Operating Protocols

GCMRC SCIENCE ADVISORS

FINAL

December 2000

INTRODUCTION

The final Environmental Impact Statement on the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam calls

for the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the Adaptive Management Work Group to

establish Independent Review Panel(s) (IRPs) (pg. 37-38) to

(I) annually review resource specific monitoring and research programs initiated by the

science center [Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC)];

(2) make recommendations to tile Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) and the

GCMRC on tile long-term monitoring and research program regarding priorities,

integration, and management;

(3) conduct a five-year review of monitoring and research protocols; and

(4) provide other such scientific and technical advice as may be requested by the

GCMRC, the AMWG, or the Secretary.

The GCDEIS states that the IRPs should ". be comprised of qualified individuals not otherwise

participating in the [QCMRC] long-term monitoring and research studies."

GCMRC has responded to the GCDEIS call for IRPs by:

Establishing an independent, external peer-review process for all proposals received

by GCMRC and scientific reports resulting from GCMRC activities.

(2) Initiating a contract with the National Research Council (NRC) for review of the

GCMRC Long-term Strategic Plan and GCMRC FY 98 and FY 99 Annual Plans that

resulted in the 1999 NRC report, "Downstream: Adaptive management of Glen

Canyon Dam and the Colorado River Ecosystem."

(3) Developing Protocol Evaluation Program (PEP) for reviewing long-teml monitoring

protocols.
NEED

The current IRPs established by GCMRC do not fully address the responsibilities

-J identified in the GCDEIS. An IRP is still needed

". . . for periodically reviewing resource specific monitoring and research programs and

for making recommendations to the AMWG and the Center [GCMRC] regarding monitoring,

priorities, integration, and management."

PURPOSE

The group of Scientific Advisors is being established to increase the efficiency and

quality of the science being developed by GCMRC and used by the AMWG and the Secretary

The Scientific Advisors will provide independent scientific oversight and technical advice to

ensure that GCMRC science programs are efficient, unbiased, objective, and scientifically sound.

The Scientific Advisors individually will be expected upon request, among other things,

to review and comment on:

(1) results of ongoing and completed monitoring and research progran1 activities, as well

as any synthesis and assessment activities initiated by GCMRC,

(2) the appropriateness of GCMRC's RFPs, especially their responsiveness to

management objectives,

(3) the protocols used in GCMRC sponsored scientific activities, including a 5-year

review of GCMRC monitoring and research protocols,

(4) GCMRC's long-tenn monitoring plan:

(5) GCMRC's annual monitoring and research plans,

(6) GCMRC's annual budget proposals, to ensure that the science program is efficiently

and effectively responding to AMWG goals (i.e., management objectives), and

(7) any other program specific scientific and technical advice it is asked to address by

the AMWG, the GCMRC, or the Secretary.

Consistent with these tasks, the Scientific Advisors will be asked not only to evaluate

whether the best methods are used It but also to evallJate "

whether the best questions are

being asked." (NRC 1999) A multidisciplinary set of Scientific Advisors is essential for
adequate consideration of coordination and balance among resource programs, their combined

defining and testing adaptive management experiments.

The Scientific Advisors will provide independent scientific and technical advice to the

GCMRC Chief and program managers, the AMWG, and the Secretary when and as needed

regarding program specific scientific and technical issues. In addition, they may lead specific

scientific and technical review and evaluation tasks, as appropriate.

The Scientific Advisors will not be asked to review, interpret, or otherwise evaluate

public policy decisions or assess legal compliance associated with the Glen Canyon Dam

Adaptive Management Program and activities of the AMWG, the Technical Work Group

(TWG), or individual member agencies and organizations.

MEMBERSHIP

In anyone year, the Scientific Advisors will be comprised of 10 - 12 individuals.

Individuals will be selected to serve as Scientific Advisors based on their record of publication in

the peer-reviewed literature, or other demonstrable scientific achievements or technical

competence. Scientific Advisors will be selected for their scientific or technical expertise and

not as representatives of a particular agency, organization, or other stakeholder group. Scientific

Advisors may be drawn from other agencies, academia, and the private sector. Scientific

Advisors will be comprised of qualified individuals not otherwise participating in GCMRC

sponsored long-term monitoring and research studies and must recuse themselves from bidding

on GCMRC proposals for one-year after their term of service is completed.

