Science and Technology Team Mission: The mission of the Science and Technology Program is to understand, conserve, and re-establish physical and chemical processes necessary for the protection and conservation of NOAA trust resource habitats. The Science and Technology Program focuses on fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, water quality, toxicology and geographic information system (GIS) technology. The Program supports both regulatory and voluntary processes. Many of our efforts support regulatory consultations pursuant to our obligations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, restoration and recovery planning efforts. Areas of particular focus include work on consultations and related agency efforts with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (e.g. hydropower dam evaluations), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (e.g. Clean Water Act permitted construction projects, dredging evaluations) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (e.g. water quality standards, total maximum daily load programs, contaminant related projects). The Program’s GIS lab is focused on ESA recovery planning, which it supports through spatial data analysis and mapping at regional and field-office scales. The Program also works in a non-regulatory context via collaborations with the public and other agencies to improve resource management strategies and coordinate ongoing land uses and operations in a manner protective of or beneficial to habitat. Examples of this include: guideline development, implementation, and demonstration projects for gravel mining; development of emergent stream corridor management guidelines; collaboration with partners on the development of watershed management plans (e.g. Salmon Creek watershed plan development, Sonoma County Salmon Coalition, Napa River Sediment Reduction and Restoration plan), and coordination with landowner programs that improve management practices in agricultural systems, such as the Fish Friendly Farming Program. In addition, we collaborate on agency related efforts, such as supporting the National Marine Sanctuaries program in developing their management plans and condition reports, working with consortiums of local and state agencies in developing integrated regional water management plans, and serving on technical advisory committees for various programs and planning efforts.
Northern Science and Technology Projects 03/12/08 |
Click on picture to go to Sonoma County Salmon Coalition information page.
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