+-------+-----------------------------------+----+---------------------+
| >     | 2670(FS)/6841(BLM)                | >  | November 16, 2004   |
| Reply |                                   |  D |                     |
| > to: |                                   | at |                     |
|       |                                   | e: |                     |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----+---------------------+
|       |                                   |    |                     |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----+---------------------+
| >     |                                   |    |                     |
|  BLM/ |                                   |    |                     |
| FS/FW |                                   |    |                     |
| S/EPA |                                   |    |                     |
| /NOAA |                                   |    |                     |
| >     |                                   |    |                     |
| Fishe |                                   |    |                     |
| ries- |                                   |    |                     |
| Memor |                                   |    |                     |
| andum |                                   |    |                     |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----+---------------------+
| > To: | > USDA Forest Service Forest      |    |                     |
|       | > Supervisors: Columbia River     |    |                     |
|       | > Gorge NSA, Colville, Deschutes, |    |                     |
|       | > Fremont, Malheur, Ochoco,       |    |                     |
|       | > Okanogan, Umatilla, Winema,     |    |                     |
|       | > Wallowa-Whitman,                |    |                     |
|       | > Wenatchee-Okanogan,             |    |                     |
|       | > Salmon/Challis, Nez Perce,      |    |                     |
|       | > Clearwater, Idaho Panhandle,    |    |                     |
|       | > Kootenai, Flathead, Bitterroot, |    |                     |
|       | > Lolo, Helena, Humboldt-Toiyabe, |    |                     |
|       | > and Beaverhead-Deerlodge        |    |                     |
|       | > National Forests                |    |                     |
|       |                                   |    |                     |
|       | **USDI Bureau of Land Management  |    |                     |
|       | Area Managers:**                  |    |                     |
|       | [Idaho]{.underline}: Coeur        |    |                     |
|       | d'Alene, Boise, Idaho Falls, Twin |    |                     |
|       | Falls Districts;                  |    |                     |
|       | [Oregon/Washington]{.underline}:  |    |                     |
|       | Burns, Lakeview, Prineville,      |    |                     |
|       | Spokane, and Vale (Baker and      |    |                     |
|       | Malheur Resource Areas);          |    |                     |
|       | [Montana]{.underline}: Missoula   |    |                     |
|       | Field Office                      |    |                     |
|       |                                   |    |                     |
|       | **USDI Fish and Wildlife Service  |    |                     |
|       | Level 2/Field Managers:**         |    |                     |
|       | Supervisors: Snake River Basin    |    |                     |
|       | Fish and Wildlife Office, Montana |    |                     |
|       | Field Office, Upper Columbia Fish |    |                     |
|       | and Wildlife Office, Oregon Fish  |    |                     |
|       | and Wildlife Office               |    |                     |
|       |                                   |    |                     |
|       | > **NOAA Fisheries State Habitat  |    |                     |
|       | > Directors**                     |    |                     |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----+---------------------+
| >     | > Interagency Interior Columbia   |    |                     |
| From: | > Basin Deputy Team (NOAA, USFWS, |    |                     |
|       | > FS,\                            |    |                     |
|       | > BLM, EPA)                       |    |                     |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----+---------------------+
| > Sub | > Coordination and Accountability |    |                     |
| ject: | > of PACFISH and INFISH , 1998    |    |                     |
|       | > NMFS\                           |    |                     |
|       | > and USFWS Opinions, and 2003    |    |                     |
|       | > USFWS Opinion (Jarbidge)        |    |                     |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----+---------------------+

At the April, 2004 interagency (FS, BLM, NOAA Fisheries, USFWS, EPA)
Interior Columbia Basin Deputy Team meeting, the Deputies requested that
the Interagency Implementation Team (IIT) develop a strategy for
transitioning coordination and accountability for implementation of
PACFISH, INFISH, and the 1998 NMFS and USFWS Biological Opinions (PIBO)
from the IIT to agency line managers. Based on this request, the
PIBO/IIT transition strategy (Enclosure A) replaces the November 24,
1998 *Charter for Implementation of INFISH/PACFISH and Related
Biological Assessments/Opinions* transmitted to FS, BLM, NMFS, and USFWS
managers December 11, 1998 by the Regional Executives.

