We really don't know anything about the way in which the 
processes in the Bay affect the food chains. Since we're 
interested in fish and phytoplankton, I don't see that the 
research in any way is at a level that would allow us to make 
management decisions. 
Dr. D'Elia: I wonder if anyone in the audience has any 
particular guestion about anoxia they want to address to 
anybody. All right? 
Dr. Harriette Phelps, University of the District of Colum¬ 
bia: I'm surprised a little at the confusion on monitoring and 
research. Monitoring is an engineering concept with a definite 
goal or with definite effort levels. Research, on the other 
hand, is not a known endpoint. It's distinguished by the abil¬ 
ity to ask the right questions, which is after all, what we were 
trained as scientists for. And I assume that we are not asking 
the right questions. 
For example, we're confusing correlation with effect. We're 
monitoring like heck, but what you measure might have nothing to 
do with a parallel for measurement, especially for biological 
systems, wh~rh are far more complex. 
Secondly, we aren't even asking ... well, we can't even 
answer basic questions like what is the cause of decline of the 
fish. I'll say herring? Another one that I see every day, 
practically, which is the incredible resurgence of submerged 
aquatic vegetation in the Potomac? Nothing that the Corps of 
Engineers has done has put that in place. They should be out 
there measuring that every minute to find out why it is occur¬ 
ring. Because I don't think we've even come close to a handle 
of what is going on. I think we are losing our focus on biologi¬ 
cal inputs. So you've got to be able to ask intelligent ques¬ 
tions and focus our research. 
Dr. D'Elia: With that, I think the best person to deal 
with this is A1 Morris, who frequently gets accused of 
monitoring and not doing enough research if that's the central 
issue. Do you have any comment on that? 
Dr. Morris: I don't think the best person to ask for that 
question is A1 Morris at all. 
My approach would be a little bit different, I think. And I 
think my perspective is one which hasn't been brought out today, 
which I will endeavor at Jim’s invitation, to bring out now. I 
think Jim asked me to comment on a couple of things. One is the 
Restoration and Protection Plan and the other one is sort of my 
perspective of what some other items that should have been dis¬ 
cussed or that at least bear on the discussion today in terms of 
what I think the speakers were getting at, which is basically a 
restoration of the Bay. 
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