Demonstrating a logic path

The proposal form is organized so that project proponents can demonstrate a scientifically based logic path for their project that provides justification that the project is consistent with the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program and meets the ISRP's scientific review criteria that projects are "based on sound scientific principles; benefit fish and wildlife; and have a clearly defined objective and outcome with provisions for monitoring and evaluation of results."

The form consists of (1) several background and justification sections; (2) an objectives section, which is informed by the background and justification sections; (3) and a deliverables section, which describes the actions and accompanying methods to achieve the objectives and defines the associated monitoring to gauge progress (see Figure 1). Detailed descriptions and instructions are provided with each subsection in the online form. In the text below, we provide definitions for the three types of objectives that can help you develop clearly defined objectives.

Because most proposals submitted for review are for existing projects, a scientifically supportable proposal will summarize results to-date and adaptive management outcomes. When describing the adaptive management process and outcomes, consider that adaptive management can occur at many levels to inform different needs, such as internal and external needs. For example, adaptive management can be applied internally to an individual project where lessons learned guide changes to the project's objectives, deliverables, work types, and methods. Adaptive management also can be applied externally by sharing lessons learned from the project to inform the broader Program, for example, regional decision making on hydrosystem operations.