Coleman National Fish Hatchery Adaptive Management Plan
Introduction
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is preparing an Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) for the Coleman National Fish Hatchery (CNFH) as it relates to potential impacts on the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project . Reclamation, the CNFH funding agency; is working in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) CNFH operators; and local stakeholders such as the Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy in developing the AMP.
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Aerial view of Coleman National Fish Hatchery and lower Battle Creek |
The Adaptive Management Plan
Adaptive management is needed for CNFH to address “scientific uncertainties” that underlie all aspects of Battle Creek fisheries management, including the interactions between the Restoration Project and CNFH. Adaptive management is the preferred methodology for incorporating uncertainties into decision making. While a thorough AMP, has been developed for the Restoration Project, no such plan exists for CNFH.
The CNFH AMP will acknowledge, identify, study, and evaluate uncertainties regarding the operation of a large scale fish hatchery in a watershed being restored for natural salmonid populations. Through the CNFH AMP, responsible agencies and stakeholders will gain an improved understanding of the Battle Creek watershed that will enable them to better assess whether an alternative management approach to managing the CNFH would achieve the goals and objectives of both the Restoration Project and the CNFH. The CNFH AMP will complement the Restoration Project AMP and together, they will form a cooperative framework for adaptive management in Battle Creek that coordinates adaptive management under both plans.
What is in the AMP?
The CNFH AMP will include, at a minimum: goals, objectives, conceptual models, uncertainties, monitoring and data assessment approaches, specification of focused studies, description of decision making process, funding prioritization, and all other elements of formal adaptive management. This plan will provide for monitoring and adaptive management of the operations and facilities of CNFH to ensure that these operations and facilities are compatible with the restoration of populations of salmon and steelhead in Battle Creek and the natural ecosystem processes on which these populations depend.
Who is involved in the AMP Process?
Reclamation is developing the CNFH AMP with input from a variety of sources: Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) The TAC is comprised of representatives from the following groups:
- Bureau of Reclamation
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- California Department of Fish and Game
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company
- National Marine Fisheries Service
- Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
- Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy
The TAC will provide institutional perspectives and technical expertise while meeting the following responsibilities:
- Ensure consistency with existing Battle Creek Restoration Plan and AMP
- Advise on Agency-specific regulatory issues
- Provide timely technical review and comment on specific AMP sections as requested by the project team
- Utilize knowledge of Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Provide information to local interests
- Provide input on AMP objectives and success metrics
- Evaluate availability of resources to implement potential BMPs
Science Review Panel – an independent panel of fisheries experts will be convened to provide outside technical and scientific input into the AMP process.
Stakeholder input – the public will have several opportunities to provide input into the AMP process at strategic milestones. These milestones include initial AMP scoping, after the release of the public draft AMP, and after release of the final AMP.
Schedule
- Public Scoping Meeting – May 2012
- Draft Outline of CNFH AMP – June 2012
- Draft CNFH AMP– January 2013
- Scientific Review – March/April 2013
- Administrative Draft CNFH AMP – June 2013
- Public Review – November 2013
- Final CNFH AMP – May 2014
Documents
- October 2012 - CNFH AMP Scoping Report
- May 24, 2012 Public Scoping Agenda and Presentation
- May 24, 2012 Public Scoping Comment Card
- Draft AMP Outline
For additional information or assistance, please contact
Trang Nguyen, Battle Creek Technical Specialist - (916) 978-5336
Last updated on: July 6, 2012