The new PIBO/IIT Transition Strategy disbands the IIT and moves the
accountability and responsibility for implementation of PACFISH, INFISH,
and the 1998 and 2003 (Jarbidge) Opinions to FS, BLM, NOAA Fisheries,
and USFWS Field Managers, the Deputy Team, and, where appropriate, the
Regional Executives. Specific components of the PIBO/IIT Transition
Strategy agreed to by the Deputy Team include:

-   [Monitoring Team]{.underline} -- We are continuing our commitment to
    both Grazing Implementation monitoring and Effectiveness monitoring.
    The "standing" monitoring team will be comprised of the following
    members: *Grazing Implementation Monitoring* Tim Burton/BLM- ID and
    Dan Fissel/FS-R6 (Co-Leads), Kerry Overton/FS Rocky Mountain
    Research Station (Database/Technical Support), Paul Moroz/USFWS, Kim
    Kratz/NOAA Fisheries, and Don Martin/EPA; *Effectiveness Monitoring*
    Rick Henderson and Jeff Kershner (FS, Logan UT). The monitoring team
    will provide needed coordination with the field and raise issues
    that may require further consideration by the Deputies. The Field
    Review Coordinator, Dorothy Mason (BLM --OR/WA), will be part of
    this team.

```{=html}
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-   [Line Manager Certification Reports]{.underline} - Replacement of
    the Annual Field Questionnaire (documentation of field
    implementation of obligations under the 1998 NMFS and USFWS and 2003
    USFWS (Jarbidge) Opinions with an annual, simplified *Line Manager
    Certification Report*. The *Line Manager Certification Report* is to
    be completed by Forest Supervisors and BLM District Managers, in
    coordination with NOAA Fisheries and USFWS, through Level 2 or
    similar interagency processes. Information provided in these reports
    will be compiled annually by FS and BLM Deputies for their
    associated regions and states to help identify priority issues
    needing resolution, certify compliance with the legal requirements
    of the Opinions, more efficiently address FOIA requests, and assure
    the durability of PACFISH, INFISH , and the 1998 and 2003 Opinions
    until replaced by plan revisions.

-   [2005 PACFISH, INFISH Restoration Strategy]{.underline} **--** The
    lack of a formal restoration strategy in PACFISH and INFISH was
    addressed in both the 1998 NMFS and USFWS Biological Opinions.
    Restoration was identified as necessary under ESA for continued
    implementation of Land Use Plans amended by PACFISH and INFISH. To
    meet the terms and conditions in these Opinions, the *2000 Interim
    Restoration Strategy* was developed by an interagency (FS, BLM,
    NMFS, USFWS) team. **The 2005 PACFISH, INFISH Restoration Strategy**
    {Enclosure B} **updates and replaces the 2000 Interim Restoration
    Strategy**. The 2005 Strategy relies on new information, ensures the
    durability of PACFISH, INFISH, and the 1998 Opinions until replaced
    by a new restoration or aquatic conservation strategy in plan
    revision. It is to be used to guide restoration programs for all FS
    and BLM field units beginning in FY05.

-   [Continuation of Annual Field Reviews]{.underline} - The Deputy Team
    agrees that continuation of annual field reviews by an interagency
    team on select units within the interior basin has value in
    assessing progress in implementation of PIBO. In addition, annual
    field reviews will provide needed training and assist the Deputies
    in resolving broad-scale issues in a timely manner. The annual
    selection of field units will be based on individual BLM State and
    FS Regional Office staff review of responses from *Line Manager
    Certification Reports* and monitoring reports, NOAA Fisheries and
    USFWS feedback, and requests by field managers to their respective
    Deputies. Dorothy Mason, BLM OR/WA Resource Policy Advisor, will
    serve as the Field Review Coordinator and will work with the
    monitoring team and others to schedule and assemble field review
    teams.

We believe that this transition from the IIT back to agency line
managers will facilitate better integration of programs, funding, and
priorities to ensure that PACFISH, INFISH, and the 1998 and 2003
Biological Opinions remain durable until replaced by local plan
revisions. We understand that you or your staff might encounter
questions involving the oversight and accountability transition, or
completion of the new certification report. In anticipation of such
questions, we encourage you to contact Linda Ulmer (FS), Dorothy Mason
(BLM), Susan Martin (FWS) or Russ Strach (NOAA Fisheries).

