Data is not electronically available because the project is not yet complete.  Upon completion of step-1 and Step-2 of the NWPPC 3-step process, the outcome of these process (Master plan (including HGMP), Production plan and M&E Plan) will be uploaded into Pisces, consistent with the contract deliverables that they address.  Further, upon the successful conclusion of the NWPPC 3-step process and implementation of the Okanogan River locally-adapted steelhead production program, data sets and synthesis of data associated with implementation (including hatchery production, adult management and M&E) will be provided electronically and uploaded into Pisces, consistent with contract deliverables developed for implementation.  Further, annual implementation reports will be provided to BPA and will also be electronically posted to the Colville Tribal F&W website (currently in development).

Although this project has not yet concluded the NWPPC 3-step process, it is anticipated that full implementation of this project will include data sets and synthesis of data that will include at a minimum: adult steelhead escapement abundance and origin (NOR and HOR proportions); hatchery broodstock origin, annual and 5-year running average PNI for Okanogan Basin steelhead, spawning distribution; spawn timing; hatchery and natural origin age-at-return, size-at-age and fecundity; and adult management (harvest and or adult extraction at weirs).  Juvenile data sets will include at a minimum: within hatchery life-stage survival and disease profile; juvenile hatchery production levels, release locations and dates; hatchery origin smolt survival to McNary Dam; hatchery juvenile marking/tagging data; juvenile emigration data (smolt abundance estimates, emigration timing and smolt size and age); and hatchery and natural origin SARs.  The conclusion of the NWPPC 3-step process is likely to include other implementation and monitoring elements in addition to those included above and will be incorporated into the implementation plan and reported electronically in Pisces, consistent with contract work elements and deliverables and included in annual implementation reports to BPA and posted to Colville Tribal F&W website (currently in development).

The proposal identified RPA 42.3 as an associated BiOp RPA, although not specifically an "RM&E RPA". If the Workgroup is specifically limiting its' review of RPAs to only "RM&E" RPAs then omitting RPA 42.3 from consideration is applicable.  However, the Colville Tribes is concerned that omitting RPA 42.3 from the project proposal will result in a misconstrued determination that this project has no BiOp association at all, which is not the case.  The goal of this project at full implementation is to preserve and rebuild genetic resources through safety-net and conservation actions to reduce short-term extinction risk and promote recovery.  Further, the development of a program to recondition natural origin kelts and develop local broodstocks to accelerate steelhead recovery in the Okanogan Basin is identified in Hatchery Strategy 2; Action 42.3

Finally, during the Colville Tribes development of the responses to the RM&E Workgroup comments, it became evident that there may be a link to RM&E RPAs 63.1; 63.2 and 64.2. Although this project is not specifically identified in an RM&E RPA, the Colville Tribes anticipate that data sets, synthesis of data resulting from full implementation of this project will be applicable to the action agencies assessment of hatchery effectiveness of safety-net and conservation programs have on the viability and recovery of target populations of salmon and steelhead (RPA 63.1), in determining the effect of hatchery reform actions have on the recovery of target salmon and steelhead populations (RPA 63.2) and in determining if properly designed intervention programs using artificial production make a positive contribution to recovery of listed populations (RPA 64.2).  The Colville Tribes would appreciate the opinion of the RM&E Workgroup relative to inclusion of RPAs 63.1, 63.2 and 64.2.

The ISRP recommends funding this project at a base level in order to proceed with the Three-Step process and development of the Step One documents and analysis. The Three-Step process will provide an opportunity for the review team to examine the proposed project in considerably greater detail than is possible in the FY 2007 process. The in-depth review process by the Three-Step process is appropriate and should lead to recommendations on how and whether to proceed into implementation.

The project has demonstrated some early results of returns to Omak Creek that appear on the surface to be positive. Of course numerous questions arise such as "have these returns led to any increase in natural production?" and other related concerns the ISRP/ISAB have identified with supplementation. Does the OSP have EDT or other analysis that identify major limitations? The sponsors should consider including include AHA modeling in the Three-Step process.