The Pacific Salmon Information Network (PSIN) is an information technology in support of the Pacific Salmon Recovery effort. PSIN has a half-day meeting approximately every two months.

Meeting agendas, venues, etc. are established by a small PSIN Planning Committee. Current members of the Planning committee are Jim Kramer, Consultant to the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding (SRF) Board; Steve Moddenmeyer, Seattle Public Utilities; Jeff Richey, University of Washington – PRISM; Lynn Singleton, Washington Governor’s Salmon Office; Nancy Tosta, Consultant to the National Marine Fisheries Service; and Gene Thorley, U.S. Geological Survey.

PSIN has had six meetings of the general membership since September 1999 and has produced an Inventory of Salmon Information Resources and a prototype Pacific Northwest Salmon Recovery Atlas. PSIN also has a Decision Support Working Group that is evaluating the usefulness of decision support systems to assist the Pacific Salmon Recovery effort.

PSIN like WAGIC, is an example of a self organized group of individuals and institutions that have come together to address a common interest - to improve information sharing and the use of information technologies in support of the Pacific Salmon Recovery effort. PSIN encourages the sharing of critical geospatial data, and the use of powerful information technologies (such as Geographic Information Systems and decision support tools) to assist in the salmon recovery effort. Thus there is a considerable overlap in the interest of the participants in WAGIC and PSIN! WAGIC also hosts the PSIN Inventory of Salmon Information Resources on the WAGIC Clearinghouse.

PSIN differs from WAGIC in that it focuses its activities on a simple issue – support of the Pacific Salmon Recovery effort. PSIN also is broader in geographic scope, encompassing the entire habitat range of Pacific Salmon. (e.g. Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Alaska, and etc.)

PSIN, like WAGIC, is challenged to develop a process that enables participation of interested individuals and institutions located in different geographies. WAGIC has made very effective use of the Washington State DIS Video conferencing system to link in different geographies in the state to WAGIC meetings. PSIN is requesting WAGIC to sponsor a one-time demonstration of the DIS Video conferencing capability as a possible approach to linking in different geographies to PSIN meetings.

One of WAGIC’S four strategic goals is to "preserve the diversity of our national heritage by improving the availability of natural resource data and more effectively using geographic information to manage our natural resources." PSIN is furthering this goal through its activities in support of the Pacific Salmon Recovery effort. Through PSIN meetings information availability, usability, and management issues are discussed. GIS presentations are given focusing on the attainability of data, validity and transformations. PSIN activities benefit WAGIC by performing information technology coordination for the natural resource of salmon, across a broader geography. PSIN is effective and supportive of information activities that may lead to a more coordinated approach of data sharing for the specific theme of Pacific Salmon Recovery.

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