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| A | 185335 | 122 | Provide Technical Review and Recommendation | Conduct ISAB Reviews and Produce Reports and Presentations | For FY 2019, the ISAB anticipates working on a mix of long, medium, and short-term assignments that allow for an efficient use of the ISAB’s expertise and resources. Ongoing and potential topics for assignments are described below. In addition, the ISAB is on-call for assignments from the Council, Tribes, and NOAA Fisheries. These on-call assignments pertain to scientific issues raised in the Council’s Program, Tribal programs, and NOAA analyses that inform Columbia River fish management, including mainstem passage analyses and experiments.
1. Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E) Reviews
In FY 2019, the ISAB will continue its shared role with the ISRP in reviewing regional plans aimed at monitoring and evaluating the status of fish and wildlife populations in the Basin and the effectiveness of projects at benefiting those populations. The ISRP and ISAB closely coordinate reviews of RM&E plans and products, such as the Council’s Research Plan, draft Council documents related to Program RM&E activities and guidance, Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership (PNAMP) products, Action Agency RM&E plans, and RM&E proposals. The Council, BPA, and NOAA staff are currently developing an integrated Research, Monitoring and Evaluation strategy that will meet multiple basin needs and include a tributary habitat monitoring strategy. They hope to complete a draft of the habitat restoration RM&E strategy as early as August 2018 with further iterations of integrated RM&E strategy throughout 2019. Consequently, in FY 2019, the ISAB and/or ISRP may be requested to assist with reviews of draft habitat restoration monitoring and other integrated RM&E implementation strategies.
2. Fish and Wildlife Program Development: Objectives
A central task described in the ISAB’s Terms of Reference is for the ISAB to “evaluate the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program on its scientific merits in time to inform amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program and before the Council requests recommendations from the region.” The ISAB completed a review of the 2014 Fish and Wildlife Program in March 2018 (ISAB 2018-3). Among other topics, the ISAB highlighted the need for clear qualitative goals and quantitative, time bound objectives to guide actions and track Program progress. The Council’s 2014 Fish and Wildlife Program specifies that “the Council, working with others in the region, including the state and federal fish and wildlife agencies and tribes, other federal agencies and the independent science panels, will oversee a regional process to survey, collect, identify, and refine a realistic set of quantitative objectives for Program focal species and their habitat …” The ISAB’s role is to “review objectives for scientific quality and usefulness in tracking progress and adaptively managing Program efforts.” In the spring of 2015, the Council initiated a process to refine Program goals and quantitative objectives focusing on natural-origin adult salmon and steelhead. This process resulted in the creation of an objectives mapping tool, which is informing the NOAA-led Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force, a special task force organized under NOAA Fisheries' Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. The Task Force intends to recommend “a shared vision for Columbia Basin salmon and quantitative goals to meet conservation needs and provide harvest opportunities.” Any potential ISAB assignment in FY 2019 will need to be closely coordinated with and complementary to the Council’s and Task Force’s efforts. Given the Council’s Program amendment schedule and process, it is unclear if an ISAB review will be feasible in FY 2019.
3. Mainstem Passage Reviews and Regular Review of Fish Passage Center Products
Since its formation, the ISAB has been continuously engaged in reviews of projects, programs, study designs, and analyses related to fish passage at the mainstem Columbia and Snake river dams. The ISAB will continue to be on-call to address mainstem issues including reviews identified in the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program and in NOAA’s Biological Opinion (BiOp). For example, the 2014 Federal Columbia River Power System BiOp’s section 3.3.3.5 on Reasonable and Prudent Alternative implementation regarding System Survival, page 382, specifies that regional consideration of a spill test include “independent review of (a) data to address potential spurious correlations and (b) alternative experimental design proposals (by the ISAB or other qualified entities).” In 2014, the ISAB completed a review of the spill experiment submitted by the State of Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe, and others for inclusion in the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program (ISAB 2014-2). In 2018, the ISAB completed the report, Review of NOAA Fisheries Document: A Power Analysis of Two Alternative Experimental Designs to Evaluate a Test of Increased Spill at Snake and Columbia River Dams, Using Smolt-to-Adult Returns of Anadromous Salmonids (ISAB 2018-2). As described in the 2014 Fish and Wildlife Program (pages 65-66), if other regional spill proposals are developed in FY 2019 and if requested by the Administrative Oversight Panel, the ISAB is prepared to review them.
