SUBBASINS 



The preceding sections of this 

 program address fish and 

 \\ ildlil'e needs on two dit't'er- 

 ent lc\cls: the Columbia River Basin 

 as a whole and at the next le\el. 

 the 1 1 ecological provinces within 

 the basin. This section addresses the 

 third le\ el. the more than 50 sub- 

 basins within those ecological prov- 

 inces. For each of these subbasins 

 a locally developed "plan" will be 

 adopted mto the program. Each plan 

 will have its own vision and bio- 

 logical objectives and will identify 

 specific actions needed for fish and 

 wildlife in that subbasin. The plans 

 must be consistent with the visions, 

 biological objectives, and strategies 

 adopted at the basin and province 

 levels, but otherwise are free to make 

 unique choices and reflect local pol- 

 icies and priorities. The subbasin 

 plans w ill be the basis for review 

 and fundmg of most fish and wildlife 

 projects in this program. 



A. Subbasin Plans 



The fish and wildlife program is 

 implemented principally at the 

 subbasin level. It is at this subbasin 

 level that the more general guidance 

 provided by the basin and province 

 level visions, principles, objectives, 

 and strategies is refined in light of 

 local scientific knowledge, policies, 

 and priorities. 



The subbasin plans will be 

 adopted into the program, becoming 

 the third tier of the program struc- 

 ture. If the vision for the basin is 

 to be realized, it will be through suc- 

 cessful selection and implementation 

 of subbasin level goals, objectives, 

 and strategies. Plans at this level will 

 guide Bonneville funding offish and 

 wildlife activities. Subbasin level 

 plans should also provide an oppor- 

 tunity for the integration and coor- 

 dination of projects and programs 

 funded by entities other than Bonn- 

 eville, including Canadian entities in 



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strategies at th' 

 and province levels.' 



transboundary areas of the subbasins. 



Subbasin plans will be reviewed 

 for their consistency with biological 

 objectives and strategies at the basin 

 and province levels. Similarly, as 

 subbasin plans are adopted into the 

 program, higher level objectives and 

 strategies may be modified to reflect 

 and accommodate the infomiation 

 and initiatives of the plan. 



Subbasin plans will also be the 

 context for review of proposals for 

 Bonneville funding each year by the 

 fish and wildlife agencies and tribes, 

 the Independent Scientific Review 

 Panel and the Council. Once sub- 

 basin plans are approved, all of 

 these entities will be able to review 

 the projects proposed for Bonneville 

 funding to detennine if they are sci- 

 entifically sound in light of existing 

 and desired ecological conditions in 

 the subbasin and the goals and objec- 

 tives presented in subbasin plans. 



1. Required Elements of Sub- 

 basin Plans 



For purposes of the program a 

 subbasin level plan must include the 

 following three general components 

 in order to be eligible for adoption 

 nito the fish and wildlife program: 



• A subbasin assessment prov iding 

 a description of historical and 

 existing conditions; 



• A clear and comprehensive inven- 

 tory of existing projects and past 

 accomplishments; 



• A 10-15 year management plan. 



Each of these components is dis- 

 cussed below. The Technical Appen- 

 dix contains a detailed description of 

 each element and of the process that 

 the Council will use to develop the 

 subbasin level of the program. A 

 template for the plan will be devel- 

 oped collaboratively and included in 

 the Technical Appendix. 



It is anticipated that subbasin 

 plans will be revised and updated 

 every three to five years as new infor- 

 mation becomes available and condi- 

 tions change. 



2, General Principles for 

 Subbasin Plans 



• Planning in any subbasin will 

 start from the information con- 

 tained in subbasin summaries 

 and existing plans and docu- 

 ments. The program will only 

 fund new planning activities 

 where there are clear gaps and 

 omissions. 



• The Council's subbasin plans 

 will not duplicate plans that have 

 been developed or will soon be 

 developed by others, including 

 states, tribes, or the federal gov- 

 ernment. 



• Wherever possible and scientifi- 

 cally warranted, the Council will 

 adopt existing plans into the sub- 

 basin plans. 



• The final subbasin plan to be 

 adopted by the Council should 

 enjoy a wide range of support 

 from all interested parties. 



3. Subbasin Assessment 



The assessment is a technical 

 phase that describes existing and his- 

 toric resource conditions and char- 

 acteristics. The assessment scope 

 covers both aquatic and terrestrial 



2000 Columbia 



Fish and Wild 



39 



