KLAMATH BASIN SCIENCE CONFERENCE

Where: Red Lion Hotel - Medford, Oregon
When: February 1-5, 2010

Purpose:  The U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA Fisheries, and partners will host a Klamath Basin Science Conference in Medford, Oregon, February 1 through 5, 2010.

Science themes will focus on the current understanding of the Klamath River Basin ecosystem with an emphasis on water resources availability, quality, and aquatic ecosystems. The purpose is to build scientific collaboration and to identify gaps in the science that must be filled to inform land, water, and fisheries managers, and the public, about the current status and future scenarios of natural resource uses in the basin. Land and water-use activities and aquatic linkages in the basin, as well as estuary and nearshore habitats and fishery populations will be discussed. The expected outcome of the conference is that information needs and science priorities will be identified, discussed, and synthesized in light of possible dam removals, potential climate change effects, endangered species management, salmon reintroduction and recovery, invasive species, and the need to provide water for agricultural and other human uses.

The conference will include plenary sessions, presentations, posters, and expert panel and breakout sessions among scientists, resource managers, and policy makers to review new information about the physical and biological resources and aquatic ecosystem of the basin. Key terrestrial processes and aquatic linkages in the upper and lower river sub basins, including the Trinity River, estuary and nearshore marine will be discussed. Special scientific attention will be given to hydrology, geomorphology, water- and land-use trends, aquatic communities, fish health and disease, threatened and endangered fishes, and other culturally important or ecologically significant species of the Klamath Basin. The meeting will examine ecosystem attributes and the stressors that affect them and this information will assist responsible agencies in the selection of reliable indicators of status and system health.

Scope and Content:  The Secretary of the Interior has been invited to provide an opening address to the conference.

The first full day of the conference will be introductory providing attendees with perspectives from federal, state, and tribal entities about their science needs and priorities within the Klamath Basin. Current understanding of the Klamath River Basin ecosystem will be explored in the afternoon. Technical and breakout sessions on days two through four will address the state of knowledge regarding key species of interest, physical habitats, and information needs in the basin. Thematic areas include modeling; water resources and quality; terrestrial, riparian, and wetland processes; freshwater and marine habitats and communities; restoration ecology; and climate change. A series of poster sessions in the evenings and an afternoon of concurrent sessions for oral presentations will provide additional opportunities for presenting current science activities. The conference will close with a session that will inform senior regional managers and other stakeholders about the critical information needs for science and adaptive management.

General Information:  Participation by resource managers and scientists, and stakeholders, at all levels and backgrounds, especially students, is encouraged. Information about on-line conference registration and hotel reservations will be included on the Klamath Basin Science Conference website (under development). Attendees will be able to register for the conference and hotel through the website. On-site registration will be possible between 5:00 and 7:00 pm on Monday, February 1 and between 7:00 and 8:00 am on Tuesday through Thursday. Participants will receive a conference program and other materials as part of their registration package.

The conference will open at 8:00 am on Tuesday, February 2 and close at noon on Friday,
February 5. A welcome reception is scheduled for the evening of Monday, February 1. A
summary of the scientific recommendations and priorities will sent to all conference registrants.