Pacific Northwest (PNW) researchers, restoration practitioners, and resource managers are increasingly aware of the importance of tracking the information collected while monitoring aquatic resources and salmonid/steelhead populations. While uncertainty is an integral part of dealing with biological systems, it is crucial that the information about and data collected in these studies is maintained in easily shared formats in order to improve the conservation and sustainability of fisheries and aquatic resources. PNAMP has identified a need to support monitoring practitioners in the development of study designs; selection of sample site locations in a statistically valid manner; documentation, storage and sharing of data; and development of project metadata and FGDC compliant metadata records. To help collect this information in a consistent fashion and improve data management tools to exchange information, PNAMP has planned development of a suite of online tools to support monitoring practitioners in the region. PNAMP has developed on one such system over the past year, MonitoringMethods.org. In addition, a prototype master sample management and tracking tool has been developed as a proof of concept for the Integrated Status and Trends Monitoring (ISTM) demonstration project (focused on the Lower Columbia ESU).  Other ideas have been presented for tools to support creation of metadata records, as well as tools to support inventorying or cataloging the history of monitoring activities at specific sites in the region.  

Based on recommendations from participants in PNAMP's Data Management Leadership Team, we plan to pursue redevelopment of the master sample management and tracking prototype to enable a broader scope and functionality that will make the tool a regional resource that can support the interests of increasing numbers of users in drawing samples from the population domain. This system will allow users to know who else has selected sites from the master sample in their domains; to design individual or integrated monitoring programs; to know how existing sites relate to a common master sample; and what they are collecting at the site over time.  

In addition, PNAMP plans to pursue scoping exercises for two additional web resources - a metadata builder and a monitoring locator/site history tool.  These scoping exercises would be proof of concept efforts to determine expected costs for regional development.  In the case of the metadata builder, BPA's Pisces and Taurus systems would be used as the test case for systems to extract metadata elements.

Finally, the intent with the suite of web tools, as each is developed, is that they will be fully integrated with other systems.  We plan to integrate the master sample tool with MonitoringMethods.org and the same is expected for any development accomplished during the scoping exercises for the metadata builder and monitoring locator/site history.  In addition, we will work with regional partners to integrate these tools with their project tracking systems, data repositories, etc., as those partners are interested and willing.

PNAMP, under project 2004-002-00, intends to continue with other planned coordination tasks related to regional data management for natural resource monitoring programs, specifically to support development of recommendations for regional standards and tools to improve data sharing and support individual partner capacity for data management and a shared infrastructure.  PNAMP intends to continue support for development of data exchange concepts.  Emphasis will be on support for scoping and refining the needs and issues related to sharing habitat monitoring data and continued support for the Coordinated Assessments process.