+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| /s/ Thresa Rabot                  | /s/ Michael R. Crouse            |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| THERESA RABOT                     | MICHAEL R. CROUSE                |
|                                   |                                  |
| Assistant Regional Director       | Assistant Regional               |
|                                   | Administrator,                   |
| U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service      |                                  |
|                                   | Habitat Division, Northwest      |
| Region 1                          | Region                           |
|                                   |                                  |
|                                   | NOAA Fisheries                   |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| /s/ Jim Golden                    | /s/ Susan Giannettino            |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| JIM GOLDEN                        | SUSAN GIANNETTINO                |
|                                   |                                  |
| Deputy Regional Forester          | Deputy State Director            |
|                                   |                                  |
| USDA Forest Service               | for Resource Services - Idaho    |
|                                   |                                  |
| Pacific Northwest Region          | USDI Bureau of Land Management   |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| /s/ Norbert C. Kulesza            | Michael S. Mottice               |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| NORBERT C. KULESZA                | MICHAEL S. MOTTICE               |
|                                   |                                  |
| Deputy Regional Forester          | Deputy State Director for        |
|                                   | Resource Planning,               |
| USDA Forest Service               |                                  |
|                                   | Use and Protection -             |
| Intermountain Region              | Oregon/Washington                |
|                                   |                                  |
|                                   | USDI Bureau of Land Management   |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| /s/ Kathleen A. McAllister        | /s/ Julie Hagensen               |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| KATHLEEN A. MCALLISTER            | JULIE HAGENSEN                   |
|                                   |                                  |
| Deputy Regional Forester          | Acting Deputy Regional           |
|                                   | Administrator                    |
| USDA Forest Service               |                                  |
|                                   | U.S. Environmental Protection    |
| Northern Region                   | Agency                           |
|                                   |                                  |
|                                   | Region 10                        |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Enclosures:                       |                                  |
|                                   |                                  |
| A. Transition Process PowerPoint  |                                  |
|                                   |                                  |
| B. 2005 PACFISH, INFISH           |                                  |
| Restoration Strategy              |                                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| cc:                               |                                  |
|                                   |                                  |
| Interior Columbia Basin           |                                  |
| Interagency Executive Team        |                                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+

**ENCLOSURE A**

**\
[TRANSITION PROCESS]{.underline}**

Slide 1

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="5.5in" height="4.125in"}

Slide 2

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="5.509722222222222in"
height="3.689583333333333in"}

Slide 3

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="5.509722222222222in"
height="4.034722222222222in"}

Slide 4

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="5.509722222222222in"
height="3.3895833333333334in"}

**ENCLOSURE B**

**[2005 PACFISH, INFISH RESTORATION STRATEGY]{.underline}**

**A Commitment made as part of the Biological Opinions for Chinook
salmon and Steelhead (Snake River and upper Columbia River) and Bull
Trout (Columbia and Klamath Rivers (outside of the area covered by the
NW Forest Plan)**

***This strategy updates and replaces the May, 2000 IIT "2000 Interim
Watershed Restoration Strategy". It is to be implemented by FS and BLM
field units beginning in FY05***

**[Chronology of Restoration Guidance]{.underline}**

-   **1995** - *Interim* (18 month) strategies for the conservation of
    anadromous (PACFISH) and inland native fish (INFISH), amended to FS
    and BLM Land Use Plans (INFISH applied through BLM Letter of
    Direction).

-   **1998** - The lack of a formal restoration strategy in PACFISH and
    INFISH was addressed in the National Marine Fisheries Service and US
    Fish and Wildlife Service1998 Biological Opinions and the 2003
    (Jarbidge) Opinion. Restoration was identified as necessary under
    ESA for continued implementation of Land Use Plans amended by
    PACFISH and INFISH.

-   **2000** - To meet legal obligations under the 1998 and 2003
    Opinions', the *2000 Interim Restoration Strategy* was developed by
    an interagency (FS, BLM, NMFS, USFWS) team. The 2000 Strategy was
    intended to provide short-term (1-5 year) FS and BLM Executive
    guidance to field units until a long-term aquatic conservation
    strategy was issued under the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem
    Management Project (ICBEMP).