In addition, the May 2016, US District Court ruling by Judge Simon called for the federal action agencies to revise the BiOp and meet National Environmental Protection Act requirements by developing appropriate EIS documents, including consideration of alternatives. These alternatives may include analyses of a variety of changes to hydrosystem operations and configuration that could benefit from ISAB input. Other issues raised in the Court’s decision such as the state of the science on climate change impacts and the benefits of habitat restoration may benefit from ISAB input.
In response to language in the Council’s 2009 Program, the Fish Passage Center (FPC), its Oversight Board, and the ISAB organized a system of independent and timely reviews of FPC analytical products. The Council’s 2014 Program maintains this ISAB review function. FPC products take several forms, and the review guidelines are tailored to reflect the scientific content of these various products. Scientific review by the ISAB is recommended for selected FPC products including the Comparative Survival Study (CSS) annual report as well as analytical products that are identified for review based on the following criteria: (1) new or novel analyses are introduced; (2) new conditions or data bring old analyses into question; and/or (3) consensus cannot be reached in the region on the science involved in the product. As appropriate, these reviews are not limited to only the FPC’s analysis but, as identified, can also include reviews of similar analyses by others. In FY 2019, the ISAB will complete a review of the CSS’s draft 2018 annual report. The review period will begin in early September and end in mid-October 2018.
4. Review of NOAA Fisheries Recovery Planning and Life-Cycle Modeling Products
One of the ISAB’s primary roles is to review draft NOAA Fisheries’ analytical projects that address Columbia River salmon ESA listings and thus affect recovery planning and Council Fish and Wildlife Program planning. For example, the 2010 Supplemental Biological Opinion called for development of a life-cycle model and a subsequent scientific review. In September 2017, the ISAB completed a Review of NOAA Fisheries' Interior Columbia Basin Life-Cycle Modeling Draft Report (ISAB 2017-1; also see ISAB 2013-5). The ISAB found that progress was evident on model development. However, not all model components were finished and the model was evolving. Consequently, in FY 2019 the ISAB may be asked to review updated drafts of specific model components.
In August 2014, the ISAB completed a review of NOAA Fisheries’ draft Viable Salmonid (VSP) Modeling of Willamette River Spring Chinook Populations (ISAB 2014-4). The ISAB may review future iterations of that modeling effort as more data become available and as the model is further refined to account for stochastic variability and to reflect results of sensitivity analyses.
5. State of Science and Other Potential Reviews
The Council, NOAA Fisheries, the Columbia River Indian Tribes, and the ISAB regularly identify issues that might benefit from ISAB evaluation. Other regional entities can also request reviews. Five potential review topics are listed below. The Oversight Panel approves, modifies, or disapproves assignments requested by the region or generated by the ISAB and thus would consider these or other topics for approval if so requested.
• Comparative examination of fish and wildlife recovery and mitigation planning documents
• Predation management effectiveness
• Measuring, monitoring, and managing life history diversity for sustainable restoration of anadromous and resident fish species
• Orcas and the connection with Columbia Basin salmon management
• Habitat action effectiveness RM&E | $182,025 | 72.24% | 10/01/2018 | 09/30/2019 |
| B | 185336 | 119 | Manage and Administer Projects | Coordinate, Manage, and Administer the ISAB | Act as a liaison between the ISAB, the Council, NMFS, and the Columbia River Indian Tribes on ISAB assignments and operations. Specifically work closely with the ISAB Chair and Executive Committee, as well as ISAB Ex Officio members from the Council, NMFS, and CRITFC on the following review and operational tasks:
Coordinate Project Reviews
1. Coordinate with the ISAB, Council, NMFS, CRITFC, and other regional entities on developing effective ISAB assignments that address key scientific issues, debates, and uncertainties. This includes developing schedules, briefings, and review questions. Work with the ISAB Ex Officios to best ensure that questions to the ISAB elicit reports that move regional scientific understanding forward.
2. Update this year’s ISAB Statement of Work and develop next year’s ISAB Statement of Work as assignments are developed, scoped, and formally accepted.
3. Assist the ISAB Chair and Executive Committee in assigning members to reviews and developing internal review deadlines. Track the status of individual member assignments and report to the ISAB chair and subcommittee leads.
4. Secure the services of ISAB ad hoc members as needed to augment the ISAB workforce and expertise for particular reviews.
