Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Amendment 14; Essential Fish Habitat Descriptions for Pacific Salmon, 19862-19875 [07-1946]

Download as PDF 19862 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules Dated: April 16, 2007. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons set out in the preamble, we propose to amend part 224, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations as set forth below: PART 224—ENDANGERED MARINE AND ANADROMOUS SPECIES 1. The authority citation of part 224 continues to read as follows: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531–1543 and 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. § 224.101 [Amended] 2. In § 224.101, amend paragraph (b) by adding, ‘‘Cook Inlet distinct population segment of beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)’’ in alphabetical order. [FR Doc. E7–7577 Filed 4–19–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [Docket No. 070227047–7047–01; I.D. 020405C] RIN 0648–AS96 Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Amendment 14; Essential Fish Habitat Descriptions for Pacific Salmon National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 14 to the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan (Salmon FMP) to identify and describe essential fish habitat (EFH) for Pacific salmon. The intent of this proposed rule is to codify the EFH identifications and descriptions for freshwater and marine habitats of Pacific salmon managed under the Salmon FMP, including Chinook, coho, and pink salmon. This proposed rule complies with an order issued by the U.S. District Court of Idaho directing NMFS to codify the EFH identifications and descriptions contained in the Salmon FMP. This proposed EFH rule is separate and distinct from the December 2004 proposed critical habitat rules in which NMFS proposed critical habitat for VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 seven groupings of Chinook and coho salmon listed as threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Where EFH and critical habitat overlap, NMFS will generally merge the results of both consultations into one response package to maximize regulatory efficiencies whenever possible. DATES: Comments must be received by July 19, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or obtain a supplemental regulatory impact review to amendment 14 to the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan by any of the following methods: • E-mail: EFH.salmon@NOAA.gov. Include in the subject line the following identifier ‘‘RIN 0648–AS96.’’ • Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. • Mail: For submitting paper, disk or CD ROM comments. Frank Lockhart, NMFS Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. • Fax: 206–526–6736. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Lockhart at 206–526–6142. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Among other things, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) authorizes development of Federal Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), and Federal regulation of domestic fisheries under those FMPs, within the 200–mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 16 U.S.C. 1811, 1853. To assist the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) in carrying out specific management and conservation duties, the MagnusonStevens Act created eight regional fishery management councils. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, an FMP and any amendments are usually originated by one of the eight regional fishery management councils, 16 U.S.C. 1852, and must then be approved by the Secretary of Commerce. 16 U.S.C. 1854. Essential Fish Habitat The Magnuson-Stevens Act, originally enacted in 1976, has been amended several times. In 1996, the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) amended the Magnuson-Stevens Act adding provisions aimed at halting overfishing and rebuilding overfished fisheries, reducing bycatch, and assessing and minimizing the impacts of management measures on fishing communities. Congress articulated in its findings that: one of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats. Habitat considerations should receive increased attention for the conservation and PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 management of fishery resources of the United States. 16 U.S.C. 1801(a). In making such findings, Congress declared one of the purposes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to be the promotion of ‘‘the protection of [EFH] in the review of projects conducted under Federal permits, licenses, or other authorities that affect or have the potential to affect such habitat.’’ 16 U.S.C. 1802(b)(7). To ensure habitat considerations receive increased attention for the conservation and management of fishery resources, the amended Magnuson-Stevens Act required each existing, and any new, FMP to: describe and identify essential fish habitat for the fishery based on the guidelines established by the Secretary under section 1855(b)(1)(A) of this title, minimize to the extent practicable adverse effects on such habitat caused by fishing, and identify other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of such habitat. 16 U.S.C. 1853(a)(7). ‘‘EFH’’ is defined in the MagnusonStevens Act as ‘‘those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.’’ 16 U.S.C. 1802(10). The EFH regulations (50 CFR 600.815) establish additional guidance to the Councils on how to identify and describe EFH. The regulations indicate that Councils should: obtain information to describe and identify EFH from the best available sources, including peer reviewed literature, unpublished scientific reports, data files of government resource agencies, fisheries landing reports, and other sources of information. The regulations identify four classification levels to organize available information relevant to EFH identifications and descriptions. Level 1 information is limited to species distributional data; level 2 information includes habitat-related densities; level 3 includes growth, reproduction or survival rates within habitats; and level 4 consists of production rates by habitat. Councils are encouraged to identify and describe EFH based on the highest level of detail (i.e., level 4). Readers are encouraged to see the EFH regulations (50 CFR 600.815, subpart J) for a complete description of each of these levels as well as guidance on how the Councils should analyze the available information. In determinating EFH, the regulations advise the Councils to interpret the available information in a ‘‘risk-averse fashion to ensure adequate areas are identified as EFH for managed species.’’ 