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stage does not recognize nor address all of the significant activities that contribute 

 to the reduced returns of salmon. If an ecosystem approach is to be followed by the 

 Council, ocean survival and its related issues need to be added to the Strategy. 

 Similarly, harvest needs to be incorporated so that all life-cycle impacts can be 

 equally addressed along with smolt survival The addition of projects for species 

 other than salmon and especially the incorporation of Phase 4, Resident Fish and 

 Wildlife into the Council's 1993 Fish and Wildlife Program creates conflicts as to 

 prioritization for implementation and the allocation of resources All recommended 

 actions have to be clearly tied to biological needs The Council needs to vigorously 

 pursue measures in the Strategy that require the development of performance 

 standards as points of reference from which to monitor and evaluate changes 

 brought about by an action. Satisfaction of the standards will start to bring 

 accountability to the effort. Adaptive management, the equivalent of the Evaluation 

 stage, needs to be institutionalized and then applied. Greater flexibility is needed to 

 quickly incorporate what is learned from monitoring and evaluation and to change 

 existing program measures accordingly Finally, a system of crediting, through 

 which BPA and the rate payer can understand how current program actions 

 contribute to offsetting total obligations, needs to be incorporated If these 

 suggestions and the four stage approach or its equivalent were to be adopted, the 

 Strategy for Salmon could become the comprehensive guidance the region needs to 

 restore salmon in the Columbia River Basin 



