Summary

Rick Williams, a scientist from Eagle, Idaho, moderated the two-day exchange. Dr. Williams, former chair of the Council’s Independent Scientific Review Panel and an expert in population and evolutionary genetics and ecology, facilitated the Science-Policy Exchange and helped focus the discussion sessions on the policy ramifications of the emerging scientific issues and how they might inform the upcoming Fish and Wildlife Program amendment process.

Results and recommendations from the Exchange are based around the habitat, mainstem, estuary, and ocean themes. For each theme, the report includes: the guiding assumptions from the Fish and Wildlife Program; the state of current science; consistency of the current science with program assumptions; and policy recommendations or implications derived from the roundtable discussions. Each session ends with the questions, answers, and insights from the roundtable discussion period.

Agenda

Day 1: Wednesday, September 12

Welcome and Exchange Overview: 8:00 - 8:20 am – Dr. Tom Karier and Rick Williams

I. Habitat Session: 8:20 am - Noon

Time Title Presentations
(PowerPoint)		 Abstracts
(20k PDFs)
8:20 - 8:30 Introduction: Rick Williams

Return to the River and Program Assumptions

 download (1.6mb)

download (1.2mb)

  
8:30 - 8:50 A. Intensively monitored watersheds: Bob Bilby – Overview download (300k) abstract
8:50 - 9:10 Gordie Reeves (Case study) download (1mb) abstract
9:10 - 9:40 Discussion    
9:40 - 9:55 Break    
9:55 - 10:10 B. Habitat strategies: Susan Hanna – Overview download (5mb) abstract
10:10 - 10:30 Peter Paquet (strategies)    
10:30 - 11:00 Discussion    
11:00 - 11:15 C. Nutrient enhancement: Pete Bisson – Overview download (1.5mb) abstract
11:15 - 11:30 Matt Mesa (Case study) download (4.7mb) abstract
11:30 - Noon Discussion    
Noon - 1:00 Lunch (on your own)    

II. Mainstem Session: 1:00 - 5:30 pm

Time Title Presentations
(PowerPoint)		 Abstracts
(20k PDFs)
1:00 - 1:10 A. Mainstem passage and survival – introduction: Rick Williams download(1.2mb)  
1:10 - 1:30 Status trends and current management strategies: Paul Wagner download (4.6mb)  
1:30 - 1:45 1. Direct dam and reach survival: Steve Smith download (1.3mb) abstract
1:45 - 2:00 2. Adult passage: Chris Peery download(3.7mb)  
2:00 - 2:15 3. RSW passage and survival: Noah Adams and Gordon Axel download(1.3mb) abstract
2:15 - 2:30 4. Relationship of Snake River stream-type Chinook survival rates to in-river, ocean and climate conditions: Howard Schaller download (5mb) abstract
2:30 - 2:45 Break    
2:45 - 3:20 Discussion (35 min)    
3:20 - 3:30 B. Snake River Fall Chinook introduction: Rick Williams download (340k)  
3:30 - 3:50 Status trends and current management strategies: Paul Wagner download (3.3mb)  
3:50 - 4:05 1. Fall chinook productivity – Snake and Clearwater: Jay Hesse and Billy Connor download (1.7mb) abstract
4:05 - 4:20 2. Life history characteristics – relative significance of yearling and sub yearlings and relative contribution to returning adults: Billy Connor download (1.8mb)

abstract
4:20 - 4:35 3. Flow/Spill – recent update of juvenile migration characteristics: Jerry McCann download (870k) abstract
4:35 - 4:50 4. Dworshak and Brownlee Operations – cold water release and flow augmentation: Greg Haller download (440k) abstract
4:50 - 5:30 Discussion (40 min)    

Day 2: Thursday, September 13

III. Estuary Session: 8 am - noon

Time Title Presentations
(PowerPoint)		 Abstracts
(20k PDFs)
7:30 - 8:00 Coffee and pastries in the lobby    
8:00 Welcome and opening remarks: Council Chair, Dr. Tom Karier    
8:05 - 8:20 Overview of the Science/Policy Exchange: Rick Williams
  • Exchange overview and logistics
  • Common threads: climate change and increase in human population
  • Scientific principles
 download (3mb)  
8:20 - 8:30 Estuary and ocean introduction: Rick Williams

Big picture for hydro system, research needs

    
8:30 - 8:45 Estuary overview: Colin Levings download (6.6mb) abstract
8:45 - 9:20 1. Survival through the estuary: John Ferguson & Don Lyons download1 (6mb)
download2 (3mb)		 abstract
9:20 - 10:00 2. Salmon life histories, habitats, and food webs in the Columbia River Estuary: Dan Bottom download (4.7mb) abstract
10:00 - 10:25 Discussion    
10:25 - 10:45 Break    
10:45 - 11:10 3. Current restoration activities: Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership download (3.4mb) abstract
11:10 - Noon Recap and discussion    
Noon - 1:15 Lunch (on your own)    

IV. Ocean Conditions Session: 1:15 - 5:00 pm