POULSBO — Little Norway’s InterLocking Software Corporation has ventured into the realm of science with its new online Habitat Work Schedule (HWS) database development. The system was recently selected by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and will allow area residents easy up-to-date access to the status of salmon recovery projects occurring in their own backyards.

The secure system offers non-senstive state project information, including photos, descriptions, maps and involved organizations to the curious public with a simple click of a button, allowing those interested real-time access to the progress of area salmon recovery efforts.

“When it comes to salmon recovery, we are proud to be part of the solution,” said ILSC Chief Operations Officer Bob Johnston. “There is so much effort on the ground by so many organizations that it becomes challenging for natural resource managers to see the big picture. HWS will finally consolidate mass amounts of data so that information is more readily available for better decision making.”

Aside from providing public access, HWS will act as a tool for natural resource managers in supervising projects from their conception to completion. The database stores information in one usable place, whereas previous information collected by the state was often scattered. It also provides grant-funders with a one-stop-shop to search for projects that meet their funding criteria.

Congressman Norm Dicks commended the WDFW for its implementation of ILSC’s software system, which he said will be a valuable tool.

“This is a huge step forward to recovering salmon,” he said. “Natural resource managers need data to make the best decisions possible. Without the Habitat Work Schedule, gathering that valuable data is an overwhelming challenge.”

Tim Smith WDFW special assistant to the director said the system will help to ensure the state’s success in salmon recovery projects.

“The HWS gives local watersheds the opportunity to plan and prioritize their salmon recovery activities at an ecosystem scale, and the ability to identify and address all aspects of salmon recovery,” he said. “The state’s salmon recovery lead entities are in position to make salmon recovery successful if we can continue to provide them high-quality tools, like HWS.”

The database was built on ILSC’s existing framework for their EKO-System Version 3.0, which is currently used by some of the state’s most progressive natural resource management organizations, including Nisqually Tribe, Snake River Salmon Recovery Board and Asotin County Conservation District.

Training for natural resource professionals will begin this month. The database will be made available to the public beginning Oct. 1 and all projects will be uploaded into the online HWS by the end of this year.

ILSC is a leading provider of integrated e-Government solutions for state, county and local jurisdictions. For more information about InterLocking Software Corporation, visit www.interlockingsoftware.com.