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• 1. [Article] Reviving Whychus Creek: Averting Collisions between the Endangered Species Act and Agricultural Water Use through Proactive Streamflow Restoration

  In the wake of policies catalyzing settlement through agrarian-based land ‘improvement’, private property rights absorbed water resources through Western water law. Consequently, these dominant user regimes ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Reviving Whychus Creek: Averting Collisions between the Endangered Species Act and Agricultural Water Use through Proactive Streamflow Restoration Author: Dengel, Jeff In the wake of policies catalyzing settlement through agrarian-based land ‘improvement’, private property rights absorbed water resources through Western water law. Consequently, these dominant user regimes and the doctrine of prior appropriation allocated nearly 80 percent of freshwater resources to agricultural use. Following enactment of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973 agricultural water users and the federal government were set on a collision course, as private property was now subject to regulatory imposition. Within Western states water bodies contiguous to private agrarian lands host the majority of aquatic species listed under the ESA. Of all the effects associated with agricultural water use, streamflow depletion constitutes the primary source of species imperilment. Customary irrigation practices often dewater streams completely or render aquatic habitat inhospitable. Consequently, curtailment of water use is increasingly sought during enforcement of ESA regulations. Encounters between ESA regulation and impositions upon agricultural water use are largely reactionary, litigious, and costly; this begs the question of remedy. Responses attending to the matter indicate collaborative and precautionary measures as prospective solutions. Within the context of streamflow-based habitat modification the answer consistently indicates transactional mechanisms reallocating water to instream use. Due to priority-based allocation developed through the doctrine of prior appropriation acquisition of senior water rights is imperative for streamflow restoration. Within Oregon's Whychus Creek agricultural water users employed a series of water right transactions serving to bolster instream flow to avert ESA regulation. Many of these transactions have been implemented through Oregon's Conserved Water Program; a unique statute providing benefits for the environment and agricultural water users alike. Through these transactions senior water rights have been reallocated to instream use and are being met, resulting in a robust presence of instream flow. Title: Reviving Whychus Creek: Averting Collisions between the Endangered Species Act and Agricultural Water Use through Proactive Streamflow Restoration Author: Dengel, Jeff In the wake of policies catalyzing settlement through agrarian-based land ‘improvement’, private property rights absorbed water resources through Western water law. Consequently, these dominant user regimes and the doctrine of prior appropriation allocated nearly 80 percent of freshwater resources to agricultural use. Following enactment of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973 agricultural water users and the federal government were set on a collision course, as private property was now subject to regulatory imposition. Within Western states water bodies contiguous to private agrarian lands host the majority of aquatic species listed under the ESA. Of all the effects associated with agricultural water use, streamflow depletion constitutes the primary source of species imperilment. Customary irrigation practices often dewater streams completely or render aquatic habitat inhospitable. Consequently, curtailment of water use is increasingly sought during enforcement of ESA regulations. Encounters between ESA regulation and impositions upon agricultural water use are largely reactionary, litigious, and costly; this begs the question of remedy. Responses attending to the matter indicate collaborative and precautionary measures as prospective solutions. Within the context of streamflow-based habitat modification the answer consistently indicates transactional mechanisms reallocating water to instream use. Due to priority-based allocation developed through the doctrine of prior appropriation acquisition of senior water rights is imperative for streamflow restoration. Within Oregon's Whychus Creek agricultural water users employed a series of water right transactions serving to bolster instream flow to avert ESA regulation. Many of these transactions have been implemented through Oregon's Conserved Water Program; a unique statute providing benefits for the environment and agricultural water users alike. Through these transactions senior water rights have been reallocated to instream use and are being met, resulting in a robust presence of instream flow. Close

• 2. [Article] The Oregon plan for salmon and watersheds: a perspective.

  The Oregon Plan is a state-led strategy for restoring and conserving native salmonids and the watersheds within which they spend all or parts of their lives. It evolved from work that began in the 1980s ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Oregon plan for salmon and watersheds: a perspective. Author: Institute for Natural Resources, Salwasser, Hal, Achterman, Gail, Arha, Kaush The Oregon Plan is a state-led strategy for restoring and conserving native salmonids and the watersheds within which they spend all or parts of their lives. It evolved from work that began in the 1980s on watershed health and salmon conservation and was propelled into high gear by proposed and eventual listings of native salmonids in Oregon under the federal Endangered Species Act during the mid-1990s. The Plan has expanded in scope and activities since then, and now encompasses all native salmonids and all watersheds in the state. It has spawned new commitments and investments from private landowners and generated significant improvements in state agency coordination related to salmonids and watershed health. The accomplishments of the Oregon Plan create an unparalleled foundation for state-led species conservation. The work remaining creates abundant opportunity for new leaders to add their embellishments to the fine work of others to date. Title: The Oregon plan for salmon and watersheds: a perspective. Author: Institute for Natural Resources, Salwasser, Hal, Achterman, Gail, Arha, Kaush The Oregon Plan is a state-led strategy for restoring and conserving native salmonids and the watersheds within which they spend all or parts of their lives. It evolved from work that began in the 1980s on watershed health and salmon conservation and was propelled into high gear by proposed and eventual listings of native salmonids in Oregon under the federal Endangered Species Act during the mid-1990s. The Plan has expanded in scope and activities since then, and now encompasses all native salmonids and all watersheds in the state. It has spawned new commitments and investments from private landowners and generated significant improvements in state agency coordination related to salmonids and watershed health. The accomplishments of the Oregon Plan create an unparalleled foundation for state-led species conservation. The work remaining creates abundant opportunity for new leaders to add their embellishments to the fine work of others to date. Close

