Table 2. Pre-PATH challenges, associated requirements of an analytical process, and the PATH approach used to meet those requirements. Note that some of these requirements conflict (e.g., building trust vs. enforcing deadlines), whereas others are complementary.

Decision-making challenges	Requirements of analytical process	PATH approach
1. Differing objectives among entities	receive clearly defined management objectives from policy groups alternative actions to be evaluated should capture range of objectives of participating agencies	external oversight    prospective analyses
2. Low level of trust among scientists and agencies; many court cases	build trust and cooperation through meaningful participation of representative range of agency and other scientists process and its scientists should be isolated from political influences, yet focused on pressing decisions	internal structure    internal and external review
3. Lack of understanding of differences in model’s underlying assumptions	identify specific areas of disagreement between analyses and models clarify effects of uncertainties on decisions assess relative strength of evidence for alternative hypotheses identify research, monitoring, and adaptive management actions to resolve uncertainties	internal and external review    retrospective analyses    prospective analyses    experimental management
4. Lack of clear advice to decision makers	use a single integrative data and modeling framework to assess alternatives and provide scientifically-defensible advice clearly communicate technical analyses to nontechnical audiences	internal and external review    prospective analysis
5. Urgency of decision	enforce deadlines and ensure timely delivery of products	moral suasion