USACE Grant: Updating the Standard Assessment Methodology (SAM) Model for Sacramento River Basin Fish Habitat Assessment

The proposed agreement will have two primary objectives: 1) to collaboratively develop a revised SAM habitat model for salmonids (green sturgeon optional) in the Sacramento River Basin, and 2) to ensure certification of the new SAM model as an effective tool for assessing the impacts of bank protection projects and related habitat mitigation on fish habitat in the Sacramento River Basin. The revised SAM habitat model will be designed to accommodate additional environmental parameters identified through recent monitoring activities. The model should be sufficiently robust to allow evaluation of a broad range of resource management activities and flexible enough to add new species criteria and permit integration with other models / components for a comprehensive ecosystem analysis.

 Specific tasks include management of habitat model design and implementation, coordination with USACE and other agencies to write a model development plan and to oversee model development, technical support through the certification process, and training to prepare USACE personnel and others. An optional task to develop a model to assess effects on green sturgeon habitat may also be sought.