• 3. [Article] A Kalman Filter Approach to Estimating Marine Turtle Incidental Take Risk

  A principle U.S. fisheries management concern is ensuring compliance with Endangered Species Act requirements to limit incidental takes of listed species to levels which do not result in potential jeopardy ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Kalman Filter Approach to Estimating Marine Turtle Incidental Take Risk Author: Stohs, Stephen, Kvamsdal, Sturla A principle U.S. fisheries management concern is ensuring compliance with Endangered Species Act requirements to limit incidental takes of listed species to levels which do not result in potential jeopardy to existing population stocks. Part of the risk assessment process involves an analysis of historic takes (bycatch) of ESA-listed species relative to fishing effort. Sample bycatch per unit of effort (BPUE) ratios are used to gauge the take risk to ESA-listed species posed by future fishing effort. The rare-event nature of protected species takes complicates the interpretation of sample BPUE ratios. For illustration, a total of 23 leatherback turtles were incidentally taken by fishermen in the California-Oregon drift gillnet fishery from the 1990 through 2006 fishing seasons in 7733 sets of fishing effort, with from 0 to 5 leatherback takes per season over the entire period. Should one conclude the incidental take risk was significantly higher during the season with 5 leatherback turtle takes than in seasons with 0 takes? To address this and related inference problems, we specify a state space model which describes the pattern of observed takes as a Poisson process conditional on the level of fishing effort. A time-varying Poisson rate parameter, expressed as BPUE, measures the time-varying level of take risk. A Kalman filter for Poisson processes is used to estimate the intertemporal variation in take risk from California-Oregon drift gillnet fishery observer data. A key question regards attributing the observed pattern of takes to randomness which drives fluctuations in observed takes versus intertemporal variation in the level of take risk. Title: A Kalman Filter Approach to Estimating Marine Turtle Incidental Take Risk Author: Stohs, Stephen, Kvamsdal, Sturla A principle U.S. fisheries management concern is ensuring compliance with Endangered Species Act requirements to limit incidental takes of listed species to levels which do not result in potential jeopardy to existing population stocks. Part of the risk assessment process involves an analysis of historic takes (bycatch) of ESA-listed species relative to fishing effort. Sample bycatch per unit of effort (BPUE) ratios are used to gauge the take risk to ESA-listed species posed by future fishing effort. The rare-event nature of protected species takes complicates the interpretation of sample BPUE ratios. For illustration, a total of 23 leatherback turtles were incidentally taken by fishermen in the California-Oregon drift gillnet fishery from the 1990 through 2006 fishing seasons in 7733 sets of fishing effort, with from 0 to 5 leatherback takes per season over the entire period. Should one conclude the incidental take risk was significantly higher during the season with 5 leatherback turtle takes than in seasons with 0 takes? To address this and related inference problems, we specify a state space model which describes the pattern of observed takes as a Poisson process conditional on the level of fishing effort. A time-varying Poisson rate parameter, expressed as BPUE, measures the time-varying level of take risk. A Kalman filter for Poisson processes is used to estimate the intertemporal variation in take risk from California-Oregon drift gillnet fishery observer data. A key question regards attributing the observed pattern of takes to randomness which drives fluctuations in observed takes versus intertemporal variation in the level of take risk. Close

• 4. [Article] Utilizing hunter harvest effort to survey for wildlife disease: A case study of West Nile virus in greater sage‐grouse

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by Wildlife Society ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Utilizing hunter harvest effort to survey for wildlife disease: A case study of West Nile virus in greater sage‐grouse Author: Hofmeister, Erik K., Dusek, Robert J., Franson, J. Christian, Hagen, Christian A., Budeau, David A. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by Wildlife Society and published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291938-5463a Title: Utilizing hunter harvest effort to survey for wildlife disease: A case study of West Nile virus in greater sage‐grouse Author: Hofmeister, Erik K., Dusek, Robert J., Franson, J. Christian, Hagen, Christian A., Budeau, David A. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by Wildlife Society and published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291938-5463a Close

