Regional goals for monitoring salmon and sustainable fisheries, population recovery, and habitat protection are a high priority in the Pacific Northwest.  Recently, members of the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership (PNAMP) have agreed upon the need for development and coordination of a state-federal-tribal monitoring partnership in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California.  Because science and management activities are scattered among agencies whose jurisdictions frequently overlap administratively but often divide along geographic and resource boundaries, the group has explored the requirement for a dedicated PNAMP Coordinator. This proposal describes the US Geological Survey's plan to fulfill the coordination function.  

While continuing its membership on PNAMP-related Executive, Steering, and Technical Committees, the USGS is prepared to support the PNAMP coordination needs by dedicating staff to the coordination function.   The Coordination Team (Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator, and Data Steward) will have USGS supervision and administrative support as needed.  The Coordination Team will participate in a neutral manner to facilitate efforts of PNAMP, serve as lead staff and liaison among technical groups, assist the interface between Steering Committee members and their executive-level counterparts, and provide fiscal/contract support. As USGS Northwest Area Office employees, the incumbents would maintain neutrality and interact proactively with state, tribal, and federal entities as well as other stakeholders in the PNAMP. This proposal describes specific tasks and costs required by the USGS to provide a Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator, administrative/clerical support, and related operational costs for FY2010.  At BPA's request, we have separated out the data management tasks and costs required by USGS for the Data Steward (IT specialist) position.  This position will be supported by BPA under Project # 2008-727-00.