Final Council recommendation (Nov 2006)

Funding category: Expense

Recommended budgets: FY07: $416,000 | FY08: $416,000 | FY09: $416,000

Comment: Reduced budget reflects the removal of the large woody debris placement task and reducing the budget slightly below the FY2006 budget - then flatlining the 2008 and 09. Interim funding pending wildlife o&m review.

ISRP final recommendation: Fundable

Comment:

This proposal is for continuing management of a large tract of land acquired for wildlife mitigation and also supplies benefits to fish. The project history is adequate, but focused on mitigation, not the goals of management, though much active management is included, and monitoring efforts are not presented clearly in the proposal itself. The ISRP in the past has expressed concern that proposals to support this project did not adequately present biological goals, objectives, and M&E. It appears that progress has been made, e.g., specific channel habitat objectives, objectives for riparian conditions (including some data), bird counts underway (though no bird count data were presented), etc. However, the proposal repeatedly references a Management Plan that is available on the web (a long document of 129 pages that is labeled as a 2002 draft plan). The proposal itself still lacks incorporation of important details that can only be found by searching the online draft Management Plan. For instance, the list of target species in the proposal appears generic, not site specific. And, what are the goals for managing this landscape as important elk winter range? Methods for work elements are not described with enough detail. For instance, the size, number, and location of permanent plots that will be used to monitor vegetation (including weed control) should be stated, as should the key measurements that will be taken (are being taken?). Future proposals should directly summarize the technical and scientific background for managing this specific landscape and should state methods to be applied in adequate detail to facilitate scientific evaluation. Additionally, future proposals for continuation of this project must present results of M&E in order to justify the value of management expenses.

State/province recommendation: Fundable, but at a reduced level

Review group: OSPIT - Blue Mountain

Recommended budgets: FY07: $416,000 | FY08: $416,000 | FY09: $416,000

Comment: OSPIT recommends removing the large woody debris placement task and reducing the budget slightly below FY2006 proposed, flatlining the 2008 and 09.