• 5. [Article] Factors influencing density, distribution, and mesohabitat selection of juvenile wild salmonids and residual hatchery winter steelhead

  This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/aquaculture/. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Factors influencing density, distribution, and mesohabitat selection of juvenile wild salmonids and residual hatchery winter steelhead Author: Schreck, Carl B., Olson, Douglas E., Schaller, Howard A., Brignon, William R. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/aquaculture/. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. Title: Factors influencing density, distribution, and mesohabitat selection of juvenile wild salmonids and residual hatchery winter steelhead Author: Schreck, Carl B., Olson, Douglas E., Schaller, Howard A., Brignon, William R. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/aquaculture/. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. Close

• 6. [Article] Seed viability studies for recovery of Plagiobothrys hirtus (Boraginaceae), the rough popcornflower

  The original submitted file is the .ppt file. The .pdf file was made for preservation purposes.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Seed viability studies for recovery of Plagiobothrys hirtus (Boraginaceae), the rough popcornflower Author: Amsberry, Kelly, Wilson, Courtney, Meinke, Robert J. The original submitted file is the .ppt file. The .pdf file was made for preservation purposes. Title: Seed viability studies for recovery of Plagiobothrys hirtus (Boraginaceae), the rough popcornflower Author: Amsberry, Kelly, Wilson, Courtney, Meinke, Robert J. The original submitted file is the .ppt file. The .pdf file was made for preservation purposes. Close

• 7. [Article] Carbon isotopes show snowpack acts as a valuable moisture subsidy to mountain forests in the Oregon Cascades

  This study examines climatological influences, particularly that of snowpack, on tree growth and stable carbon isotope discrimination (Δ¹³C) from ~1980 to 2013 at two sites located in the upper reaches ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Carbon isotopes show snowpack acts as a valuable moisture subsidy to mountain forests in the Oregon Cascades Author: Ratcliff, Christopher J. This study examines climatological influences, particularly that of snowpack, on tree growth and stable carbon isotope discrimination (Δ¹³C) from ~1980 to 2013 at two sites located in the upper reaches of the McKenzie River watershed of the Oregon Cascade Mountains. We tested the use of Δ¹³C values from latewood, corroborated by tree-ring width chronologies as precipitation proxies to develop correlations between moisture stress and climate variables. Tree species at each site included Douglas-fir and mountain hemlock. Interpolated meteorological and snowpack data included snow water equivalent (SWE), precipitation, atmospheric temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), relative humidity (RH), and a metric estimating growing season length. Significant correlations between latewood Δ¹³C and winter SWE at each site indicated the importance of winter snowpack to our selected tree species (r = 0.35, r = 0.43). Late summer precipitation and relative humidity (RH) were also significantly correlated with Δ¹³C (r = 0.49, r = 0.46; r = 0.43, r = 0.44). High correlations at both sites reinforced that late summer VPD was the primary driver of Δ¹³C (r = - 0.67, r = -0.61), which is often associated with moisture stress. This was further supported by correlations between air temperature and Δ¹³C (r = -0.46, r = -0.47), which drives much of the variation in VPD. Growing season length also showed significance in mountain hemlocks at the site with longer average snowpack (r = -0.22, r = -0.44). Moisture supplied by spring snow melt is a seasonably limited resource, nonetheless both sites clearly showed that snowpack acts as a valuable moisture subsidy to coniferous mountain forests in the Oregon Cascades. This study acts as a useful case study for future investigations into the relationship between snowpack and forest health in the Pacific North West. Title: Carbon isotopes show snowpack acts as a valuable moisture subsidy to mountain forests in the Oregon Cascades Author: Ratcliff, Christopher J. This study examines climatological influences, particularly that of snowpack, on tree growth and stable carbon isotope discrimination (Δ¹³C) from ~1980 to 2013 at two sites located in the upper reaches of the McKenzie River watershed of the Oregon Cascade Mountains. We tested the use of Δ¹³C values from latewood, corroborated by tree-ring width chronologies as precipitation proxies to develop correlations between moisture stress and climate variables. Tree species at each site included Douglas-fir and mountain hemlock. Interpolated meteorological and snowpack data included snow water equivalent (SWE), precipitation, atmospheric temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), relative humidity (RH), and a metric estimating growing season length. Significant correlations between latewood Δ¹³C and winter SWE at each site indicated the importance of winter snowpack to our selected tree species (r = 0.35, r = 0.43). Late summer precipitation and relative humidity (RH) were also significantly correlated with Δ¹³C (r = 0.49, r = 0.46; r = 0.43, r = 0.44). High correlations at both sites reinforced that late summer VPD was the primary driver of Δ¹³C (r = - 0.67, r = -0.61), which is often associated with moisture stress. This was further supported by correlations between air temperature and Δ¹³C (r = -0.46, r = -0.47), which drives much of the variation in VPD. Growing season length also showed significance in mountain hemlocks at the site with longer average snowpack (r = -0.22, r = -0.44). Moisture supplied by spring snow melt is a seasonably limited resource, nonetheless both sites clearly showed that snowpack acts as a valuable moisture subsidy to coniferous mountain forests in the Oregon Cascades. This study acts as a useful case study for future investigations into the relationship between snowpack and forest health in the Pacific North West. Close

