From Plan to Implementation

The Federal Caucus Recovery Strategy places priority on actions with the best chance of being implemented, the best chance of providing solid and predictable biological benefits and the best chance of benefiting the broadest range of species. The Caucus agencies can implement much of the All-H Strategy using existing authorities and capabilities. The Caucus agencies are entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that spells out how they implement the All-H Strategy. The MOU says the Caucus agencies will coordinate in planning and implementing actions across all Hs, as well as in executing their responsibilities to Indian tribes and living up to mandates under the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act and other laws that relate the conservation of fish in the Columbia River Basin.

The MOU sets up a general structure for federal recovery work and creates a Habitat Team to coordinate priorities and activities. The MOU also continues the forum established under the NMFS and USFWS Biological Opinions to coordinate hydro system operations. It commits the Caucus agencies to coordinate priorities for salmon recovery. The Federal Caucus will host regular meetings that are open to the public.

Partners in Success

Partnership is the key to a successful species recovery program. The Federal Caucus' Recovery Strategy depends on active and effective leadership from all parties and much greater coordination among federal, state, tribal and local agencies than ever before. The Caucus agencies intend their activities to complement and encourage other efforts.

The Federal Caucus designed the actions in the Recovery Strategy to dovetail with current recovery-related programs in the region. Rather than reinvent the recovery wheel, the Caucus determined ways its recommendations could be implemented as part of processes already in place, including the Council's fish and wildlife program, NMFS Biological Opinions and regional forum process, the USFWS Biological Opinion and the federal land management agencies' habitat programs.

The Caucus agencies will seek to merge the All-H strategies with other efforts in the region. The goal is to weave together threads of a number of disparate programs to create a unified, efficient approach that meets ESA recovery goals for fish and other aquatic species. The Caucus agencies will establish mechanisms to coordinate federal actions in each H with other efforts in the region. For hydropower, the agencies will continue to work through the regional forum process NMFS created with its Biological Opinions on salmon and steelhead. For habitat, the Caucus Habitat Team will coordinate efforts among the agencies and with the Council, whose fish and wildlife program is a logical place to include many habitat and hatchery measures. Harvest will continue to be coordinated through the existing forum in U.S. vs. Oregon and the Pacific Salmon Commission.

The Caucus agencies will share information on recovery efforts, including the status of progress and implementation plans with the region. Information will also be updated regularly on this Web site.

Web page updated on May 2, 2002