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agencies. Tribes and the local residents will be able to use in prioritizing 

 development and responding to salmon restoration issues. 



Another example of an overly optimistic schedule in the Strategy for Salmon \z the 

 study to identify captive l^ropd stock research needs, and to subsequently fund the 

 research and a demonstration project. The complexity of this issue, plus the needed 

 coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service (Fisheries Service) require 

 considerably more time than the six months allocated for completion by the 

 program. We currently have a contract with the Fisheries Service to conduct a 

 literature search of existing captive brood stock programs and to make 

 recommendations for subsequent actions. We have made a good faith effort to 

 implement this measure, and will continue to proceed with the subsequent steps in a 

 timely manner. 



The second part of your question concerns the adequacy of coordination among 

 Federal and state agencies, the Council, and others to achieve timely 

 implementation. In our view, coordination can be improved However, the 

 Council's and the region's emerging emphasis on a more systematic, ecosystem 

 driven program will encourage such coordination. For example, addressing weak 

 stock management in the Columbia River Basin depends on decisions made in four 

 areas: hydropower operations, hatchery reform, habitat protection, and harvest 

 regulations. No one agency oversees or manages all four areas. Previous efforts to 

 deal with salmon stocks in the Columbia River Basin were affected by this 

 fragmentation: The Council's Strategy for Salmon recognizes the need to integrate 

 these areas, and encourages and promotes coordination among all the agencies with 

 authority and responsibility for management. 



