Notice2022-09838
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Primary source
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Published
May 9, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that NMFS renewed Section 10(a)1(A) scientific enhancement Permit 20085-2R to Stillwater Sciences Inc. (Stillwater). Authorized activities within the permit are expected to affect and enhance the threatened South Central California Coast (SCCC) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through invasive species removal from a southern California watershed (Chorro Creek) in San Luis Obispo County, California.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 89 (Monday, May 9, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 89 (Monday, May 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27574-27575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09838]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC008]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice, Permit Renewal of an Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Section
[[Page 27575]]
10(a)1(A) scientific enhancement permit.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS renewed Section 10(a)1(A)
scientific enhancement Permit 20085-2R to Stillwater Sciences Inc.
(Stillwater). Authorized activities within the permit are expected to
affect and enhance the threatened South Central California Coast (SCCC)
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
through invasive species removal from a southern California watershed
(Chorro Creek) in San Luis Obispo County, California.
ADDRESSES: The permit application, the permit, and other related
documents are available for review by contacting the California Coastal
Office, Section 10(a)1(A) permit coordinator for southern California
(Matt McGoogan: phone: 562-980-4026 or email at:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#75381401011d10025b3816321a1a12141b351b1a14145b121a03"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="470a2633332f2230690a24002828202629072928262669202831">[email protected]</span></a>). The application for Permit 20085-2R is also
available for review at the Authorizations and Permits for Protected
Species website: <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/search/search.cfm">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/search/search.cfm</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt McGoogan at 562-980-4026, or
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3b765a4f4f535e4c1576587c54545c5a557b55545a5a155c544d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e634f5a5a464b5900634d694141494f406e40414f4f00494158">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notification
Threatened SCCC steelhead.
Authority
Scientific research and enhancement permits are issued in
accordance with Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
and regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR 222-
227). NMFS issues a Section 10(a)1(A) permit based on findings that the
permit is (1) applied for in good faith, (2) would not operate to the
disadvantage of the listed species which is the subject of the permit,
and (3) consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in Section
2 of the ESA. Authority for take exemption of listed species is subject
to conditions set forth in the permit.
Permit 20085-2R
A receipt of application notice for Permit 20085-2R was published
in the Federal Register on August 20, 2021 (86 FR 46832), providing 30
days for public comment prior to permit processing. No comments were
received. Permit 20085-2R was issued to Stillwater on October 20, 2021.
Permit 20085-2R authorizes take exemption of threatened SCCC
steelhead in association with enhancement activities involving the
removal of Sacramento pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis) from the
Chorro Creek watershed in San Luis Obispo County, California. The
primary objectives of this enhancement effort involve: (1) Determining
the distribution, abundance, size, and age structures of both
pikeminnow and steelhead in the watershed; (2) eliminating pikeminnow
from the watershed; (3) developing a plan for long-term pikeminnow
management in the watershed; and (4) documenting changes in steelhead
abundance and distribution in response to pikeminnow removal. Proposed
enhancement activities include: (1) Conducting snorkel surveys to
assess abundance and distribution of pikeminnow and steelhead; (2)
using backpack electrofishing equipment, seines, hook-and-line
sampling, and spearfishing to capture pikeminnow; (3) measuring the
weight and length of juvenile steelhead collected during sampling
activities; (4) returning the collected steelhead alive and unharmed to
Chorro Creek; and (5) humanely euthanizing and disposing pikeminnow.
Permit 20085-2R authorized field activities associated with the
enhancement effort to begin on October 20, 2021 (the date the permit
was issued), and ceases authorization of the subject activities when
the permit expires on December 31, 2031. The annual take exemption of
threatened SCCC steelhead that permit 20085-2R authorizes for the
subject enhancement effort is as follows: (1) Non-lethal capture and
release of up to 1,500 juvenile steelhead while electrofishing, (2)
non-lethal capture and release of up to 150 juvenile steelhead while
seining, (3) non-lethal capture and release up to 10 juvenile steelhead
while hook-and-line fishing, and (4) non-lethal observation of up to
2,000 juvenile and 10 adult steelhead during instream snorkel surveys.
The potential annual unintentional lethal take permit 20085-2R
authorizes is up to 33 juvenile steelhead. No intentional lethal take
of steelhead is authorized or expected as a result of these enhancement
activities.
The subject scientific enhancement activities that Permit 20085-2R
authorizes are expected to support steelhead recovery in the Chorro
Creek watershed and are consistent with recommendations and objectives
outlined in NMFS' South Central California Coast Steelhead Recovery
Plan. See the application for Permit 20085-2R and issued Permit 20085-
2R for greater details on the associated scientific enhancement
activities and related methodology authorized with this permit.
Dated: May 3, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-09838 Filed 5-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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