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|   Fish & wildlifeSubbasin planningGuides and forms       Overview**Related link:      Technical Guide for Subbasin Planners provides more detail on how to      develop a subbasin plan
**Background**
Subbasin plans are to be developed in an open public process that      includes the participation of a wide range of state, federal and tribal      governments, local managers, landowners, local governments, and other      stakeholders. The final subbasin plan adopted by the Council should enjoy a      wide range of support from all interested parties. The plans must be      consistent with provisions contained in the     Northwest Power Act,      and the Council's      Fish and Wildlife Program. These plans contain the measures that drive      program implementation at the subbasin level. The Council's subbasin plans      will not duplicate the plans developed or soon to be developed by others,      including states, tribes, or the federal government. Wherever possible and      scientifically warranted, the Council will adopt existing plans into the      subbasin plans. Planning in any subbasin will stem from the information      contained in subbasin summaries and existing plans and documents.

Below are the key elements of a subbasin plan followed by a description      of each.
**Key elements of a Subbasin Plan

1. Assessment (including limiting             factors and factors for decline)

2. Vision

3. Biological Objectives

4. Strategies

5. Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation

6. Supporting Documentation             (Appendices)
**1. Assessment**
An assessment forms the foundation for developing the subbasin vision,      biological objectives and strategies. The initial assessment is based on      existing information about the environmental conditions and fish and      wildlife populations in the subbasin. A key element of the assessment will      be information on the current and potential conditions in each subbasin.      From this assessment, the subbasin plan will identify limiting factors and      factors for decline for key fish and wildlife populations in the subbasin,      including ESA-listed populations. Where the assessment identifies      significant data gaps, the subbasin plan should identify the data need and      measures necessary to meet those needs. The assessment should address the      question, "What are the problems that keep fish and wildlife populations      within the subbasin from reaching full potential?"
**Examples of limiting factors and factors for decline
- Water quality problems in the lower river (temperature and             sedimentation)
- Passage barriers at culverts and falls (late summer)
- Lack of adequate screening
- Overwinter habitat is insufficient
- Lack of juvenile rearing habitat
- Low fish or wildlife abundance
- Reduced biological function of habitat above blockages
**2. Vision**
The intention of the Council's subbasin planning effort is to define the      environmental and biological goals specific to fish and wildlife within the      Columbia River Basin. The Council anticipates a 10-15 year timeframe as the      planning window. A vision statement is qualitative, and should reflect the      policies, legal requirements and local needs, given the ecological      realities within a subbasin. The vision will provide the guidance and      priority for implementing actions in the future. The vision for the      subbasin should address the question, **"What are you trying to achieve      overall?"****-- a collective desire to accomplish certain things.
**Examples of collective goals forming the vision
- Restore fish runs
- Maintain genetic integrity
- Protect and restore wildlife habitat
- Increase harvestable populations of fish
- Increase escapement to the spawning grounds
- Rebuild fish runs to achieve ESA delisting
**3.**Biological Objectives**
Biological objectives have two components: (1) biological performance,      describing responses of populations to habitat conditions, described in      terms of capacity, abundance, productivity and life history diversity, and      (2) environmental characteristics, which describe the environmental      conditions or changes sought to achieve the desired population      characteristics. Objectives should be specific, measurable and      quantifiable. The initial assessments along with the vision will guide the      focus of the biological objectives. For each major limiting factor, there      should be a biological objective that describes the extent of improvement      that the plan will call for. In addition, for each key population, specific      biological objectives should describe the improvements planned for that      population. These objectives will serve as a benchmark to evaluate progress      toward the subbasin vision, and should have measurable outcomes. The      questions that should be addressed through the biological objectives are      "What target species need to be addressed?" "What number is achievable, and      in what time frame?" Immediate, interim, and long-term biological      objectives should be considered.
**Examples of biological objectives
- 2,700 summer steelhead return to spawn by 2006;
- 5,000 spring Chinook return to harvestable levels by 2008.
- Increase winter rearing habitat by 10%. 
**4. Strategies**
Strategies describe the actions needed to address the limiting factors      and therefore achieve the biological objectives. The strategies identified      in the subbasin plans form the basis for Council funding recommendations to      Bonneville. Implementation strategies will vary depending on the current      condition of the populations and habitat, and the biological objectives      identified for the species and life stages of interest. Strategies should      be formulated to address the question, "What are the generic or overarching      actions needed to address the limiting factors?"
**Examples of strategies
- Improve water quality in the lower river
- Restore passage through a particular barrier
- Restore riparian habitat in a particular stream reach

Strategies will be implemented through specific projects and/or actions.      Projects proposed for funding will not be identified within the subbasin      plan. When a plan is approved, it will form the basis for project selection      within the subbasin. Projects will be developed through the regional      project funding process. Projects proposed for funding will undergo      independent scientific review as to how they fulfill the strategies and      biological objectives in the subbasin plan.
**An example of a strategy with related projects
**Strategy****Projects** (submitted through province                  review)Restore fish   Build a fishway at Sunny CreekPassageIncrease instream flows - upgrade Sunny Farm                  diversion****5. Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation**
Each subbasin plan will contain a monitoring and evaluation plan that      will show whether the actions taken to implement the subbasin plan are      achieving their objectives. Each monitoring and evaluation plan should      answer the questions "How will we evaluate progress toward the biological      objectives?" "How will it be measured?" "Who will conduct the monitoring      and evaluation work?" and what is the timeframe for such work?" The      information gained through monitoring and evaluation allows for the      examination of the effectiveness of actions taken so that actions may be      refined over time.

In addition, each subbasin plan will contain a set of research questions      (agenda) that will address critical uncertainties related to stated goals,      biological objectives, and strategies that will become part of a larger      research plan for the basin. The research agenda recognizes conditions and      situations identified within a subbasin that will require specific research      in order to help resolve specific management uncertainties.
**6. Appendices**
The background information and supporting documentation used in subbasin      plan development can be included as technical appendices to the plan.      Components of the technical appendices should include:
- Assessment and limiting factors data and information;
- Project listings and summaries -- inventory of existing projects,        program and past accomplishments;
- Subbasin summaries developed for the Council;
- Maps, excerpts, and other relevant documents.

This document is an overview of a subbasin plan. A     Technical Guide for Subbasin      Planners(200k PDF) has been developed for      subbasin planning technicians and others who may be involved in the      specifics of drafting a subbasin plan.

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