-   **2003** - BLM State Directors and FS Regional Foresters elect not
    to prepare a Record of Decision for ICBEMP and instead choose to
    complete the project through use of the Interior Columbia Basin
    Strategy (ICB Strategy).

-   **2004** -- As part of the PIBO/IIT Transition Strategy, a *2005
    PACFISH, INFISH Restoration Strategy* was completed. This Strategy
    updates and replaces the *2000 Interim Restoration Strategy*. The
    purpose of the 2005 Strategy is to guide restoration programs for
    all FS and BLM field units, covered under the 1998 and 2003
    (Jarbidge) Opinions, until Section 7 consultation is completed for
    individual plan revisions.

**[Restoration Philosophy]{.underline}**

1.  Ensure that existing habitats which support the strongest fish
    populations and have the highest native species diversity and
    aquatic integrity, are sustained until Land Use Plans are revised.
    Sustaining important habitats requires that threats to the long-term
    stability of high quality habitats are fixed or minimized.

2.  Extend favorable habitat conditions into adjacent watersheds where
    consistent with land management plan direction.

3.  Extend good habitat/healthy watershed conditions into more poorly
    represented parts of the subbasin with less favorable habitat
    conditions, consistent with land management plan direction.

4.  Focus work on a limited number of areas (watersheds) to increase the
    chance of meaningful change.

5.  Assess the need to conserve and restore fringe populations

6.  Utilize NOAAF' Interior Columbia Technical Recovery Team (TRT)
    products and prioritization criteria, and USFWS Draft Bull Trout
    Recovery Plan in planning and implementing restoration actions until
    recovery plans for salmon, steelhead, and bull trout are finalized.

**[Process for Spatial Prioritization of Restoration
Activities]{.underline}**

**Objective**: focus scarce resources in a limited number of areas to
improve 'on-the-ground' effectiveness and integration of funds and unit
program priorities. In advance of final recovery plans it will be
important to identify opportunities, consistent with the restoration
philosophy, to benefit ESA-listed salmonids in the short-term while
adhering to the conservation principles underlying longer-term
objectives.

**Upper Columbia River/Snake River Basin ESUs** The following criteria
were developed by NOAA Fisheries Interior Columbia Basin Technical
Recovery Team (TRT) and should be applied in order to identify highest
priority HUC-4 subbasins (populations) for restoration on National
Forest System and BLM lands. The six criteria fall under three primary
categories: 1) Aspects of the population (e.g. current and historical
productivity, distribution, and genetic legacy characteristics); 2)
Habitat improvement potential (i.e., potential to benefit population by
habitat actions, and 3) Efficiency (i.e., number of ESUs resident within
a subbasin). *NOAA Fisheries technical reports and maps associated with
these categories can be accessed on the following website*
([www.fs.fed.us/r6/fish](http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fish)).

***TRT Criteria** -- criteria-specific supporting documentation can be
accessed on the following website*
([www.fs.fed.us/r6/fish](http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fish))

1.  Subbasins (USGS HUC-4) that contain salmonid populations identified
    by NOAA Fisheries, Interior Technical Recovery Team (TRT)

2.  Historical "core" populations (i.e., represent a significant portion
    of historical productivity )

3.  Genetic legacy populations (*report* *not completed but will be
    added to website when available)*

4.  Catastrophic risk (some minimum number of populations from each
    "major population group" that should be included to reduce risk)

5.  Limiting factor mitigation (i.e., can limiting factors be
    addressed\-\-- short-term versus long-term).

6.  Multiple ESUs resident in USGS HUC-4.

**Columbia River Basin Bull Trout -** For the bull trout portion of the
2005 PACFISH, INFISH Restoration Strategy, spatial priorities are not
identified. Instead, BLM and FS field units are to utilize the Draft
Bull Trout Recovery Plan (<http://pacific.fws.gov/bulltrout/>) to
spatially prioritize where restoration actions should occur.

**Additional Considerations:** Implementation of restoration actions in
biologically important areas for salmon, steelhead, and bull trout may
be influenced by other priority strategies (e.g., ICBEMP science
assessment, integrated regional aquatic strategies if available, state
conservation plans) and *non-biological* criteria to take advantage of
opportunities that may arise for partnerships, integration of
multi-agency programs, and convergence of intra-agency
programs/priorities, such as fuels reduction and post-fire restoration.