A general protocol for identifying and prioritizing restoration actions Tim Beechie NOAA Fisheries

Outline Review of prioritization approaches Three step planning process Set the restoration goal Identify restoration needs Prioritize proposed actions Recap

Six prioritization approaches Project type Refugia Decision support systems Single species Multi-species Cost effectiveness

Six prioritization approaches By project type Refugia Decision support systems Single species Multi-species Cost effectiveness Logic frameworks

Six prioritization approaches Project type Refugia Decision support systems Single species Multi-species Cost effectiveness Analytical frameworks

Information needs Prioritization approach Causes of impairment List of actions Biological benefit Cost Project type OX Refugia OX Decision support system OXOO Single species XXX Multiple species/ecosystem XXX Cost-effectiveness XXXX

Key steps in prioritizing actions Usually we are asked: How do we prioritize watershed restoration actions? The first question should be: What restoration actions do we need?

Three basic steps to follow Establish a restoration goal Decide what you are trying to accomplish Identify necessary restoration actions Identify important habitat changes Identify causes of habitat change Identify restoration actions Set priorities Use goal-driven evaluation criteria

Establish a restoration goal What are we trying to restore? A listed species? An ecosystem? A service? Are there any constraints? Local economy?

An example A goal for sustained ecosystem function: Support salmon recovery by restoring landscape processes that sustain aquatic habitats, while minimizing impacts on local economies

An example A goal for sustained ecosystem function: Support salmon recovery by restoring landscape processes that sustain aquatic habitats, while minimizing impacts on local economies

Identifying restoration needs Identify habitat change and biological consequences Identify causes of habitat change Identify restoration needs

Conduct watershed assessments Landscape Processes Land use Habitat Conditions Biological Response What are the causes of habitat change?

Conduct watershed assessments What are the causes of habitat change? Which habitat changes are most biologically important? Landscape Processes Land use Habitat Conditions Biological Response

Conduct watershed assessments Landscape Processes Land use Habitat Conditions Biological Response How might land use constraints limit what we do?

List process restoration needs Summarize process impairment by location Reach ProcessSub-Process 1234 HydrologyWater quantity MMLL Tidal exchange HM SedimentSediment delivery LMMH RiparianLWD Delivery MMHH Stream shading HHMM ChannelChannel migration HHHL Hydraulics HHHL Fish migration MLMM FloodplainSediment routing HHML Channel migration HHHL Beechie et al. in press

List necessary restoration actions Create the project list List all action types Specify project type Specify location Reach ProcessAction 1234 HydrologyCulvert redesign MMLL Replace tide-gate HM SedimentRoad repair LLMH RiparianRiparian thinning LLMM Replant riparian HHLL ConnectivityFish passage MLMM FloodplainLevee setback HMLL Levee removal HHLL Beechie et al. in press

Prioritize actions Cost-effectiveness example for passage projects Most fish per restoration dollar Probably a good approach for Russian River floodplain projects Site# fishcostCE $/fish Road NameStream AR ,600$100,000$2.81Maple St.Careys Cr AR ,300$100,000$0.16Pettit RoadCareys Slough AR ,000$30,000$0.75noneCareys Cr AR $100,000$0.32Hamilton RdRed Cabin Cr GN ,200$30,000$0.81noneunnamed LA ,000$250,000$1.95South SkagitDavis Slough PN5.1.19,410$30,000$3.19noneunnamed GN ,000$250,000$5.56South SkagitGilligan Cr GN ,250$30,000$7.06noneunnamed PN $250,000NASouth Skagitunnamed PN ,810$30,000$7.87noneunnamed

Prioritize actions Cost-effectiveness example for passage projects Most fish per restoration dollar Probably a good approach for Russian River floodplain projects Site# fishcostCE $/fish Road NameStream AR ,600$100,000$2.81Maple St.Carey’s Cr AR ,300$100,000$0.16Pettit RoadCarey’s Slough AR ,000$30,000$0.75noneCarey’s Cr AR $100,000$0.32Hamilton RdRed Cabin Cr GN ,200$30,000$0.81noneunnamed LA ,000$250,000$1.95South SkagitDavis Slough PN5.1.19,410$30,000$3.19noneunnamed GN ,000$250,000$5.56South SkagitGilligan Cr GN ,250$30,000$7.06noneunnamed PN $250,000NASouth Skagitunnamed PN ,810$30,000$7.87noneunnamed

Prioritize actions Scoring system example Addresses focal species Addresses causes Considers constraints Beechie et al. in press

Summary: three steps 1. Establish a restoration goal Decide what you are trying to accomplish 2. Identify necessary restoration actions Identify important habitat changes Identify causes of habitat degradation Identify restoration actions 3. Set priorities Use goal-driven evaluation criteria