This is a well-prepared proposal for a project that has been successful. Although fundable, the ISRP raised some questions that the sponsors should consider.

The proposal provides good background on Omak Creek, including the project's history of habitat improvements. Sponsors could have given more info on the status of the stocks to be helped, however. It relates well to the subbasin plan, Council's Fish and Wildlife Program measures, BiOp, and the general rehabilitation of the threatened upper Columbia summer steelhead. The proposal describes relationships to other projects rather than just listing them. It would have been informative to see a more complete description of the relationships between this proposal and #199604200 "Restore and enhance fish populations and habitat in Salmon Creek" which is a similar project on a nearby stream.

There are good objectives. However, the ISRP questions whether the development of springs for livestock watering is possibly removing sources of clean, cold water for the creek. The sponsors may need to rethink and justify this approach. Elsewhere, other water sources have been developed to protect natural waters, such as solar powered pumps to fill watering troughs away from the creeks.

Monitoring and evaluation are described, including PIT-tag weir, photo monitoring, picket weir, infrared imaging, etc., but more detail on experimental design and methods would be useful. The administrative form describes an online database and technical reports for communicating results. The idea of providing a web site is good. Plans for long-term storage of data and meta-data are not included.

There are likely benefits to fish, but they may be slow to be realized. These are best described in the "Work Elements" Section of the Administrative portion of the proposal. The project will need adaptive management as they get the biological returns. Benefits are likely to persist over the long term.