BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1997 Proposal

Section 1. Administrative
Section 2. Narrative
Section 3. Budget

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Title of project
In-Season Operations Technical Management Team (TMT) Support

BPA project number   9601600

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
PSMFC

Sponsor type   PSMFC

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   David Askren, EWI 503/230-5624

Biological opinion ID   NMFS BO RPA-1-F

NWPPC Program number   5.0F.4

Short description
Provide administrative support to TMT process, including recording of meetings and implementation of Internet access to information used by and generated from TMT processes.

Project start year   1995    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1997

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
9207104 (Network-Based World-Wide Web Information Infrastructure) provides technical assistance to regional efforts to develop a unified structure for accessing and disseminating information related to the Bonneville Power Administration�s fish and wildlife responsibility in the Pacific Northwest. Prototypes Internet-based information tools that facilitate access or add value to information developed under BPA Office of the Environment funding. Initial prototypes focus on the TMT process with the contractor empowered to assist TMT participants adopt Web technology to improve information access in the Pacific Northwest.

9105100 (Run Timing Predictions for the Columbia River Basin Including Individual ESA Demes) provides on-line, Internet-based forecasts of inseason passage stage for ESA stocks considered by the TMT. These forecasts will be one data element included in the Internet-based administrative record of the TMT.

9601900 (Second-Tier Database Support) provides online, Internet-based database services and presentations prepared from a subset of regionally-dispersed data sets.

Project history
Task 1: TMT Recorder
During recent years, BPA has funded TMT recorder services on an informal basis, drawing funds from a variety of projects. This current project formalizes the funding for proper accounting and guarantee of service.
Task 2: Internet TMT Support
During 1995, use of the Internet for TMT information management was tested and demonstrated. A prototype system involving regionally-distributed databases and servers was connected via the Internet to act as a single �virtual� information resource for anyone having a microcomputer connected to the Web. Internet-based Web software tools were developed that allow an individual to interactively or automatically prepare data extracts, reports, and graphics for local printing or communication to the region. The resulting web of information remains online and can be accessed as reference material for future years and as material for evaluation of the effectiveness of the TMT.
During 1996, this demonstration will continue but a host agency will be sought that will accept, maintain, and cooperatively improve the TMT server and home web pages. All TMT participants will be encouraged to assist the development of the web-based information system.

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers
1995 and 1996 meeting records and project operation information is available online at:
http://brick.bpa.gov:2001/efw/EW/EWI/TMT/inseason.html
http://brick.bpa.gov:2001/efw/EW/EWI/TMT/1996/Welcome.html

Management implications
This project promotes adaptive management by making available information essential to sound decisions. It provides a permanenent, accessible, public record of the TMT transactions. This project provides immediate regional-wide access to current and historical information essential to sound recommendations for the operation of the Federal Columbia-Snake hydrosystem. The Internet and its services allow the TMT and its support staff to be distributed regionally while assuring communication of information as a single, connected, workgroup.

Specific measureable objectives
Provides written record of TMT deliberations (minutes with supporting information), operational recommendations, and operational instructions. This record is to be available to the Pacific Northwest via the Internet.
Provides timely access to information prior to TMT deliberations.
Through associated Internet-based projects, the TMT will have access to relevant operational and management information from the current and previous years.

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Access to Internet services, suitable microcomputer and software are assumed for TMT participants. This requirement is now typically met in most areas and the necessary services are becoming more universal and affordable.
The budget for Task 2 assumes that the TMT server (hardware, software, and administration) will be provided at no cost by a TMT participant (or shared regionally) and that primary data generators will provide their information over the Web. It is assumed that programmer support will be needed to develop, modify, and integrate Web pages and information tools to better serve the TMT.

Methods
The recorder function can be provided through direct service contracting or by donation of services by a TMT participant.
Internet support will be provided in two parts. The first is by direct committment of participants on the TMT. Participants will be expected to directly support the generation and Web access/display of information generated by that participant. This encourages data stewardship and minimizes propogation of erroneous information. �Value-added� work will be performed by a TMT Web support staff that is either contracted under this project or that is formed from donated personnel agreed to by the TMT. The value-added team will integrate the diverse information available to the TMT and synthesize it into products useful to the TMT. In this manner, the TMT can be assured of timely and useful information with which to make informed decisions.

Brief schedule of activities
Recorder services will be provided at each TMT meeting. Each of the estimated thirty 3-hour meetings will require 7 hours for transcription and the contractor will require full Internet services to communicate products to the TMT. Estimated costs are:

30 meetings x 7 hr x $33/hr = $6,930
Internet service at $20/mo x 12 months = $240
Subtotal = $7,170

The Web-support function assumes that existing hardware and software in the region are available without added cost to provide TMT Web service and that development and modification of TMT Web pages and services would be provided under Task 927104 (Network-Based World-Wide Web Information Infrastructure) during 1996.

In 1997, the support of web pages is assumed to be shared by TMT participants under the coordination of a TMT internet coordinator. Internet services not provided by TMT participants will be provided by this project to place TMT administrative records and inseason information and analyses on the Web in support of TMT decision making and public oversight. A part-time coordinator position is estimated to cost:

Internet Coordinator (1/4 time, GS-12): 0.25 x $50,000 = $12,500
Total Annual Cost: $20,000.

Biological need
It is estimated that only 20% of wild juvenile spring salmon and 10% of wild juvenile fall chinook that enter Lower Granite Reservoir will survive inriver (untransported) passage to below Bonneville Dam. Increasing passage survival is a regional biological goal that requires effective communication and synthesis of field monitoring information, staff analyses and recommendations, and project operations. This project eliminates many of the logistical, physical, and temporal barriers between the TMT, support staff, and the providers of field and management information essential to informed decisions.

Critical uncertainties
The critical uncertainties addressed by this project include
A. Presence-location information (Where are the fish?)
B. Future hydraulic and water quality information (What are future water conditions?)

Summary of expected outcome
This project will provide TMT decision makers project, environmental, and fishery information critical to informed and timely recommendations during pre-season planning and during in-season operations. The complete Web record will be useful for in-season and post-season evaluation of TMT effectiveness.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
The proposed budget is sensative to the willingness of TMT participants to assume the costs associated with development and use of Web-based tools and information resources. Specifically, the cost of maintaining the TMT server [i.e. hardware, software, operator, and Internet service] and associated Web pages could be absorbed by one or more TMT participants.

Risks

Monitoring activity
It is proposed that the TMT identify the information needed, its format, and delivery requirements and that the
TMT periodically review project performance.

Section 3. Budget

* For most projects, Authorized is the amount recommended by CBFWA and the Council. Planned is amount currently allocated. Contracted is the amount obligated to date of printout.

Funding recommendations

CBFWA funding review group   System Policy

Recommendation    Tier 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $0