Recovery Science Implementation Team (RIST)
After listing 27 Pacific salmon Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, NMFS initiated a coastwide process to develop recovery plans for these species. An important part of this process was the creation of geographically based Technical Recovery Teams (TRTs). The TRTs are multi-disciplinary science teams chaired by NWFSC or SWFSC staff. They were tasked with providing science support to recovery planners by developing biologically based viability criteria, analyzing alternative recovery strategies, and providing scientific review of draft plans.
With the imminent publication of recovery plans for most Pacific Northwest recovery domains, the Pacific Northwest TRTs either have completed or are close to completing their initial task of developing viability criteria and providing science support for recovery plan development. NMFS therefore has phased out most of the existing Pacific Northwest TRTs.
The TRTs have been successful at bringing scientific consensus to a complex range of issues, and the NMFS Northwest Region and Science Center are grateful for the support this process has received from both scientists and policy makers throughout the Pacific Northwest. As the recovery plans are completed, there is a continuing need for broad-based scientific support for recovery plan implementation. Examples of ongoing science needs include:
- Analysis of the efficacy of particular recovery actions
- Development of monitoring and evaluation programs
- Scientific information and analysis to inform critical uncertainties, and the prioritization, sequencing, and development of effective strategies and actions
- Providing scientific review of plans and analyses for policy, funding, and oversight groups
To meet these ongoing needs, NMFS initiated the Recovery Implementation Science Team (RIST), which will be responsible for coordinating scientific analyses in support of recovery plan implementation across the Pacific Northwest. The RIST works in coordination with a similar team focusing on recovery domains in California.
Back to topThe RIST is a group of scientists with broad expertise that 1) provides scientific information supporting recovery implementation decisions, and ensures that a regional perspective is maintained for that information; 2) is responsible for communicating that information to NMFS offices within the region through the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), as well as potentially to regional recovery planning groups, and other stakeholders; and 3) can form task teams to complete specific analyses, reviews or evaluations. Information from the RIST is scientific or technical and is intended to inform policy and management decisions: not to prescribe or make decisions.
The RIST and the NMFS Northwest Regional Office (NWRO) and Northwest Fisheries Science Center work closely to develop appropriate tasks and priorities for scientific analysis based on input from these groups. NMFS staff are responsible for coordinating with other groups involved in recovery implementation to ensure that timelines and priorities for the RIST are consistent with recovery needs. Factors that are considered in prioritization and task development include time frames, workload, general relevance of the issue, immediacy of related policy decisions, and availability of staff.
Back to topThe RIST consist of experts in salmonid biology, population dynamics, conservation biology, ecology, and other disciplines relevant to salmon recovery. The RIST is chaired by a scientist from the NWFSC, and includes the 5 Northwest TRT chairs. Nominations for additional members were solicited from the public, from academia, and from other state, federal and tribal entities. Each member must meet the first three criteria below (numbers 1-3) and at least one of the remaining three criteria (numbers 4-6).
- High achievement in a relevant discipline, which may include ecology, genetics, fisheries, hydrology, river geomorphology, social science, or other appropriate disciplines.
- High standards of scientific integrity, independence, and objectivity.
- A demonstrated interest in and ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team setting.
- Extensive knowledge of West Coast salmonid biology, status, or habitat.
- A record of scientific accomplishment documented by contributions to peer-reviewed literature or other evidence of success in a creative scientific endeavor.
- A demonstrated ability to forge creative solutions to complex problems.
An independent panel evaluated all nominations to ensure that they met the above criteria. The panel provided a list of qualified candidates to the Science Director of the NWFSC who made the final appointments to the team. Final selection of the RIST members aimed to balance areas of scientific expertise and familiarity with recovery domains.
Back to topThe RIST is responsible for ensuring that the region has access to the most current scientific information available and that applications of that information are consistent across regions during the course of implementing recovery plans. It provides technical and scientific information to inform management and policy decisions. Specific responsibilities include:
- Developing responses to requests for scientific information relevant for recovery plan implementation. Responses can include (but are not limited to):
- Conducting an analysis; reviewing and writing reports on a topic; or establishing a task team to do the work.
- Development of workshops to synthesize data or other existing information.
- Determine that another body would be more appropriate for the particular request.
- Review task team products.
- Communicating responses and other relevant information to the NMFS and other interested entities.
RIST members are expected to participate as independent scientists rather than as advocates for their agency, employer, or any other group.
RIST members who work for other federal, state, tribal, or local government agencies are expected to help facilitate communication about scientific issues between their agency and the RIST, for example by ensuring that scientific information developed by their agency is considered in RIST processes.
The RIST coordinates closely with the NMFS NWRO, particularly with staff involved in recovery plan implementation.
Back to topAn important feature of the RIST is its ability to form temporary task teams to deal with specific conceptual or geographical issues. The combination of having a single RIST for the Pacific Northwest, combined with the flexibility of the RIST to form sub-teams is expected to produce a valuable combination of scientific continuity and local expertise.
- Task team composition: These groups will typically be led by an RIST member, but could also be led by an external scientist with particular expertise. Group size will be determined by task.
- Selection of members: The RIST will generally initiate a task team by identifying appropriate individuals and inviting them to participate, or by soliciting nominations from state, federal, and tribal agencies and the public at large.
- Tasks and responsibilities: Task teams will be formed to address a specific task on a set time line. They will work with the RIST to develop a workplan, deliverables and timeline for completion.
- Potential task team topics: Some examples of topics that could be addressed by task teams include:
- Developing models to analyze specific types of actions
- Review of domain-specific monitoring plans
- Development of monitoring recommendations
- Development of viability goals for newly listed ESUs
- Development of database products to facilitate reviews of ESU status by NMFS or other agencies
- Interaction with other groups: The RIST will review task team products. Direct interaction of task teams with policy groups may be necessary to ensure that analyses and assessments serve those groups' needs.
In some cases, independent peer-review of RIST science products may be appropriate. The Independent Scientific Advisory Board or a similar independent science panel may be asked to provide peer-review of RIST products in these cases. The NWFSC will be responsible for soliciting and coordinating peer review.
Back to top| Gardner M. Brown, Jr | University of Washington, ret. |
| Craig Busack | Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| Richard Carmichael | Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| Tom Cooney | Northwest Fisheries Science Center |
| Ken Currens | Northwest Indian Fish Commission |
| Michael Ford | Northwest Fisheries Science Center |
| Gene Helfman | University of Georgia, ret. |
| Jay Hesse | Nez Perce Tribe Department of Fisheries Resource Management |
| Pete Lawson | Northwest Fisheries Science Center |
| Michelle McClure | Northwest Fisheries Science Center |
| Paul McElhany | Northwest Fisheries Science Center |
| Gordon Reeves | US Forest Service |
| Bruce Rieman | US Forest Service, ret. |
| Mary Ruckelshaus | Northwest Fisheries Science Center |
| Brad Thompson | US Fish and Wildlife Service |
RIST meetings are open to the public; however there will be very limited opportunity for the public to provide feedback during the meetings.
| Agenda and Meeting notes | Future Meetings |
|---|---|
| August 27-28 — Newport PDF/DOC June 25-26, 2008—June 25, 26 — Seattle April 28th, 2008— agenda and minutes March 13th, 2008—agenda, minutes |
May 29th, Mt. St. Helens Room, NMFS Portland Office. 9-3:30. -- cancelled. June 25, 26, NMFS Sandpoint Office, Seattle. |
last modified 08/29/2008