This proposal is for road decommissioning and culvert removal in a context of declining fish numbers. The data on results, taken from sources outside the project, are the sort of material that ISRP expected to see in the original proposal narrative.

The response addressed the issues raised by the ISRP in their preliminary review of this project. At issue remains the need to develop an acceptable biological monitoring effort in this project. The nature of the habitat rehabilitation is arguably difficult to adapt to a treatment and control approach and a fish response, given that this work deals primarily with road deactivation, culvert improvement, and some riparian work. Nonetheless, consideration should be given to selection of stream and tributary sections that might act as treatment and control areas.

The ISRP recognizes that some assistance may be required to establish this type of investigation, and this may not be an ideal area for such research. However, given that this area is also part of intensive supplementation studies, and that parr monitoring occurs within the related project 199107300, some attempt at development of a monitoring and assessment framework seems possible. Funding should be contingent on making this attempt. The response included some data on steelhead and Chinook redds, and juvenile densities, which served to indicate that with further analysis and comparison (e.g., estimates of parr density/spawner), a monitoring program is possible, and one that is much needed for the basin.

For full comments on "restore and protect" type projects, please see heading "General comments concerning Nez Perce Tribe proposals to protect and restore various watersheds" at the beginning of the ISRP comments on project # 199607702, Protect & Restore Lolo Creek Watershed.