Peer review of Klamath report available

In the photo, provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the sun rises over the Klamath River in Oregon.

From the agency, released today:

The Department of the Interior today publicly released the results from an independent peer review panel that evaluated the accuracy, clarity, thoroughness, and objectivity of the scientific findings in the draft Klamath Overview Report. The panel’s detailed findings and recommendations will help inform the rigorous and transparent scientific process concerning the potential removal of four privately owned dams on the Klamath River.

The peer review panel found generally that the report “connects to the sound science that underlies its conclusions, provides a depth of coverage suitable for the anticipated audience, and provides clearly stated concepts and conclusions,” and further finds that the “science appears to be reliable for a Secretarial Determination.” The panel also makes recommendations for how the final report can be edited to improve its effectiveness.

The peer-review report and its recommendations are available at www.KlamathRestoration.gov.

“These peer review recommendations will make for a more robust and effective report. That is exactly what is wanted out of a peer review process - a better science product, along with increased public confidence in the findings that come from our analyses,” stated Dennis Lynch, the U.S. Geological Survey Program Manager overseeing the science process for the Klamath Secretarial Determination.

The draft Klamath Overview Report, initially released January 2012, is one part of the overall multi-step science process for the Klamath Secretarial Determination. One step was the development of 50 federal science reports - all of which were subjected to a rigorous review, including, in many instances, peer review - completed in September 2011. Over 150 federal, state, and other subject-matter scientists, engineers, and technical experts were involved in conducting the studies and preparing the federal science reports.

A second step involved four independent expert panel reports on Klamath River fisheries that were published between January and July 2011. These expert panels, which were administered by Atkins North America, an independent consulting firm specializing in peer reviews, conducted their own assessment of the potential impacts of dam removal on the Klamath River fisheries.

The final step is the preparation of the draft Klamath Overview Report, which for the first time combines the findings and analyses of the 50 federal science reports and the four expert panel reports with other relevant reports, to provide a comprehensive scientific assessment of potential dam removal and implementation of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement on local communities, Indian Tribes, and the environment.

Facilitated by Atkins North America, a panel of six independent subject-matter experts from across the nation conducted the peer review of the draft Klamath Overview Report being released today.

Over the next few months, the federal agencies will finalize the Overview Report, taking into account the recommendations from the peer review panel. The Overview Report will provide foundational scientific information to inform a Secretarial Determination as to whether dam removal would advance salmon and steelhead fisheries in the basin and would be in the public interest.

The final Overview Report, the public comments, the panel peer review report and responses to all the peer review comments on the draft Overview Report will be available at www.KlamathRestoration.gov.

Dam-removal proponents including the Karuk Tribe, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, the Klamath Tribes and Trout Unlimited seized on the news with this release:

Today an independent panel of scientists released the Peer Review Panel Report on the Draft Klamath Dam Removal Overview Report for the Secretary of the Interior (2012). The Overview Report reviewed is a key document that the Secretary will rely on when considering whether or not removing Klamath River dams is in the Public Interest. Over 6,000 pages of scientific analyses informed the report.

According to reviewers, “the Overview Report connects to the sound science that underlies its conclusions, provides a depth of coverage suitable for the anticipated audience, and provides clearly stated concepts and conclusions.” (p.11) The review goes on to highlight specific areas where the SDOR could be improved upon including greater details on sediment transport and more thorough explanation of potential risks associated with dam removal.

According to several Parties to the Klamath Restoration Agreements, the scientific scrutiny and public involvement in the analysis of dam removal is both unprecedented and welcome. “This process goes far beyond what is required by law. We have now seen three separate tiers of independent expert review and all the data and reports are available online to anyone that wants to review it. We think this is good for the process,” said Glen Spain, Northwest Director for the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations.

The Secretary’s Overview Report is designed to be a synthesis of all the relevant data and reports related to the Klamath Agreements. The Overview Report is one of several information sources that will be considered by Secretary Salazar as he judges the pros and cons of implementing the Agreements. If implemented, the Agreements could lead to the removal of the lower 4 Klamath dams in 2020 as well as the implementation of a water sharing agreement between agricultural and fishing communities, significant fish habitat restoration, and increased water storage in the Basin. Implementation requires a decision by Secretary Salazar as to whether or not they are in the public interest as well as congressional authorization. The Klamath Basin Economic Restoration Act has been introduced in the Senate by Jeff Merkley (OR) and in the House by Mike Thompson (CA – Helena).

The rigor of the process is particularly appreciated by those downstream of the dams. According to Leaf Hillman, Director of the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources, “It is critical to get the science right. The Karuk Tribe and everyone else downstream of the dams want to be as confident as possible that dam removal is safe and will aid the recovery of our fisheries.”

The Peer Review Panel Report on Draft Klamath Dam Removal Overview Report for the Secretary of the Interior (2012) is available at www.klamathrestoration.gov.

According to the Report, “The peer review is also required to fulfill the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance to federal agencies for a rigorous peer review process for Highly Influential Scientific Assessments (Office of Management and Budget 2004) and the White House Memorandum on Scientific Integrity (White House Memorandum 2009). …The credibility and public acceptance of a report increases with a rigorous review process in an open and transparent fashion that includes public participation.”

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