• 8. [Article] Creating Useful and Usable Climate Tools for Sagebrush Land Management Through Scientist and Manager Collaboration

  The sagebrush ecosystem, home to numerous plant and animal species including big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and the endemic greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), has endured fragmentation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Creating Useful and Usable Climate Tools for Sagebrush Land Management Through Scientist and Manager Collaboration Author: Brown, Melanie The sagebrush ecosystem, home to numerous plant and animal species including big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and the endemic greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), has endured fragmentation and degradation of both quantity and quality due to the cumulative and synergistic relationships between an abundance of individual disturbances including grazing, invasive annuals and fire. Climate change may now be an additional threat that poses the greatest risk to these imperiled habitats. Natural resource agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seek to conserve sagelands through land management activities that ensure the survival of sage-grouse and continuity of the sagebrush biome. Web-based climate tools can help convey climate information that may be necessary for long-term land management, but these tools may not agree with the needs of land managers, may be too complex, or may be misinterpreted. To overcome barriers of user compatibility, the participation of both climate scientists and land managers is necessary during tool development. With the collaboration of Oregon and Idaho BLM sagebrush land managers and climate scientists, this study sought to assess land manager needs and define the criteria for useful and useable climate tools. Using an initial online survey, individual phone interviews with land managers, and a follow-up online survey, a series of land management activities and related climate variables were identified, and several web-based climate tools were assessed. Most managers perform vegetation management through a variety of means including seeding and herbicide application. Such activities are affected by the magnitude and timing of precipitation and temperature, as well as other variables, on seasonal and annual timeframes. For planning purposes land managers also need information on long-term 10-20 year climate trends. The act of listening to the needs of land managers uncovered communication barriers, and provided feedback on existing climate tools emphasizing accessibility, dependability and consistency, clear explanation of terminology, effective visualizations, and relevant spatial and temporal scales to the scope of management activities. We also identified a need for basic information and education on the location of existing climate tools and climate impacts, and a need for near-term forecasting tools that could bridge the gap between weather (≤ 6 months) and climate (≥ 30 years) projections. Title: Creating Useful and Usable Climate Tools for Sagebrush Land Management Through Scientist and Manager Collaboration Author: Brown, Melanie The sagebrush ecosystem, home to numerous plant and animal species including big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and the endemic greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), has endured fragmentation and degradation of both quantity and quality due to the cumulative and synergistic relationships between an abundance of individual disturbances including grazing, invasive annuals and fire. Climate change may now be an additional threat that poses the greatest risk to these imperiled habitats. Natural resource agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seek to conserve sagelands through land management activities that ensure the survival of sage-grouse and continuity of the sagebrush biome. Web-based climate tools can help convey climate information that may be necessary for long-term land management, but these tools may not agree with the needs of land managers, may be too complex, or may be misinterpreted. To overcome barriers of user compatibility, the participation of both climate scientists and land managers is necessary during tool development. With the collaboration of Oregon and Idaho BLM sagebrush land managers and climate scientists, this study sought to assess land manager needs and define the criteria for useful and useable climate tools. Using an initial online survey, individual phone interviews with land managers, and a follow-up online survey, a series of land management activities and related climate variables were identified, and several web-based climate tools were assessed. Most managers perform vegetation management through a variety of means including seeding and herbicide application. Such activities are affected by the magnitude and timing of precipitation and temperature, as well as other variables, on seasonal and annual timeframes. For planning purposes land managers also need information on long-term 10-20 year climate trends. The act of listening to the needs of land managers uncovered communication barriers, and provided feedback on existing climate tools emphasizing accessibility, dependability and consistency, clear explanation of terminology, effective visualizations, and relevant spatial and temporal scales to the scope of management activities. We also identified a need for basic information and education on the location of existing climate tools and climate impacts, and a need for near-term forecasting tools that could bridge the gap between weather (≤ 6 months) and climate (≥ 30 years) projections. Close