At the Council’s July 2007 request, the ISRP reviewed the Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program’s (GRMWP) results report submitted in response to the ISRP’s final FY 2007-09 review of the Grand Ronde Model Watershed Program Habitat Restoration - Planning, Coordination and Implementation Project, 1992-026-01. The ISRP recommendation is "meets scientific review criteria (qualified)." The ISRP found that the individual habitat improvement projects undertaken by the Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program are based on sound science principles and are consistent with the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program. The individual projects’ objectives, however, often are in general rather than quantifiable terms. For many projects, benefits to fish and wildlife are likely, but based on presumption rather than quantified. Past provisions for monitoring and evaluation of results have been insufficient to establish the program’s benefits. The ISRP concludes that additional monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is warranted and will likely lead to improved adaptive management by the project.
The ISRP qualification is that the project develop a more complete plan for improved effectiveness monitoring — perhaps through collaboration with ISEMP, CSMEP, or PNAMP — that includes an improved biological assessment program for fish.
