for the period July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007. The report also briefly outlines the plans and direction of the Team for the 2007-08 Fiscal Year.

Highlights of Accomplishments

The focus of IMST’s work during this reporting period was on meeting state agency needs for scientific and technical reviews of key programs, initiatives, and assessments. In addition, the Team made progress on two ongoing independent reports, and continuing to increase public awareness of the Team’s products and activities. Highlights of the Team’s accomplishments were:

Ongoing projects and reviews:

  • Restoration Effectiveness Monitoring. Based on the joint IMST/OWEB Restoration Effectiveness Monitoring Workshop held in April 2006, the IMST is developing a series of reports that will discuss the pros and cons of various protocols and methods used in effectiveness monitoring; information gaps and research needs; concepts and tools for aggregating data and answering questions at larger scales; and opportunities to increase scientific rigor and broaden the scope of inference for monitoring information. At this time, two reports are envisioned, one focused on the use of indicators in effectiveness monitoring and one on methods for answering larger-scale questions from project monitoring information. The IMST approved a draft outline for distribution to the public that is posted on the IMST’s website. The first report is expected to be completed in July 2007 and the second report by December 2007.
  • Urban and Rural Residential Report. This IMST land use project focuses on populated areas within the state. Its primary considerations are water quality, water quantity, aquatic and riparian habitat structure, and fish passage in urban and rural landscapes. The goal of this project is to define the scientific basis by which urban lands can be managed to help accomplish the goals of the Oregon Plan. IMST expects to finalize this report in June 2008. The IMST approved a draft outline for distribution to the public that is posted on the IMST’s website.
  • Eastern Oregon Resources. This report frames a conceptual model that integrates ecosystem components that affect salmonid habitat and watershed health in the region east of the Cascades, primarily in the mid-Columbia and Snake River systems. The report will discuss how land and water uses affect ecosystem components in ways that alter landscape processes, habitat capacity, and site potential, and how these factors in turn affect efforts to rehabilitate and sustain high quality habitat for salmonids and other species. The IMST approved a draft outline for distribution to the public that is posted on the IMST’s website. Work on the project was delayed in the 2005-2007 biennium to allow the Team to work on agency requested reviews. Work on it will resume in the 2007-08 fiscal year.
  • ODFW’s draft salmonid recovery plans. In March 2006, the IMST tentatively agreed to review five (5) draft recovery plans prepared by the ODFW pending adequate availability of technical support staff and Team members. The first recovery plan is expected to be delivered to the IMST sometime in August 2007.

External communications

During this reporting period, IMST has increased its efforts to communicate with state and federal agencies, the state Legislature, and key stakeholders in the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. The objectives of IMST communications are to increase state entities and key stakeholder knowledge about IMST’s activities and invite input from these groups during the formulation and prioritization of IMST work. We hope this will improve the relevance and usefulness of IMST’s products during implementation of the Oregon Plan. External communications efforts span a wide range of activities, including briefings and oral presentations given by IMST members and staff, attendance at meetings where science issues are discussed, and participation in professional workshops and symposia. Some of the highlights of IMST communications efforts are:

  • Development and distribution of annual brochures highlighting IMST’s accomplishments from January 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006 and a more general brochure describing how the IMST operates and its contributions to the goals of the Oregon Plan.
  • Testimony and discussion with House Committee on Energy and the Environment of IMST’s operations and work products (March 14, 2007).
  • Presentation at OWEB’s 9th biennial conference on IMST’s synthesis of findings from the April 2006 joint IMST/OWEB workshop on restoration effectiveness monitoring workshop (October 26, 2006).
  • Quarterly participation in meetings of the Oregon Plan Core Team, to discuss science needs and issues of the participating agencies.

IMST Public Meetings

IMST meetings generally occur once per month, and are open to the public. Agendas and minutes are posted on the IMST’s website, and audio recordings can be obtained by contacting the IMST at 541-737-6551 or OWEB at 503-986-0187. Subcommittees work sessions involving three or more IMST members are also held as public meetings and the agendas and minutes are also posted. To view a summary list of the topics discussed at each meeting click here.