Scientific Advisors will be selected on the basis of their technical competence,

independence, and demonstrated capability to work in an interdisciplinary environment. Balance

among expe11ise in the following areas will be sought

Adaptive management

Anthropology I Native American studies

Archaeology

'isheries
. Ecosystem / Riparian ecology:

Geomorphology

GIS / Remote sensing

Hydrology;

Aquatic ecology ,imnology; and

Socio-economics

Sele~ro~ess and Terms. Scientific Advisors will be sought for a three-year term, renewable

for one consecutive three-year term. AMWG members may provide GCMRC with names of

individuals who should be considered for appointment as a Scientific Advisor. Initial Scientifi

Advisors will be appointed for staggered one-, two-, and three-year terms, to ensure continuity in

membership. Scientific Advisors will be selected from among nominees based on the evaluation

criteria presented below. GCMRC will seek the consultation of the AMWG in selecting

individuals to serve as GCMRC Scientific Advisors. The selection process, requiring them to

sign the standard GCMRC conflict-or-interest statement and providing them a fixed term that

thev will serve will assure the independence of the Scientific Advisors

REPORTINC

"Although it must be independent, itmust have a mechanism for being responsive to the

concerns of people with local knowledge, interest, and concerns. Finally, its reports must

be visible and accessible to all. Although the advisory board will not and should not

make policy decisions, its scientific advice must be loud and clear enough that it cannot

be ignored by accident." (Upstream: Salmon and Society in the Pacific Northwest.)

The Scientific Advisors will report through an Executive Secretary ne Scientific

Advisors will provide technical advice and scientific oversight, upon request, in writing to the

AMWG. the GCMRC and/or the Secretary; with copies to the wn

EVA ,VA TION rRITERIA

Technical competence as demonstrated by their record of scientific achievement

in one of the areas of technical expertise being sought.

Ahility to work in a committee environment
Demonstrated capability to work in an interdisciplinary setting.

Not otherwise participating in the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management

Program or GCMRC monitoring and research activities.

EST ABLISHMENT, ADMINISTRATION and BUDGET

GCMRC will establish the Scientific Advisors following consultation with the AMWG.

The Scientific Advisors will be required to sign the standard GCMRC conflict-of-interest

statement, and other Department of the Interior conflict-or-interest statements, as appropriate.

Administrative support (i.e., travel, expenses, report production) for Scientific Advisory

activities will be Drovided for by GCMRC.

Scientific Advisors will be reimbursed for their travel and receive per diem for time spent

at meetings or at GCMRC to conduct approved scientific and technical review and advisory

activities. In addition, Scientific Advisors will receive a professional fee of $300 per day for

time spent on approved activities. Scientific Advisors will be expected to participate in at least

one scientific river trip on the Colorado River to familiarize them with the ecosystem

Operations for the first year of Scientific Advisory activities are estimated at $50,000-

$100.000.

OPERATING PROCEDURES

An Executive Secretary who will be an employee of, or contractor to the GCMRC will

lead the Scientific Advisors to GCMRC. In the first year Dr. Lawrence D. Garrett as a contractor

will fill this position to GCMRC. The Executive Secretary and the Scientific Advisors will

develop operating procedures with respect to resolving disputes and providing scientific and

technical advice to the GCMRC, the AMWG, or the Secretary, as appropriate. The Scientific

Advisors will meet at least three times per year or as needed. GCMRC will provide a scientist to

serve as an Executive Secretary to support the activities of the Scientific Advisors.
FY 2001 TASKS

Scientific Advisors will be asked to provide timely review of:

(1) review the Goals, management objectives and information needs to determine their

potential, taken together as a suite, for achieving the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive

Management Program's Vision and Mission,

-'"

(2) the structure and responsiveness ofRFPs to the management objectives and

information needs,

(3) the FY 2001 and 2002 long-term monitoring plans, especially the parameters to be

monitored, the protocols to be used, al1d the overall sampling strategy,

(4) GCMRC's remote monitoring technology proposals, and

(5) GCMRC's budget priorities to ensure that the science program is responding

efficiently and effectively to AMWG goals (i.e., management objectives).

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