Justification - Elwha Ecosystem Restoration

Project Title: Elwha Ecosystem Restoration citizen science monitoring (dam removal monitoring)

Program Office Sponsoring or Conducting this CSC Project: NMFS/NWFSC/Fish Ecology Division

Authority for this CSC Project: CCSA, MSA, ESA, NEEA, EO12898

Purpose of this CSC Project: This project continues the long-term monitoring of restorative effects of dam removal on Elwha River ecosystem

Type(s) of Information Collected and From Whom It Is Collected: Field data are collected in the nearshore, the estuary, and river on physical, chemical, and biological response variables by volunteers, including independent individuals as well as those associated with non-profit organizations, state, local, tribal, and federal governments, and schools.

Use of the Information: NMFS uses that information to continue to track long-term effects of dam removals.

Method(s) of Information Collection: Primarily field data sheets; some automated collection via data loggers; iNaturalist

Affected Public: Individuals, non-profit organizations, state, local, tribal, and federal governments, including schools

Estimated Average Annual Number of Participants: 200

Estimated Average Annual Number of Responses per Participant: 2

Estimated Average Minutes per Response: 60

Estimated Average Annual Burden Hours: 400

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Participants in this CSC Project: $0

Estimated Average Annual Costs to the Federal Government: $41,434

Estimated Average Annual Number of Federal Government Employees (FTEs): 0.25

Recruitment and Retention Methods for Voluntary Participants (SSA item 1): In collaboration with project partners, we have created a CSC intern position sponsored by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. This intern will help coordinate and support CSC activities between the Elwha Tribe, NOAA Scientists, other agency collaborators, and the public. We are also in the process of establishing a local gear-lending library where volunteers can check out necessary safety equipment (chest-waders, boots, etc.) so that cost is not a barrier to involvement. Because we are partnering with existing local organizations with a long history of environmental education and working with the public (Nature Bridge, Clallam Co Streamkeepers, etc.), we have built in support for recruitment and retention. Various NOAA scientists involved in Elwha long-term monitoring also engage in outreach work in the process of normal data-collection duties, thus building important relationships with volunteers that aids in retention. Furthermore, we are developing a public-facing data portal where volunteers will be able to verify in a very tangible way how their efforts are contributing to long-term research goals.

Gifts or Payments (SSA Item 9): We do not plan to provide a gift or payment to the voluntary participants.

Annual and Multi-Year Schedules (SSA Item 16): This project “officially” began in the spring of 2022. It is hoped that it will continue to run for decades, as that is the appropriate monitoring timeline for a restoration action of this scale. We envision that more of the data collection will eventually shift to the local community and away from NOAA, as funding for long-term monitoring is not well supported by the agency. We are in the process of completing a report on the first year of this effort. The expected completion date is Feb. 2023. Thereafter, the role of the CSC Intern will be to provide annual updates on the status of CSC on the Elwha.

Display OMB Control No. and Expiration Date (SSA Item 17): This information will be provided when individuals sign up to participate in this CSC project.

Statistical Methods: This CSC project will not employ statistical methods. We will revisit this question later once we have the various projects up and running.

Approval for Pretesting: This CSC project will not require additional pretesting with more than nine members of the public.

Supplemental Documents: There are two supplemental documents for this CSC project. One provides educational and recruitment information and the other provides information on the free cell phone app HOBOconnect, which the volunteers use to download data from temperature loggers.

CERTIFICATION: I certify the following are true.

1. The collection is voluntary.

2. The collection is low-burden for respondents and low-cost for the Federal Government.

3. The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues of concern to other federal agencies.

4. The collection will not include highly influential scientific information, ,which is information NOAA or OMB determines: (i) could have a potential impact of more than $500 million in any year, or (ii) is novel, controversial, or precedent setting or has significant interagency interest.

5. The collection complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

6. The collection will provide qualitative and quantitative data that help inform scientific research and monitoring, validate models or tools, support STEM learning, and enhance the quantity and quality of data collected to support NOAA’s mission.

Name: Sarah Morley