IMST Recommendations and Responses

One of the key functions of IMST reviews and reports is to make recommendations to agencies that help them strengthen the science underpinnings of their policies and actions. Recommendations are based on IMST assessment of the best available science pertaining to salmonid recovery, watershed function and the management of Oregon’s natural resources. Under ORS 541.409, agencies must respond to the recommendations of the IMST, explaining how they intend to (or why they do not intend to) implement the IMST suggestions. Agency responses to recommendations and the IMST’s evaluations of the responses are forwarded to the Governor’s office, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House.

During the year, 12 recommendations were issued to agencies or the Oregon Plan Core Team. Of these, responses were received and evaluated for 5 recommendations. IMST expects to receive responses to the remaining seven recommendations (issued on May 30, 2007) by the end of the calendar year. One Administrative Report reporting previous recommendations and responses was released in December 2006 a second one will be released in July 2007.

Team Operations

Budget

The current IMST budget comes from Measure 66 (lottery) funds, and exists as a line item in the OWEB budget allocation. This reporting period constitutes the last fiscal year of the biennium. To see the 2005-2007 biennium budget for the IMST budget, click here.

IMST members received compensation from 0.20 to a maximum of 0.25 FTE (full time equivalent), depending on the workload and availability of funds. Members who are university employees receive compensation as a portion of their regular salaries. At no point do university employees receive salary in excess of 1.0 FTE. Members who are federal employees are not eligible for compensation from the State. Members who were neither university nor federal employees were compensated through personal services contracts administered by Oregon State University.

Uncertainties in IMST budget forecasting are created by gaps between departures of Team members who have completed their appointments and arrivals of their replacements, and by the predominance of short-notice reviews from state agencies as a component of IMST’s workload. The IMST client base is growing and the Team is receiving more agency requests for reviews from a broader spectrum of natural resource agencies than previously occurred. One of the primary goals of IMST external communication has been to work with the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources, OWEB, and the Legislative Fiscal Office on ways to best determine, portray, and distribute IMST budget forecasting information to the Legislature during budget deliberations.

The IMST administrative and technical support staff is an essential part of the Team and has been instrumental to the Team’s ability to complete its work. Funding during the reporting period provided for one administrative/lead technical support person, one technical support person, and a 0.25 FTE clerical person. The support staff personnel are OSU employees, and except for the clerical position, serve as faculty members. The technical support staff has a broad range of knowledge, research experience, and technical expertise in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest, and provides essential continuity for the Team as it undergoes transitions with new members and Co-Chairs each year.

Voluntary Performance Evaluation Framework

In 2006, the IMST began discussions about how to voluntarily measure and report the Team's work efficiency. The IMST developed a performance framework based on general principles the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and the Oregon Progress Board have outlined for state agencies. The IMST's framework is not formally connected to any state reporting process or agency; the framework is strictly a voluntary and internal evaluation tool. The IMST will begin to use the framework in the July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008 fiscal year.

The Future

Each year, the Team reviews the current program of work and discusses ideas for new reports that address emerging issues or topics of relevance to implementation of the Oregon Plan. In 2002, the Team, through a series of public discussions, identified 43 technical areas for which information was needed. The top three were:

  • Ecological interactions among co-occurring species in the ecosystem (salmonid/non-salmonid, native/non-native, fish/non-fish);
  • Effectiveness of salmonid conservation and restoration activities; and
  • Historical framework for fish/vegetation distributions and densities, qualities of data, and technical limitations.

This list is currently being discussed by IMST, along with identification of the most relevant, current information needs for the Oregon Plan, and how IMST can be most helpful to Oregon Plan partners and agencies in filling information gaps.

Members of the IMST, July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007

Neil W. Christensen, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, joined the IMST April 1, 2005. Dr. Christensen received a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Nevada - Reno, an M.S. in Agronomy from New Mexico State University, and a Ph.D. in Soil Science from Oregon State University. He served on the faculty of Montana State University, Bozeman, MT from 1971 to 1978 before joining the faculty of Oregon State University where he taught undergraduate and graduate students, investigated factors influencing plant nutrient availability, and provided Extension education on nutrient management in complex cropping systems. Over the past fifteen years Dr. Christensen has focused on the development and application of diagnostic tools to identify crop production limitations, improve fertilizer management, and protect environmental quality. Dr. Christensen has served as an elected officer of regional and national professional societies. He was an Associate Editor and a Technical editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal and is served as Editor for the 9th International Symposium on Soil and Plant Analysis. Dr. Christensen is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist and a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. [return to Introduction]

