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Habitat Work Schedule (HWS)
Have you ever wondered what's going on with salmon restoration in your watershed, who's doing the work, where the projects are located, and how you can get involved in these efforts? Thanks to a joint effort by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and local watershed groups, searching for restoration projects is as easy as finding directions on MapQuest®. Now you are just a mouse click away from the Habitat Work Schedule (HWS) system, a web-based salmon habitat project database that can be accessed at http://hws.ekosystem.us/
This new HWS system provides information about Washington's Salmon Recovery Lead Entity program. The Lead Entity program is a watershed- and community-based approach developed by the legislature as part of salmon recovery. The 27 Lead Entities across Washington develop locally supported, science-based restoration projects. This process has been successful by involving the public in salmon restoration.
The Lead Entity HWS system is the mapping and project-tracking tool that allows Lead Entities to share their habitat protection and restoration projects with the public. The HWS system makes it easier to communicate actions laid out in the watershed salmon recovery plans. By mapping projects, linking them to each other and recovery goals, and making it all available on the web, Lead Entities can now make salmon recovery projects more accessible to their partners, potential funding sources, and the public.
 Key features of the HWS system are:
- Easy to use
- Optional privacy and security features
- Data sharing and transfer methods
- Fast mapping and project search tools
- Advanced reporting and export capabilities
There are two ways to access the HWS system: the public portal and a login portal. The public portal is open to anyone with Internet access, and one can search for projects using the map or a keyword (Figure 1). The public can navigate maps to view and compare projects in their watersheds. When the user scrolls over a project icon (Figure 2), a text box appears summarizing the project. Users can click the “View Project” icon, and a window will appear to provide more detail, including a description, goals and objectives, charts illustrating progress, limiting factors, species affected, contact information, and other information the project manager wants to share. Each project page also allows a user to view posted photos, maps, and documents.
Users can also learn about projects by clicking on specific Lead Entity watersheds (Figure 3). This provides a more detailed view of projects, along with a homepage for each Lead Entity. This part of the site helps Lead Entities better communicate with community and citizen groups. Lead Entities can share documents and post messages to this site.
The system’s login portal is for advanced users such as Lead Entities and project sponsors who need to manage projects, Query reports, and conduct data entry. In addition to the features available in the public portal, login users can manage budgets, timelines, and tasks; upload, download and manipulate maps; and generate advanced reports.
Information security is a key component of HWS. Lead Entity administrators set the security levels for all login users, thereby ensuring sensitive project information is not distributed inappropriately. All project data reside in a secure location hosted by Paladin Data Systems, Inc., and are accessible at all times.
The HWS system brings together Lead Entity habitat projects in one place. This allows other organizations to post and share projects with the public through the Lead Entities. In fact, a goal of the HWS System is to reach out to other organizations that are instrumental in actually putting salmon recovery projects on the ground. These other organizations may include watershed health groups, regional fish enhancement groups, regional recovery organizations, conservation districts, land trusts, Tribes, and federal, state and local governments.
As organizations grow more sophisticated and restoration projects become increasingly complex, these projects require a broader suite of funding. One of the hopes is that the HWS system will make it easier to link high priority restoration projects with appropriate funding sources.
Strong partnerships and information tools like the HWS system will leave a legacy for future generations who want to know how local communities worked to protect and restore salmon habitat in Washington State.
To learn more about salmon recovery in your watershed, visit the HWS website and contact your local Lead Entity Coordinator. To learn more about the HWS system, contact Erik Neatherlin, 360-902-2559, neathean@dfw.wa.gov
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The login portal
