Attachment 1: Ground Rules
Attachment 2: 2009-2012 MRP/SSP NPS Review Presentation
Attachment 3: NPS Desired Future Conditions
Attachment 4: DOI Organizational Structure Including Location of GCMRC
Attachment 5: Proposed MRP Summary Table for each Project Area
Attachment: Historical Timeline
Problem:
The National Park Service and the United States Geological Survey’s Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center experienced long-standing tensions over how research was conducted at the Grand Canyon. The disagreement came to a head when the NPS denied an application for research permits from the GCMRC. Both agencies agreed to meet to discuss how they could work together more productively.
Participants:
•USGS staff
•NPS staff
Process:
As background, interviews were conducted with staff members from both agencies and others to identify the issues and gather information about the agencies’ differing roles. A timeline was prepared outlining historical events relevant to the agencies’ relationship and the current dispute.
At a meeting with staff from the two agencies, the group reviewed the timeline, added their individual times with their agencies to the timeline, and made corrections. They asked not to review the interview report. In small groups, they drafted statements of the roles of the two agencies, with two statements receiving the most approval from the group:
•GCMRC: Inform decision-makers with policy neutral scientific information; advocate for use of science in the Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) process; work within the framework of the AMP. Also the provider of science to the Department of the Interior.
•GCNPS: Protect, preserve, and manage Grand Canyon / Glen Canyon for the benefit of present and future generations; and acquire science to implement and support management decisions.
The small groups then met again to identify the problems between the two agencies and brainstorm potential solutions.
Product:
The group identified a list of actions to be taken to improve the relationship between the two agencies:
•Stretch the timeline for development of FY 2010-11 workflow and the update of the Monitoring and Research Plan and SSP.
•Sit down together at a meeting to discuss the status of the 2009 permits.
•Meet together to revise the 2009-2013 MRP.
•Meet on the 2010 and 2011 work plans, and discuss the necessity of the work and any permitting concerns.
•Conduct a workshop on the permitting process.
•The DOI regional directors will strategize on how all members of the DOI family can convene to modify the existing AMP process.
