This is a well-written proposal that was a pleasure to review. This kind of project is high priority and critical to conduct prior to larger scale implementation of supplementation projects. This project continues quantitative evaluation of the relative reproductive success of naturally spawning hatchery- and natural- origin spring Chinook salmon in the Wenatchee River watershed.

The statement on the need for this project, "All major reviews of hatchery programs have hatchery risks, including the relative reproductive success of hatchery fish, as a critical uncertainty for salmon recovery" says it all. The need for this work was also identified clearly in the subbasin plan.

The project objectives fit, except objective 2 on causes for differences, which could be considered more of an academic question, but still of great interest. Methods are appropriate and described in considerable detail. The proposal shows evidence of collaboration with related experiments in the basin and with other researchers.

The proposal includes a good summary of progress to date (2 years) and interesting unveiling of problems in sampling (hatchery progeny assignment) and proposed solutions (modeling and sampling) and study refinements (adaptive management of the experiment and the management actions already evident).