In general, this proposal demonstrates good fisheries science. However, parts of this project are difficult to assess. In particular, it’s a combination of two projects with little in common (different species, equipment, even subbasins), and the relation between them was unclear. The need for continued Chinook monitoring at Secesh was well documented, and the addition of steelhead trout monitoring at Joseph Creek is justified as a benefit to the Fish and Wildlife Program, but it is not clear why the new steelhead program is to be combined with the Chinook program. Why is the proposed steelhead weir in this proposal and not in Integrated Status and Effectiveness Monitoring project (ISEMP; BPA Project No. 200301700I) that has a fast-track proposal “to install two PIT tag arrays in lower Joseph Creek and two arrays in the lower Grande Ronde River?” 1. Technical Justification, Program Significance and Consistency, and Project Relationships The proposal has two parts: 1) The Secesh River is an unsupplemented stream, in the South Fork Salmon River drainage in Idaho, which acts as a reference stream for three ongoing Chinook supplementation evaluation programs. It is the only stream in the Snake River Basin where monitoring of natural origin salmon escapement occurs absent a hatchery supplementation program. Salmon escapement monitoring will be continued using dual frequency identification sonar (DIDSON). It was begun in 2004. 2) This project also includes the new fast track Joseph Creek steelhead escapement monitoring project. It would use a floating weir to provide status monitoring of adult steelhead in Joseph Creek in the lower Grande Ronde River in Washington. The Secesh DIDSON monitoring is effective. It is operational a high percentage of the time, produces a good count, and has been in operation for a number of years. The program is consistent with BiOp goals, etc. 2. Project History and Results The Secesh component has a long history. It has been yielding good results for at least 5 years from DIDSON technology. The Johnson Creek steelhead project is in early development–it's not even clear where an adult counting weir structure can be emplaced. 3. Objectives, Work Elements, and Methods PIT tag arrays have been installed in the lower Secesh River to quantify both natural origin adult salmon and steelhead escapement. A comparison of PIT tag array escapement data with DIDSON salmon escapement information collected by this proposal will be performed over a period of years. The objectives and methods proposed for use in Joseph Creek seem reasonable and appropriate. A detailed explanation of methods including statistical methods is provided

The response was excellent in resolving both some rough spots in the original proposal and clarifying for the ISRP our misconceptions. They clarify that the project is not nearing termination, but intend for it to provide enumeration of adult summer Chinook in the Secesh River over the long-term. They explained the pilot project the ISRP referred to, and noted it was being completed with collections in 2006. They provided a succinct summary of the challenges of enumerating adult salmon using redd counts and discussed a timeframe to establish the precision and accuracy of estimates using DIDSON technology. The sponsors also clarified the methods they use to validate estimates using DIDSON, that hatchery and natural spawners and spawner ages are determined from carcass surveys, not from the DIDSON technology. Finally they clarified the status of video counts at Lake Creek, and the relationship between monitoring Lake Creek, Secesh River, and their roles as reference streams for Snake River spring and summer Chinook abundance and productivity. The roles of Lake Creek and Secesh monitoring provide good justification for continuation of the project.