Purpose
To accelerate development of solutions to priority threatened and endangered species (TES) issues that will improve budget planning capabilities and operational flexibility and reduce future costs and adverse impacts to USACE mission execution.
Team
The USACE TEST approach will be coordinated by USACE Headquarters staff and ERDC scientists in collaboration with District/Division staff. This coordination team will be responsible for:
- Prioritizing TES issues, developing collaboration and investment strategies, and measuring progress
- Provide guidance, and programmatic and expert support to the field targeted teams
The TEST approach will result in the formation of several targeted teams, each focused on progress in one or more TES areas of USACE interest. These targeted teams will be responsible for accomplishing the following basic functions.
- Issue reconnaissance; Alternative solutions analyses; Solution development
- Solution deployment; Field implementation; Solution assessment and transfer
Depending on the issue(s) targeted for solution development, one or several divisions/districts, and non-USACE stakeholders may be engaged. The composition of the teams will remain flexible and evolve as needed during the process from issue reconnaissance through to solution development, implementation, and transfer. The list below identifies a range of TEST participants who may be resourced.
Goals
- Develop and sustain the organizational capability and technical team needed to address and resolve TES issues in a timely and cost-effective manner
- Address priority, resolvable issues; Collaborate broadly for strategic development of solutions with an anticipated high return on investment over time
- Provide the science, methods, and support for more efficient and effective engagement with resource agencies for consultations and reconsultations
- Implement solutions and transfer technology and methods to enable a substantial reduction in TES-related costs across mission areas