This proposal is generally very complete and addresses a question of considerable importance to salmon recovery efforts in the Columbia River Basin. The development of a regional synthesis of the results of nutrient addition projects (with the aid of a 2011 conference) is badly needed and should be given priority. Project proponents should consider the questions and suggestions in the comments below as they move forward with this important effort.

This proposal is generally very complete and addresses a question of considerable importance to salmon recovery efforts in the Columbia River Basin. The development of a regional synthesis of the results of nutrient addition projects (with the aid of a 2011 conference) is badly needed and should be given priority. Project proponents should consider the questions and suggestions in the comments below as they move forward with this important effort.

This is a basic research project with implications to similar high elevation headwater areas. The project should generate new knowledge on trophic chains from salmon carcasses. This is a well-thought out and unique proposal that has a high likelihood of providing new and immediately useful information for both the research and management communities.

The proposal relates this work to objectives in the subbasin plan and other regional programs. The proposal does not directly relate the work to other projects with BPA funding. Collaboration with IDFG, U.S. Forest Service, and Idaho Power Company are noted.

The personnel are well qualified. The project reflects a nice mix of personnel from the management agency (IDFG) and from the academic community. Plans for information transfer include publication in peer-reviewed journals, but efforts to share lessons learned and successful results to others in the region on a timelier basis should be identified.

The sponsors responded very effectively to ISRP questions about how this work differs from other recent work and provided justification that this work is still needed. The work would be done in a set of conditions (blocked area, nutrient-poor batholith, and bull trout) that differ significantly from those of ongoing nutrient addition evaluations.

The response indicates that enough study sites are available, but the sample size question was not completely addressed. Instead, other studies where statistically significant results were obtained were cited. Before fieldwork is implemented the sponsors should conduct a sample size/power analysis to ensure that an adequate number of sites will be sampled to have a high probability of detecting biologically meaningful treatment differences.