Notice2024-04141
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
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
February 28, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
This notice announces the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) on the issuance of an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Enhancement of Survival Permit to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for the operation of the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program. The Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program is operated under an associated Hatchery Genetic Management Plan (HGMP). This notice also announces that NMFS has decided to issue a permit (15755-2M) to CDFW for activities described in their HGMP, and has authorized the HGMP for the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program in the Klamath River watershed in California.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14633-14634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04141]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD747]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of an enhancement of survival permit,
including an associated hatchery and genetic management plan.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Final
Environmental Assessment (EA) on the issuance of an Endangered Species
Act (ESA) Enhancement of Survival Permit to the California Department
of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for the operation of the Fall Creek
Hatchery coho salmon program. The Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon
program is operated under an associated Hatchery Genetic Management
Plan (HGMP). This notice also announces that NMFS has decided to issue
a permit (15755-2M) to CDFW for activities described in their HGMP, and
has authorized the HGMP for the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program
in the Klamath River watershed in California.
ADDRESSES: The application, permit, final HGMP, Final EA, and related
documents are available for review by appointment at: California
Coastal Area Office, 1655 Heindon Rd, Arcata, California 95521.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Abrams; phone: (707) 825-5186;
fax: (707) 825-4840; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dc96b9babaf29dbeaebdb1af9cb2b3bdbdf2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e446b6868204f6c7c6f637d4e60616f6f20696178">[email protected]</span></a> (include the permit
number in the subject line of the fax or email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
The following ESA-listed species are covered in this notice:
Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): threatened Southern Oregon/
Northern California Coast (SONCC) Evolutionarily Significant Unit.
Background
On March 27, 2023, NMFS announced in the Federal Register a notice
of receipt of a permit application (15755-2M) to enhance the
propagation and survival of species listed under the ESA of 1973, as
amended, from CDFW (88 FR 18123). Under permit application 15755-2M,
CDFW requested to implement, for the next 8 years, hatchery and
monitoring activities associated with the Fall Creek Hatchery coho
salmon program, under an associated HGMP. The HGMP is an update to the
2014 HGMP developed for the coho salmon hatchery program at Iron Gate
Hatchery that was submitted by CDFW and PacifiCorp (permit 15755).
Under permit application 15755-2M, CDFW proposed to continue to collect
SONCC coho salmon for hatchery purposes. The draft HGMP specified
methods of operation for the Fall Creek hatchery coho salmon program
located along the Fall Creek, a tributary to the Klamath River, within
the State of California. NMFS also announced the availability of the
permit application and associated HGMP for public review and comment.
The public review and comment period ended on April 26, 2023. NMFS did
not receive any public comments on the permit application or draft HGMP
during the public review period. Permit 15755-2M received final
signature on August 22, 2023.
The HGMP covers activities related to the artificial production of
coho salmon at Fall Creek Hatchery during the transition of the
hatchery coho salmon program from Iron Gate Hatchery, and for 8 years
after dam removal. NMFS will use the information in this HGMP to
evaluate hatchery impacts on salmon listed under the ESA. Monitoring
and in-river research activities, also included in the application,
could result in take of SONCC coho salmon. The primary goal of an HGMP
is to devise biologically based hatchery management strategies that
ensure the conservation and recovery of salmon and steelhead species.
Through implementation of this HGMP, and compliance with the ESA
section 10(a)(1)(A) permit, the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program
will operate to conserve ESA-listed SONCC coho salmon.
The Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program will culture coho
salmon of the Upper Klamath Population Unit. This unit is part of the
SONCC Evolutionarily Significant Unit that is listed as threatened
under ESA. The HGMP incorporates principles of hatchery operations
developed by the Hatchery Scientific Review Groups of the Columbia
River and California. The primary purpose of the Fall Creek Hatchery
coho salmon program is to protect the genetic resources of the Upper
Klamath Population Unit and reduce extinction risks prior to and 8
years after the removal of the four Klamath River dams. The purpose
would be achieved by integrating natural origin adults into broodstock
and using a genetically based spawning
[[Page 14634]]
matrix to reduce inbreeding. The natural origin fish required to
integrate the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program will be obtained
from Bogus Creek, the Iron Gate Hatchery auxiliary fish ladder, Fall
Creek (e.g., via seine or dip net), and fish volitionally entering the
Fall Creek Hatchery as described in the broodstock collection document
and the terms and conditions of NMFS' 2021 Biological Opinion for the
``Surrender and Decommissioning of the Lower Klamath Hydroelectric
Project No. 14803.''
The secondary purpose of the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon
program is to provide adult coho salmon that could disperse to newly
accessible habitat (76 miles or 122 kilometers) made available
following dam removal. The potential dispersal of adult coho salmon
results from Fall Creek Hatchery origin coho salmon straying to other
tributaries and by releasing surplus adult coho salmon back to the
mainstem Klamath River near Fall Creek.
Take of adult and juvenile coho salmon associated with permit
15755-2M is described in the NMFS permit and particularly detailed in
table 1 of the permit. Permit 15755-2M expires on December 31, 2031.
This notice is provided under National Environmental Policy Act
regulations and NMFS ESA permit regulations to inform the public that
the Final EA, HGMP, and associated documents are available for review.
Authority
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 part 222). NMFS
issues permits based on findings that such permits: (1) are applied for
in good faith; (2) if granted and exercised, would not operate to the
disadvantage of the listed species that are the subject of the permit;
(3) are consistent with the purposes and policies of section 2 of the
ESA; (4) whether the permit would further a bona fide and necessary or
desirable scientific purpose or enhance the propagation or survival of
the endangered species, taking into account the benefits anticipated to
be derived on behalf of the endangered species; and additional issuance
criteria (as listed at 50 CFR 222.308(c)(5)-(12)). The authority to
take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permit.
Dated: February 23, 2024.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-04141 Filed 2-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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