Adaptive Environmental Management

This website has been developed to report and track the progress of the Adaptive Environmental Management (AEM) for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project. The Adaptive Management Team (AMT) meets quarterly to discuss relevant technical data and adaptive management practices as needed. Information on all data collected and reports generated for this project along with information on all AMT meetings is available below.
The primary purpose of the AEM plan and its implementation is to manage the channel improvement project in an adaptive manner to avoid or minimize physical-chemical impacts in relation to channel deepening in the lower Columbia River and estuary. Importantly, the AEM process will evaluate the effectiveness of compliance measures, monitoring actions and research to ensure that project construction, operation and maintenance have impacts no greater than those described in the Biological Assessment or the Biological Opinion.
The AEM plan for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project emphasizes the following components: management goals and objectives, a management and decision-making process, identification of existing and proposed monitoring actions, identification of models that may prove useful in assessing outcomes of management decisions, a methodology for examining uncertainties, opportunities for stakeholder input and overall transparency of the AEM process.
The AEM plan also identifies federal (National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and state (Washington, Oregon) agencies, as well as the sponsor ports as principal partners in the AEM process.

Documents

Adaptive Environmental Management Plan - March 2006
Adaptive management prescribes an iterative management process wherein management activities can be changed in relation to their efficacy in restoring and/or maintaining an ecological system in some desired range of conditions. This document describes a strategic approach to AEM for the Lower Columbia River and estuary. It also addresses the specific design and implementation of an AEM Plan and Process in support of the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project.

Provisions for implementation are primarily based on the CRCIP Final Supplemental Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (FSIFR/EIS, January 2003), the NMFS Biological Opinion (February 2005, May 2002) and the Section 401 Water Quality Certification issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Washington Department of Ecology (June 2003).
Columbia River Channel Improvement Project Adaptive Environmental Management Plan (entire document) (1.5 MB)
Table of Contents (75 KB)
Executive Summary (116 KB)
Part 1 - Strategic Plan (174 KB)
Part 2 - Channel Improvement AEM Plan (222 KB)
Part 3 - Technical Support of the AEM Plan (162 KB)
Part 4 - Broader Considerations in AEM Planning (97 KB)
List of Acronyms (42 KB)
Appendix A - Salmonid Conceptual Models (114 KB)
Appendix B - Adaptive Management Team Organization & Plan of Operation (128 KB)
Appendix C - Adaptive Management Section 401 Water Quality Certification (53 KB)
Appendix D - Decision Criteria (924 KB)
Appendix E - Combined Conditions (529 KB)
References (47 KB)
Adaptive Management Team Workbook
These links show records of decision for each monitoring action in the Adaptive Management Team's workbook. Items are discussed and updated at the quarterly meetings. Additionally, annual status tracking reports are prepared for the Monitoring Actions, which show the group's progress regarding each action. Records of Decision

Status Tracking Reports
Adaptive Management Team Quarterly Meetings
Quarterly meetings have been conducted for the Adaptive Environmental Management of the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project since December 2004. Notes from the meetings since 2006 are available below.
Adaptive Management Team Annual Reports
The results of the CRCIP Adaptive Management Team's monitoring and decision-making are described and summarized each year in an annual report. The 2006 Annual Report documents the results of the Adaptive Environmental Management for the Phase I construction that was completed Jan. 31, 2006. This annual report also briefly describes the major issues and their resolution for calendar year 2005. The 2007 Annual Report documents project construction that was completed by Jan. 31, 2007.
Subsequent annual reports will similarly refer back to earlier years to maintain continuity throughout the reporting of the AEM for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project.
2010 Annual Report, updated Nov. 2011
2009 Annual Report
2008 Annual Report
2007 Annual Report
2006 Annual Report

Official website of the Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  |  Updated: May 15, 2012 
DISCLAIMER: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' use of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement of linked external web sites nor information, products or services contained therein, and USACE has no editorial control over content provided by external sites. Click here to email the Webmaster about this site.