Michael J. Harte, Ph.D. is Professor and Director of the Marine Resource Management Program at Oregon State University, Corvallis, and an Oregon Sea Grant Extension Specialist. He joined the IMST in February 2006. He holds a Bachelors degree in geography and economics and Masters degree in geography from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He received his PhD in geography in 1994 from the University of Victoria, British Columbia. He specializes in the management of coastal and marine resources with a particular emphasis on fisheries issues. He has worked for the public and the private sectors in New Zealand, Canada and the Falkland Islands. Over the last decade Dr. Harte has chaired and served on many advisory boards, committees, working groups and provided scientific and other advice to a wide range of stakeholders at local, national and international levels. [return to Introduction]

Robert M. Hughes, Ph.D., Senior Research Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis joined the IMST in February 2004. Dr. Hughes received an A.B in Psychology/Biology and an M.Sc. in Resource Planning and Conservation from the University of Michigan. In 1979, he received his Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Oregon State University. Dr Hughes has over 25 years of experience in sampling and analyzing data for fish assemblages in various parts of the US, including previously serving as the indicator coordinator for the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) - - Surface Waters. He developed monitoring techniques and indicators for bird, fish, macrobenthos, and algae assemblages in northeastern US lakes, Appalachian streams and rivers, and western US streams and rivers. He has also developed fish assemblage indicators for Indian, French, Portuguese, and Brazilian rivers. Dr. Hughes has published more than 99 peer-reviewed manuscripts, co-edited three books, and has served as associate editor for two professional journals. He is president of the Western Division of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), and was president of the AFS Water Quality Section in 1999-2001, and the AFS Oregon Chapter in 1994-1995. [return to Introduction]

Victor W. Kaczynski, Ph.D. a consulting fisheries scientist, Parkdale, OR joined the IMST February 2006. Dr. Kaczynski has been working with Pacific salmon since 1970 while an Assistant Professor of Biological Oceanography at the University of Washington. He received his B.S. in Biology from SUNY College at Buffalo, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Limnology from Cornell University. He was the Environmental Technical Director for Texas Instruments, Vice President of Beak Consultants Ltd. (western Canada), President of Beak Consultants Inc. (U.S.), and Director of Environmental Sciences for CH2M-Hill. He founded his own firm in 1989. He consults on fishery and water quality issues. His clients have included federal and state natural resource agencies, municipalities, watershed councils, petroleum exploration, geothermal, nuclear, thermal, hydroelectric, petrochemical, forestry, grazing, and irrigation sectors. He was an advisor to the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and College of Forestry at Oregon State University and to the environmental science program at Mt. Hood Community College. He has published on pink and chum salmon early marine life history, parasite effects on bluefish, ecology of Anostracan shrimp, fishery effects of treated pulp mill effluent, use of wetlands for alternative wastewater treatment, environmental standards for the Mexican pulp and paper industry, stream habitat surveys and enhancement, wildfire impacts on stream habitats and salmonids, marine survival of coastal coho salmon, and has authored numerous technical reports. [return to Introduction]

Nancy Molina, M.S., has worked at the interface of science and natural resource management since the 1970’s, when she joined a planning team on the Mt. Hood National Forest. After earning a graduate degree in Botany/Ecology from Washington State University, she returned to the Forest Service where she spent 20 years working as a field ecologist in NW Oregon/SW Washington. During that time she conducted ecological studies for four National Forests, and authored and co-authored a variety of ecological guides and other publications, including "Forest Landscape Analysis and Design", a widely-used guide to landscape-scale ecological planning. She has been a frequent speaker on topics relevant to biodiversity, ecosystem management and landscape ecology, and has assisted with landscape planning projects in Taiwan, Great Britain, and Canada. She also has managed a research program for the PNW Research Station that provided science support to public agencies within the Northwest Forest Plan area, and served as Chief of the Physical Sciences Branch of the USDI Oregon/Washington Bureau of Land Management. Ms. Molina retired from federal service in 2005, and currently co-chairs the Oregon Independent Multidisciplinary Science Team. [return to Introduction]

