Notice2024-04311
Endangered and Threatened Species: Expiration of Nonessential Experimental Population Designation for Middle Columbia River Steelhead Upstream of Round Butte Dam, Deschutes River Basin, Oregon
Primary source
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Published
March 1, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS hereby gives notice that the nonessential experimental population (NEP) designation and accompanying protective measures for Middle Columbia River (MCR) steelhead occurring in all accessible reaches upstream of Round Butte Dam on the Deschutes River, Oregon, shall expire at midnight (00:00 hours; Pacific Standard Time) on January 15, 2025. Upon expiration, all steelhead that occur upstream of Round Butte Dam will be designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This notice does not extend the upstream limit of existing critical habitat for MCR steelhead in the Deschutes River, nor does it designate new critical habitat.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 42 (Friday, March 1, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 42 (Friday, March 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15168-15169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04311]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD762]
Endangered and Threatened Species: Expiration of Nonessential
Experimental Population Designation for Middle Columbia River Steelhead
Upstream of Round Butte Dam, Deschutes River Basin, Oregon
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: NMFS hereby gives notice that the nonessential experimental
population (NEP) designation and accompanying protective measures for
Middle Columbia River (MCR) steelhead occurring in all accessible
reaches upstream of Round Butte Dam on the Deschutes River, Oregon,
shall expire at midnight (00:00 hours; Pacific Standard Time) on
January 15, 2025. Upon expiration, all steelhead that occur upstream of
Round Butte Dam will be designated as threatened under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). This notice does not extend the upstream limit of
existing critical habitat for MCR steelhead in the Deschutes River, nor
does it designate new critical habitat.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Carlon, Portland, Oregon, (971)
322-7436, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8ffcece0fbfba1eceefde3e0e1cfe1e0eeeea1e8e0f9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bbc8d8d4cfcf95d8dac9d7d4d5fbd5d4dada95dcd4cd">[email protected]</span></a>.
[[Page 15169]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 25, 1999, we listed the MCR
steelhead distinct population segment (DPS) as threatened under the ESA
(64 FR 14517). The MCR steelhead DPS range covers approximately 35,000
square miles (90,650 square kilometers (km)) of the Columbia plateau in
eastern Oregon and eastern Washington. The Deschutes River in central
Oregon is one of six major river basins supporting steelhead in this
distinct population segment. Since about 1968, the Pelton Round Butte
Hydroelectric Project (Pelton Round Butte Project) on the Deschutes
River entirely blocked MCR steelhead from accessing nearly 200 miles
(322 km) of historical spawning and rearing habitat. In 2005, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a new 50-year license for
the Pelton Round Butte Project. The new license required fish passage
and the ensuing reintroduction of anadromous fish to historic habitat
upstream of the Pelton Round Butte Project.
The specific stock chosen to initiate steelhead reintroduction was
from the Round Butte Hatchery, a stock that was not included in the
original 1999 ESA listing. After the new license was issued in June
2005 and reintroduction planning was largely completed, we included the
Round Butte Hatchery steelhead stock as part of the threatened group of
steelhead (71 FR 834, January 5, 2007), thus the reintroduction
introduced ESA take liabilities to land and water users upstream of the
Pelton Round Butte Project. We subsequently issued a final rule for the
NEP designation that had an expiration date 12 years from the effective
date of the final rule (78 FR 2893, January 15, 2013). More information
about this designation, including the additional protective measures
can be found in the Federal Register notice for that final rule.
The purpose of the NEP designation was to temporarily lift certain
take liabilities and consultation requirements to allow time for local
landowners and municipalities to develop well-informed conservation
measures to support the reintroduction effort in the Upper Deschutes
River basin. Subsequent to the NEP designation, eight irrigation
districts and one municipality completed a large habitat conservation
plan containing measures that address potential impacts to anadromous
fish species including MCR steelhead. The habitat conservation plan
addresses nearly all the waters that support MCR steelhead, and we
recently issued an incidental take permit to the eight irrigation
districts and municipality under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA (88 FR
3392, January 19, 2023).
Dated: February 26, 2024.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-04311 Filed 2-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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