I. Background

The Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (Program) establishes an Independent Scientific Advisory Committee (ISAC) to accomplish the purposes specified in this charter. The ISAC will provide independent scientific advice to the Executive Director (ED) and to the Governance Committee (GC), as requested, on scientific issues during the First Increment of the Program. The ISAC will be composed of approximately five independent scientists knowledgeable in technical areas critical to the implementation of the Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) (Program Attachment 3).

II. Membership

Members of the ISAC should be experienced scientists with demonstrated achievement and high standing in their field. They will be chosen to fill specific areas of expertise that are needed by the Program. There should be a balance between scientists with specific knowledge of the Platte River basin and those with more broad and diverse experience. Members will be expected to provide objective scientific advice in a timely and professional manner, and work effectively in multi-disciplinary setting. ISAC membership will be open to individuals employed by all agencies, institutions, and organizations, with the exception that members may not be salaried employees of members of the GC or organizations with specific mandated representation on the Land Advisory Committee, Water Advisory Committee, or Technical Advisory Committee.

Appointment Procedures
Members of the ISAC will be appointed by the GC. The GC will base their appointments on candidates submitted by a Selection Panel selected by the GC and convened by the ED. The Panel will review nominees and make recommendations to the GC. Nominations to the ISAC shall be solicited from the GC, sponsoring entities, as well as other agencies, groups, professional societies, the National Research Council, and the public. While nominations to the ISAC may come from any of a variety of sources, members of the ISAC are independent scientists and do not represent the interests of the nominating entity or any other entity. The Selection Panel will pay careful attention to suggestions by advisory committees and the GC regarding membership and needed expertise. A selection panel will be convened when vacancies arise on the ISAC.

Length of Appointments
The initial appointment to the ISAC will be for one to three years. Appointments can be renewed as requested by the GC.

Membership Considerations
Considerations will include, but not be limited to, the following when members are selected:

1. High achievement in a relevant scientific discipline which may include biology, ecology, fisheries, hydrology, river geomorphology, statistics, wildlife ecology, and other relevant disciplines.
2. A strong record of scientific accomplishment documented by contribution to the peer-reviewed literature or other evidence of creative scientific accomplishment.
3. High standards of scientific integrity, independence, and objectivity.
4. Ability to forge creative solutions to complex problems.
5. Interest in and ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary setting.

III. Committee purposes

The ISAC is to foster a scientific approach to adaptive management, monitoring, and research in meeting the goals and objectives of the Program by providing advice to the GC and the ED. The ISAC must retain as much independence from the adaptive management program as possible. This independence requires that their role focuses on reviewing products produced by the Program.

The tasks to be undertaken by ISAC will be identified in a scope of work prepared by the ED and approved by the GC. The tasks may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

1. Advise the ED and GC on the implementation of the AMP in two primary areas:
   1. The ISAC should provide an independent opinion on the design of the adaptive management program and associated monitoring and research, most likely after completion of the final AMP and first-year work plan in October 2006 and in subsequent years. The focus of this opinion should be on the scientific rigor of the proposed management activities and associated monitoring and research.
   2. The ISAC should be asked to review the scientific information collected and to provide their opinion of these results in terms of the response (or lack of response) to management interventions.
2. Respond to specific questions of scientific nature from the GC and ED. Questions for consideration by the ISAC should be submitted through the ED.
3. Advise the GC and the ED on the need for additional peer review.

IV. Committee procedures

1. The ISAC shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chair annually, with such selection being noted in the official minutes of the meeting where elections are held.
2. The Chair, and Vice Chair in his/her absence, is the executive officer of the ISAC. The Chair conducts the meetings; seeing that business is conducted in a timely and efficient manner and that each member has the opportunity to be heard.
3. The ED will provide administrative oversight and staff support to the ISAC.
4. The ED will act as the point of contact for requests to the ISAC. The ED will ensure that these communications are conveyed to the ISAC.
5. ISAC will receive a stipend to be determined by the GC. Members not otherwise reimbursed by agencies or institutions may request reimbursement of actual expenses and per diem associated with attending ISAC meetings or other activities as directed by the ED or GC. The ED will work with the appropriate entities to develop the procedure for reimbursement requests.

The organizational structure of the Program is presented in Attachment 6 to the Program Document (see page 713).