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management in the Columbia River Basin depends on decisions made in four areas: 

 hydropower operations, hatchery reform, habitat protection, and harvest regulation. 

 Implementation would be comprised of actions more consistently focused on clearly 

 achieving the established goals, objectives and targets as well as identified critical 

 uncertainties. Evaluation would include not only the comprehensive monitoring and 

 assessment of results of individual projects but would aggregate the findings and 

 apply them to the system and basin level. Most significantly, findings fi-om the 

 Evaluation would be assessed and incorporated into an almost continuous update 

 process of the basic plan to ensure success would be repeated and failure avoided 



We feel that when measured against this idealized planning model, the Strategy for 

 Salmon can hold its own in many areas. The objectives of doubling the run and 

 maintaining diversity are understandable and appropriate Recognition of a 

 watershed/ecosystem approach to habitat and production improvements is 

 biologically sound. Specific measurable targets are defined to some extent by the 

 program measures and correlate back to the doubling and/or diversity objectives. 

 BPA has identified 117 individual actions that primarily address salmon for 

 implementation. Development and application of performance standards that relate 

 to actual biological results has been requested of implementing agencies and fishery 

 managers. The Council has stated its commitment 'to a stringent program of 

 monitoring and evaluating progress to ensure that the region's investment in salmon 

 pays ofiF.' Monitoring and evaluation is also recognized as 'a critical step in carrying 

 out an adaptive management approach to salmon and steelhead rebuilding.' These 

 are all strengths of the Strategy and will contribute to restoring salmon. 



Though adequate to provide basic direction, the Strategy could be improved to 

 become the comprehensive salmon restoration plan for the Basin The Development 



