Notice2022-14204
Threatened Species; Take of Steelhead; Take of Green Sturgeon
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 5, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that NMFS received an application from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to renew their U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 10(a)1(A) scientific enhancement permit (permit 16608-3R) for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program Steelhead Monitoring. Proposed activities within the permit application are expected to affect the threatened California Central Valley (CCV) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the threatened Southern DPS of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris). The public is hereby notified the application for Permit 16608-3R is available for review and comment before NMFS either approves or disapproves the application.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39807-39808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14204]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC148]
Threatened Species; Take of Steelhead; Take of Green Sturgeon
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of application; to renew a scientific
enhancement permit.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS received an application from
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to renew their U.S.
Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 10(a)1(A) scientific enhancement
permit (permit 16608-3R) for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program
Steelhead Monitoring. Proposed activities within the permit application
are expected to affect the threatened California Central Valley (CCV)
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
and the threatened Southern DPS of North American green sturgeon
(Acipenser medirostris). The public is hereby notified the application
for Permit 16608-3R is available for review and comment before NMFS
either approves or disapproves the application.
DATES: Written comments on the permit application must be received at
the appropriate email address (see ADDRESSES) on or before August 4,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the permit application should be
submitted to NMFS' Section 10(a)1(A) steelhead permit coordinator for
the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, Ms. Hilary Glenn, via email
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#28404144495a51064f444d46466846474949064f475e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="94fcfdf8f5e6edbaf3f8f1fafad4fafbf5f5baf3fbe2">[email protected]</span></a>). The permit application is available for review
online at the Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species website:
<a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Hilary Glenn (email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#84ecede8e5f6fdaae3e8e1eaeac4eaebe5e5aae3ebf2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ef8786838e9d96c188838a8181af81808e8ec1888099">[email protected]</span></a>; phone: 916-200-8211).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
Threatened California Central Valley Distinct Population Segment of
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Threatened Southern Distinct
Population Segment (sDPS) of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser
medirostris).
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 permits based on findings that such permits (1) are
applied for in good faith, (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of
the listed species which are the subject of the permits, and (3) are
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in Section 2 of the
ESA. Authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set
forth in the permits.
This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and any comment
submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements
of Section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit
decisions will not be made until after the end of
[[Page 39808]]
the 30-day comment period and consideration of any comment submitted
therein. NMFS will publish notice of the final action on the subject
permit application in the Federal Register.
Those individuals requesting a hearing on the application listed in
this notice should provide the specific reasons why a hearing on the
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such a hearing is
held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA.
All statements and opinions contained in the permit action summary
are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of
NMFS.
Permit Application Received
Permit 16608-3R
Reclamation applied to renew their Section 10(a)1(A) scientific
enhancement permit (Previous Federal Permit/Authorization: 16608-2R)
involving continued implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration
Program (SJRRP) Steelhead Monitoring Plan (SMP) in the San Joaquin
River Restoration Area. The Restoration Area is 153 miles long (246.23
km), from Friant Dam downstream to the San Joaquin River's confluence
with the Merced River. This stretch of river crosses the California
counties of Fresno, Madera and Merced. The primary objectives of this
effort involve: (1) monitor for adult CCV steelhead in the wetted
sections of the San Joaquin River downstream of Mendota Dam (or lower,
depending on passage conditions) to the Merced River confluence, (2)
relocate CCV steelhead to more suitable habitat downstream of the
Merced River confluence, (3) determining the distribution, abundance,
size, and age structures of both CCV steelhead and sDPS green sturgeon,
and (4) documenting changes in CCV steelhead abundance and distribution
in response to fluctuating water conditions. Proposed monitoring
activities include: capture (raft-mounted electrofisher), fyke nets
with wing walls and fish traps, steelhead-specific trammel nets, hand
seins, handling (conducting length measurements, gender identification,
tissue and scale collection, assessment of condition, checking for the
presence of tags), and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagging of
fish inclusive of steelhead and green sturgeon. Captured CCV steelhead
will be transported by tanker truck and released in the San Joaquin
River downstream of the Merced River confluence. Recaptured CCV
steelhead will be identified by the presence of a PIT tag.
Field activities for the proposed monitoring effort will occur
December 1 through April 30 over the next 5 years (start: 12/01/2022
End: 12/31/2027). The take Reclamation is requesting for this 5-year
effort is as follows by each take-action category: (1) non-lethal
(seven adults) and lethal (two adults) effects due to collecting,
sampling, and transport of live threatened CCV steelhead (natural
origin) and non-lethal (seven adults) and lethal (two adults) effects
to threatened CCV steelhead of hatchery origin, (2) non-lethal (six
adults) and no lethal effects due to capture, handling, and release of
live threatened green sturgeon, and (3) non-lethal effects to
threatened CCV steelhead of natural origin (ten adults) and threatened
CCV steelhead of hatchery origin (ten adults), and threatened sDPS
green sturgeon (three adults) due to observations and harassment at
weirs, fish ladders, and dams where no trapping occurs. The potential
unintentional lethal take resulting from the proposed scientific
enhancement activities is up to four adult CCV steelhead (two natural
origin; two hatchery origin). Overall, no intentional lethal take of
CCV steelhead is proposed or expected as a result of these scientific
enhancement activities.
This proposed scientific enhancement effort is expected to provide
valuable information on sDPS green sturgeon and the most southern
extent of CCV steelhead to the California Department of Fish and
Wildlife's comprehensive monitoring plan for steelhead in the Central
Valley. The proposed monitoring by Reclamation is consistent with
recommendations and objectives outlined in NMFS' Recovery Plan for CCV
steelhead. See the application for Permit 16608-3R for greater details
on the scientific enhancement proposal and related methodology.
Dated: June 28, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-14204 Filed 7-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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