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There is no overall priority for investment decisions. Regional, 

 state and tribal plans present a smorgasbord of measures. Some 

 investments conflict and diminish the effectiveness of others. A large 

 number of jurisdictions are involved. Typically four states, a number 

 of Tribes, as many as seven federal agencies (depending on the issue) 

 several utilities, and many coordinating and consensus building 

 organizations are involved. In total more than 35 organizations are 

 involved in management decisions for salmon. 



Because of this complexity the region has often resorted to the 

 lowest common denominator decision making called consensus. Often 

 a consensus can not be reached and actions are delayed or not taken 

 at all. 



The Recovery team is convinced that the current decision- 

 making process has lead to a "tragedy for salmon" that must be 

 changed. 



At present no one is in charge. The Recovery Team concludes 

 that the most appropriate agency to be in charge is the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service. 



We recommend, as an essential part of the recovery process, 

 that NMFS establish an independent science-based advisory group 

 we have named it the Salmon Oversight Committee, that will assure 

 that open objective analysis and peer reviewed science drive the 

 recovery process. 



The Team thinks that public policy decisions should be made in 

 public. The responsibility and accountability for implementation 

 should not be shared or divided among institutions. Then an 

 informed public can judge the work of the decision makers. 



Finally I want to stress the importance of consideration of all 

 the recovery recommendations as a whole. There is no single 

 solution. Improvements in survival must be made in all stages of the 

 salmon's life. The recommended actions should be modified through 

 adaptive management based on measurement of survivals. 



Thank you Mr. Chairman. I will be happy to answer any 

 questions that you may have. 



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