WDFW Selected InterLocking Software Corporation for Their Online Habitat Work Schedule

Poulsbo, WA, June 14, 2007 – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has selected InterLocking Software (ILSC) to develop an On-Line Habitat Work Schedule Database (HWS). This database will put projects associated to the State’s numerous salmon recovery plans online so they can be accessed by the public. Now anyone in the community will be able to view the projects in their backyard or in other parts of the State online, in a secure system. Non-sensitive project information such as photos, descriptions, maps, and organizations involved in the projects will be accessible with a click of a button and without jumping around through multiple websites. Projects will be updated routinely so natural resource managers and the public will be able to see the progress of recovery plans in real time.

In addition to public access, the database is a robust tool for natural resource managers to manage projects from conception to completion. All information collected during the life time of a project can now be organized within in a single database. Having a single database alleviates the former issue of data being naturally scattered in different offices, on different computers and even at times lost. Richard Brocksmith, Lead Entity Coordinator with Hood Canal Coordinating Council adds that “the HWS will be a great benefit to coordinating and publicizing our efforts in that it is a one-stop shop for project managers, funding agencies, cooperating partners, landowners, and the general public to track project-specific information.” This coordination at the local levels makes it simpler to roll project information up to the State.

Finally, organizations that fund grants are routinely looking for projects. HWS will allow funders a one-stop-shop to search for projects that meet their funding criteria.

HWS is currently in development and scheduled for completion in fall 2007. This database is built upon the existing framework for ILSC’s product EKO-System Version 3.0; currently in use by some of the State’s most progressive natural resource management organizations: Nisqually Tribe, Snake River Salmon Recovery Board, and Asotin County Conservation District.

Bob Johnston, COO of ILSC, says, “When it comes to salmon recovery, we are proud to be part of the solution. 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.”

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife expect to train their users on the system by October 2007.

About InterLocking Software

InterLocking Software Corporation is a privately held corporation and is the exclusive marketing agency for software systems designed by its affiliate company, Paladin Data Systems in Poulsbo, Washington. InterLocking Software is the leading provider of integrated e-Government solutions for state, county, and local jurisdictions. For more information about InterLocking Software Corporation, please call 866-866-1214, or visit www.interlockingsoftware.com.

For More information about Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Work Schedule, contact Sara Simrell at 360-394-5923, or ssimrell@eko-system.us.