What is the next step for PATH? What should the scientific group
spend its time and resources on in the first quarter of 1999?

 A subgroup of the 25 to 30 federal, tribal, state, and independent
scientists the PATH planning group asked the National Marine Fisheries
Services multi-agency Implementation Team for guidance on FY 1999 priorities.

 Agreement on the top priority was reached at the Dec. 10 IT meeting:
The IT wants PATH to complete its analyses of the ...

A recently released scientific report on Columbia Basin hatchery operations
has drawn praise, qualified support and outright criticism from those involved
in a congressionally mandated review of artificial production practices.

The "Review of Salmonid Artificial Production in the Columbia River
Basin" was prepared by the seven-member Science Review Team at the
request of the Northwest Power Planning Council.

The report was described by Chip McConnaha, a SRT member and the ...

Two key documents are expected to be completed by month's end, setting
the stage for a January discussion about what directions fish production
might take in the Columbia River Basin.

"We've been, to this point, data gathering. From now on it will
be more policy oriented," John Marsh said of the ongoing Artificial
Production Review. It is expected to culminate next June with a report
to Congress, and, by December 1999, with a list of proposed actions to
improve operations ...

Participants concluded the three-day Columbia River Basin Multi-Species
Framework workshop Thursday -- leaving with heads filled with ideas and
seemingly enhanced goodwill, but with no firm recommendations on how the
region's fish and wildlife might be managed in the decades to come.

"The important thing is the next step," said Bruce Lovelin,
who represents the Columbia River Alliance. The CRA is one of several special
interests groups that joined with federal, state and tribal

Just as advertised, the Nov. 17-19 Multi-Species Framework workshop
will represent the first step toward the scientific analysis of divergent
"visions" for Columbia River Basin fish and wildlife management.

As of midday Monday (Nov. 8) slightly more than 100 people had signed
up for the policy alternatives workshop, which begins at 9 a.m. on Nov.
17 at the John Q. Hammons trade center at the Holiday Inn Portland Airport
Hotel.

"It's a very broad cross-section of ...