INTERIOR COLUMBIA BASIN ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROJECT

Framework Report:

• Every field manager should have a copy and use it as a reference.
• Provides excellent explanations of complex ecological concepts.
• Provides field managers with an example of an ecosystem decision-making model.
• Has excellent discussion on risk management.

Integration Report:

• Provides regional context to ecosystem management.
• Not intended to provide detailed site-specific information for field management.

  Component assessments, sub-basin reports and watershed analysis will provide more detailed information for field use.

• Parts of the report are difficult to read and understand.

  This will cause some problems with field staffs.

Thoughts on the Science Assessment and ecosystem emphasis.

Field managers and staffs should:

• Better understand how their areas of responsibility relate to regional ecosystem management priorities.
• Better understand the context of their area-specific management priorities and actions.
• Be able to better define appropriate field priorities and make work assignment and/or staffing adjustments accordingly.

As a result of science assessment process field managers and staffs should:

• Be encouraged to integrate management efforts with other agencies at the field level, particularly for priority resources or ecosystem problems that know no jurisdictional boundaries.

Field Managers and staffs should:

• Have a better understanding of concepts such as ecological integrity and community resiliency.
• Have a better understanding of the cause-effect relationships of management actions (or inactions) to the ecological integrity of an area (contribution to long-term trends).
• Have a better understanding of risk management with particular emphasis on adaptive management.
• Taking risks is okay as long as they are recalculated with risk factors identified and appropriate monitoring or research feedback loops.
• Sometimes the risks of inaction are greater than trying something.