Carl Schreck, Ph.D., Leader, Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Corvallis, Oregon. Dr. Schreck has been researching the biology of fishes for nearly 30 years. He has an A.B. in Zoology from the University of California, Berkeley, a M.S. in Fisheries Science and a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics and Fisheries Science from Colorado State University. He currently serves as Leader of the Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and is senior scientist in the Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey and as a Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at OSU. His research has focused primarily on salmonids. He applies environmental physiology to address environmentally relevant questions; this research has led to over 200 published papers. Dr. Schreck is a member of several scientific and management teams, organizations and committees. He is currently serving a second four-year term as President of the International Federation of Fish Endocrinologists. He has won numerous national teaching, research, and publication awards. Dr. Schreck’s initial appointment ended June 30, 2006 and he has been reappointed for an additional 4-year term beginning July 1, 2006. [return to Introduction]

Carlton Yee, Ph.D., Consulting Forester and Hydrologist, Yee Forest Associates, Bend, Oregon joined the IMST in February 2004. Dr. Yee received a B.S. in Forest Management from Humboldt State University, an M.F. in Industrial Forest Administration from Yale University and his Ph.D. in Forest Engineering from Oregon State University. Dr. Yee has been a consultant for over 25 years with expertise in forest operations, logging systems, watershed effects from logging and the mitigation of those effects. He has participated in a dozen forest practice compliance audits on western U.S. industrial forest ownerships in the last four years. He is an Emeritus Professor of Forest Engineering and Watershed Management, Humboldt State University, with 30 years in education and research at the university. Yee served on the California State Board of Forestry from 1983 to 1991. Yee also served on the Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Commission and was Chair of the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District until November 2004. In late 2005, Yee was appointed to the OSU Department of Forest Engineering Board. [return to Introduction]

Public Meetings (and Major Topics/Briefings) Held by the IMST

July 1, 2006– June 30, 2007

[return to Public Meetings]

Click on the date to see the meeting agenda and minutes.

July 26, 2006 - Team meeting in Corvallis

  • Team members reviewed and adopted their review of DEQ’s draft document titled Technical Basis for Revising Turbidity Criteria.

August 22, 2006 - Team meeting in Corvallis

  • Lisa Madsen, OSU, briefed the IMST on the Statistics Department’s vision to provide statistical consulting services to state agencies.
  • IMST reviewed a draft synthesis of the April 2006 IMST/OWEB restoration effectiveness monitoring workshop and drafts of the Team’s annual and administrative report.
  • Michael Tehan, NOAA Fisheries, and Janine Castro, USFWS, briefed the IMST on the federal document titled Sediment removal from active stream channels in Oregon.
  • Monitoring subcommittee updated the IMST on its discussion on how to proceed with developing restoration effectiveness monitoring guidance for OWEB.
  • Team discussed future work plans for the biennium.

September 27, 2006 - Team meeting in Corvallis

  • Team reviewed and adopted the draft synthesis of the April 2006 IMST/OWEB restoration effectiveness monitoring workshop.
  • Monitoring subcommittee updated the IMST on its discussion on how to proceed with developing restoration effectiveness monitoring guidance for OWEB.

September 27, 2006 - Subcommittee meeting in Corvallis

  • The coastal coho recovery plan review subcommittee met and discussed the technical merits of the recovery plan documents.

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October 16, 2006 - Team meeting in Corvallis

  • Team discussed and reviewed a draft voluntary performance framework.
  • Monitoring subcommittee updated the IMST on its discussion on how to proceed with developing restoration effectiveness monitoring guidance for OWEB.
  • Chris Wheaton and Todd Alsbury, ODFW, Dan Shively, USFS, and Brad Goehring, (USFWS), briefed the IMST on the multi-agency feasibility study to reintroduce bull trout into upper reaches of the Clackamas River. IMST formally agreed to review the feasibility study at the request of ODFW.
  • IMST reviewed the subcommittees draft review of the Oregon Coast Coho Recovery Plan.
  • Dave Morman, ODF, briefed the IMST on the Board of Forestry’s effort to develop indicators of sustainable forest management.
  • Team reviewed and adopted the draft review of the federal document titled Sediment removal from active stream channels in Oregon.

