# 



techniques. The program established a research technical work group for each area of emphasis, 

 composed of representatives of the fisheries agencies and tribes, Bonneville, the Corps, utilities, the 

 Council and others. The technical work groups were given the responsibility to develop five-year 

 research work plans, to assist Bonneville in developing, evaluating, and reviewing requests for 

 proposals and project work statements, and to develop statistical design standards. The research work 

 plans developed by the technical work groups were to be submitted to the Council for approval as a 

 package. 



In addition, the program established two areas of emphasis for research funded by the Corps: 

 improving bypass at mainstem projects, and evaluating and improving the effectiveness of 

 transportation. The program identified the Corps' Fish Passage Development and Evaluation Program 

 as the mechanism for developing research work plans in these two areas of emphasis. The research 

 planning process is advised by the Technical Coordinating Committee, which is composed of 

 representatives of the state and federal fisheries agencies, Indian tribes, and the Corps. The 

 recommendations of the Technical Coordinating Committee are submitted to the Corps' Fish 

 Management Committee-the Corps' policy-level committee-for final approval. 



The 1987 program also committed the Council to develop a system monitoring and evaluation 

 program for measuring program progress toward the goal of doubling salmon and steelhead runs, to 

 monitor consistency of actions with program policies, and to help unify data collection efforts within the 

 basin. To help develop and implement the system monitoring and evaluation program, the Monitoring 

 and Evaluation Group was established. It is composed of technical staff from the fisheries agencies 

 and tribes, Bonneville, the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee, and private consultants. 



The program states that the system monitoring and evaluation program should include: 



1 . Development of alternative means to assess program progress and consistency with program 

 policies; 



2. evaluation of research results and implications for achieving program objectives; 



3. development of a coordinated information system; 



4. maintenance of the system planning model; 



5. assistance in the integration of subbasin plans in system planning; and 



6. development of methods to incorporate genetic conservation into system planning. 



PROBLEMS IN RESEARCH AND MONITORING 



The following have been raised frequently as the major concerns about current approaches to 

 salmon and steelhead research and monitoring. 



1. 



Research planning and implementation lack a clear mechanism for policy guidance. 



There is no established mechanism for ensuring that research is relevant to management 

 problems and that overall levels of research effort are appropriate to management needs; nor is there a 