5. Assist the ISAB Chair in facilitating ISAB meetings with those being reviewed as well as internal ISAB meetings. Develop meeting agendas with the ISAB chair and Executive Committee. Contact key participants and secure briefings that provide the necessary context to complete a meaningful and well-considered review. Draft or have meeting minutes made.
6. Maintain the ISAB's private website.
7. Assist the ISAB in reaching consensus statements, coordinate drafting of reports, edit reports, and release and distribute final reports. Coordinate and assist in the drafting of ISAB presentations to the Council, NMFS, CRITFC and others.
Public Outreach
1. Answer process questions from the public, or for substantive and media questions, direct the public to the ISAB chair or member as appropriate.
2. Serve as a resource to those outside the Columbia Basin who are interested in the operation of independent science groups. This includes participating in conferences and briefing, and providing materials to Congressional staff, Governor's offices, the GAO, universities, and others.
Member Appointment
1. Draft and send letters to the region seeking nominees for the ISAB, ISRP, and Peer Review Groups.
2. Coordinate with the National Research Council on screening nominees. This task includes developing briefing packets on the ISAB and ISRP, interviewing nominees, and collating resumes from nominees.
3. Coordinate appointment discussions and decisions by the Council, NMFS and the Columbia River Indian Tribes. Develop and present ISAB membership appointment recommendations for final Council decision.
Operations
As appropriate, revisit and develop policies that guide the ISAB's operations including terms of reference, conflicts of interest, review protocols, and billing policies.
Contract Management and Administration
Manage and administer the ISAB contract with BPA, as well as Council subcontracts with ISAB members: develop and track contract documents; manage and invoice payment to members; manage travel reimbursement to members; track budget by ISAB assignment; track billings; develop specific next-year budgets and contracts; provide accrual estimates; manage for contract audit; produce quarterly PISCES status reports (work element 185); produce annual reports describing the ISAB's annual accomplishments (work element 132). | $65,941 | 26.17% | 10/01/2018 | 09/30/2019 |
| C | 185334 | 185 | Produce CBFish Status Report | Periodic Status Reports for BPA | The Contractor shall report on the status of milestones and deliverables in Pisces. Reports shall be completed either monthly or quarterly as determined by the BPA COTR. Additionally, when indicating a deliverable milestone as COMPLETE, the contractor shall provide metrics and the final location (latitude and longitude) prior to submitting the report to the BPA COTR. | $1,000 | 0.40% | 01/01/2019 | 09/30/2019 |
| D | 188986 | 132 | Produce Progress (Annual) Report | Submit FY18 (Annual) Progress Report | The progress report summarizes the project goal, objectives, completed and uncompleted deliverables, problems encountered, lessons learned, and long-term planning. Examples of long-term planning include future improvements, new directions, or any ramping up or ramping down of contract components or of the project as a whole. Non-technical Progress Reports must conform to BPA guidelines. See the "Non-technical Progress Report" link at: http://www.cbfish.org/Help.mvc/GuidanceDocuments. RM&E Technical Progress reports must conform to BPA guidelines. See the "RME Technical Reporting" link at: http://www.cbfish.org/Help.mvc/GuidanceDocuments. If producing a manuscript for a peer-reviewed publication, use work element 183: Produce Journal Article. | $100 | 0.04% | 10/01/2018 | 12/31/2018 |
| E | 185337 | 132 | Produce Progress (Annual) Report | Submit Progress Report for the period October 2018 thru September 2019 | The progress report summarizes the project goal, objectives, hypotheses, completed and uncompleted deliverables, problems encountered, lessons learned, and long-term planning. Examples of long-term planning include future improvements, new directions, or level of effort for contract implementation, including any ramping up or ramping down of contract components or of the project as a whole. Date range will be agreed upon by the COTR and the contractor. This may or may not coincide with the contract period. For an ongoing project, a progress report covering a contract period may be submitted under the subsequent contract, if approved by the COTR.
Progress reports must conform to BPA guidelines. See the "formatting guidelines" link at the Technical Reports and Publications page: https://www.cbfish.org/Help.mvc/GuidanceDocuments.
If producing a technical report for this contract, a discrete experiment, or a peer-reviewed publication, use work element 183: Produce Journal Article. | $2,900 | 1.15% | 08/21/2019 | 09/26/2019 |
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