November 15, 2006 - Subcommittee meeting in Corvallis

  • The coastal coho recovery plan review subcommittee met and discussed the technical merits of the recovery plan documents.

November 16, 2006 - Team meeting in Corvallis

  • Team reviewed and adopted its review of the State’s Oregon coast coho draft recovery plan.

December 13, 2006 - Subcommittee meeting in Corvallis

  • The Clackamas River bull trout reintroduction feasibility assessment review subcommittee met and discussed the technical merits of the recovery plan documents.

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January 18, 2007 - Team meeting in Corvallis

  • Team elected Co-Chairs for 2007.
  • Team discussed and adopted its review of the USFS draft Clackamas River bull trout reintroduction feasibility study.
  • Team reviewed its Charter and Operating Procedures and suggestions by staff on way to increase team work efficiency on reviews and reports.
  • Dr. Fred Swanson, USDA Forest Service PNW Research Station, presented information on historical range of variability and forest biodiversity management.

February 23, 2007 - Team meeting in Corvallis

  • Team reviewed ODA’s responses to formal recommendation made in the IMST’s 2006 review of ODA draft monitoring handbook.
  • Reviewed and adopted a draft brochure describing the IMST, enabling legislation, and general operations.
  • Discussed a subcommittee draft on the use of ecological indicators and status/trend monitoring in restoration effectiveness evaluation.

March 15 & 16, 2007 - Team meeting in Corvallis

  • Reviewed the Team’s preface used for technical reports.
  • Kevin Goodson, ODFW, formally requested the IMST review the agency’s draft Rogue River spring Chinook conservation plan. The Team formally accepted the review.
  • Bruce McIntosh, ODFW, formally requested the IMST to review five up coming salmonid recovery plans in 2007 and 2008. The Team accepted the reviews pending availability of adequate funding for staff and Team members.
  • Team discussed and adopted outlines to be posted on the Team’s website for the draft urban and rural residential, and ecological indicator reports.
  • Team discussed and adopted revised science questions for the eastern and central Oregon resources draft report.
  • Team discussed its work plan for the rest of the fiscal year and the upcoming biennium.

April 26, 2007 - Team meeting in Corvallis

  • Team reviewed and adopted a revised preface for use in technical reports.
  • Tom Satterthwaite, ODFW, briefed the Team on the ODFW’s draft native fish conservation plan for the spring Chinook Rogue species management unit.
  • Team discussed subcommittee’s main findings from its review of the Rogue spring Chinook conservation plan.
  • Team discussed detailed work plans for draft reports.

May 17, 2007 - Team meeting in Salem

  • Team reviewed and adopted its draft review of ODFW’s draft native fish conservation plan for Rogue River spring Chinook. The Team issued 7 formal recommendations to ODFW.
  • Jay Charland, DLCD, briefed the Team on the agency’s coastal management program.
  • Team reviewed the draft introduction prepared by the urban/rural residential subcommittee.

June 28, 2007

  • Team reviewed and adopted 2006-2007 annual report and brochure and an administrative report.
  • Team reviewed its draft document on the use of indicators in restoration effectiveness monitoring.

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IMST Budget for July 2005 - June 2007
July 1, 2005 -
June 30, 2006		 July 1, 2006 -
June 30, 2007
TOTAL TOTAL BIENNIUM TOTALS
IMST Members 0.20 FTE
OSU Salaries and OPE 76,943 80,339 157,281
Federal salary 0 0 0
Personal Service Contracts 106,500 74,300 180,800
TOTAL TEAM Member Compensation 183,443 154,639 338,081
 
IMST Support Staff (OSU salaries & OPE)
Clerical 0.25 FTE 12,657 12,632 25,290
Technical 2.0 FTE 110,570 116,372 226,942
TOTAL TEAM SUPPORT 123,227 129,004 252,231
 
Other Costs
Supplies & Services, including support staff office space (2) 10,644 11,643 8,687
TRAVEL/PER DIEM - OSU employees 1,000 1,000 2,000
TOTAL OTHER COSTS 11,644 12,643 24,287
 
Fiscal Year Total 318,314 296,286 614,600
Note: OSU waived 10% in overhead costs
Note: Federal employee(s) on Team are not eligible for salary compensation

[return to Budget section]