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AMPC reviews amphibian research options as funding uncertainty slows decisions
Summary
At an AMPC meeting, staff and scientists presented research options and cost scenarios to answer two amphibian monitoring questions; members agreed to continue discussion in September amid uncertainty about biennial funding and a governor signing letter restricting some spending.
The Adaptive Management Planning Committee (AMPC) met to review a scoping proposal and research options to answer two monitoring questions about covered amphibian species. Presenters from the research team summarized findings from a literature review and offered seven research options, with timeframes and cost ranges, for members to consider.
Presenters told the committee that broad-scale distributions are reasonably known but that watershed- and reach-scale occurrence, detection probabilities, demographic rates and population trends are poorly documented. "We can't tell you how many of these species occur in the state of Oregon or anywhere like that, honestly," Jessica said, underscoring the foundational nature of the proposed research. Committee members pressed for clarity on priorities and trade-offs between sampling many watersheds versus intensive repeat sampling at fewer sites.
Budget constraints were central to the meeting. Terry summarized existing appropriations and obligations, saying the state currently has about $5.6 million in amphibian research allocations across biennia but, after prior commitments and a potential $500,000 reallocation, "there's about $2,800,000 of potential balance" available in the current biennium. Seth said, "I personally need time to digest this and then talk to folks and then bring it back," and the committee agreed to continue work toward a possible September vote rather than make a decision immediately.
The AMPC formed a small subcommittee to draft goals and prepare for a more detailed September discussion. The subcommittee will refine priorities and recommend whether to move forward with a combined, phased, or more modest initial research scope based on available funding and the HCP timeline.