50 CFR 600.815(a)(1)(iv)(A). For Pacific salmon, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) obtained information at all four levels E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS for certain freshwater areas, and the first three levels of information for the estuaries; only the first level of information was available for marine areas. Amendment 14 to the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan The Secretary approved the Salmon FMP under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., in 1978. The Pacific Council has amended the Salmon FMP 14 times since 1978. For more information on the FMP process, refer to 16 U.S.C. 1651–1654. The Pacific Council identified and described EFH for Pacific salmon in Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP and submitted it on June 12, 2000, for Secretarial review. After a public comment period, NMFS approved Amendment 14 on September 27, 2000. The Pacific salmon EFH descriptions and identifications were not codified during the development of Amendment 14. NMFS issues this proposed rule in response to a U.S. District Court of Idaho (Court) order (Case No. CV02–CEJL, District Court of Idaho) directing NMFS to codify the EFH identifications and descriptions contained in the Salmon FMP. The Court determined that the EFH identifications and descriptions included in the amendment constitute a substantive rule under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The Court remanded, but did not vacate, the EFH identifications and descriptions contained in Amendment 14 to NMFS, and ordered NMFS to undertake notice and comment rulemaking to codify identified and described EFH for the Pacific salmon fishery. The intent of this proposed rule is to codify, in compliance with the Court’s order, the EFH identifications and descriptions for freshwater and marine habitats of Pacific salmon managed under the Salmon FMP for Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho (O. kisutch), and pink (O. gorbuscha) salmon in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California. As new information becomes available, the Pacific Council will consider potential modifications to the identifications and descriptions of EFH. The Pacific Council is scheduled to review salmon EFH, pursuant to the review process schedule set up by both the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the EFH regulations at 50 CFR 600.815(a)(10). Upon completion of this 5–year review, the Pacific Council and NMFS may propose changes to the EFH descriptions depending on the level of new information and the effect that VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 information has on the existing EFH identifications and descriptions. This proposed rule does not contradict or make obsolete the information contained in appendix A of Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP. Rather, this proposed rule summarizes key features of appendix A and would codify the EFH geographic extent descriptions for Pacific salmon. Appendix A contains important background and supplementary information on EFH, and can be found on the Council’s website at https:// www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salfmp/ a14.html. Pacific Council Approach to EFH Identification The Pacific Council chose a comprehensive rather than a limiting approach in the Amendment 14 identification of salmon EFH for the following reasons, all of which made it very difficult to narrowly define EFH geographically. In the marine environment, Pacific salmon distribution is: (1) extensive; (2) varies seasonally and interannually; and (3) has not been extensively sampled in many ocean areas. In estuaries and freshwater, there is a high degree of natural variability in distribution of salmon species and habitat use (e.g., fluctuation in population abundance that can lead to a wider extent of habitat being used during high abundance years and a smaller extent of habitat being occupied during lower abundance years; varying levels of habitat quality; and interannual stream flow variation and water quality changes). For these reasons, the Pacific Council was not able to designate EFH based on fixed attributes of the streams (e.g., channel morphology (channel habitat type), streamflow, water quality, riparian condition, and temperature) because there may be areas of degraded habitat that may still be used by Pacific salmon and considered EFH. The Pacific Council chose to adopt an inclusive, watershed-based description of EFH using United States Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologic units, because it recognizes the species’ use of diverse habitats, considers the variability of freshwater habitat as affected by environmental conditions (droughts, floods, etc.), and reinforces important linkages between aquatic and adjacent upslope areas. A more detailed background on the Pacific Council’s approach can be found in appendix A of Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP. Consideration of Artificial Barriers In identifying the upstream extent of EFH, the Pacific Council considered PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 19863 artificial barriers and dams that affect Pacific salmon habitat. Numerous hydropower, water storage, and flood control systems have been built that either block access to areas historically accessible to Pacific salmon or alter the hydrology of downstream reaches. The Pacific Council therefore considered whether more than 50 large impassible barriers in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California should be designated as the upstream extent of EFH. These barriers are identified in Table 1 to part 660, subpart H. Should it become feasible for Pacific salmon to have access to or be reintroduced above the impassible dams, the FMP requires the Pacific Council to recommend identifying and describing the areas above the barriers as Pacific salmon EFH. The potential for expansion of EFH under these circumstances is addressed at 50 CFR 600.815(a)(1)(iv)(C) and (F). Pacific Salmon Biology The Magnuson-Stevens Act links EFH identifications and descriptions to life history stages, and the physiological, biological, and habitat parameters on which each life stage depends. To accomplish the task of linking these parameters in a meaningful way, the Pacific Council established tables and a narrative that present habitat requirements as they relate to fish life history stage and physiology. The four life history stages are eggs, larvae (alevins), juveniles, and adults. The biological needs include diet, substrate type, water quality, and others. These tables can be found in appendix A of Amendment 14 (Tables A–3, A–4, and A–5). A brief overview of Pacific salmon life history and habitat requirements is provided below. This information is not intended to be a thorough review of Pacific salmon habitat requirements. Rather, it is intended to provide a sample of the information that supported the Pacific Council’s EFH identifications and descriptions. See appendix A of Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP for more detailed information on habitat use specific to life stage. Chinook, coho, and pink salmon all have similar life history and habitat requirements; yet all three species have unique survival and reproductive strategies. They are anadromous, and by definition live the first part of their lives in freshwater and the adult part of their lives in marine waters before returning to spawn in freshwater. For spawning and rearing, these salmon require clean, cold, welloxygenated water with moderate E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 19864 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS current. Spawning adults need medium to coarse gravel in which to deposit eggs. Eggs and alevins need welloxygenated interstitial spaces with continuous water flow. This life stage is susceptible to poor water quality, predation, and physical impacts such as flooding or excessive siltation, which can smother the eggs. At an age that varies among species, juvenile salmon migrate downstream towards the ocean. During this migration, the juvenile salmon require high water quality and protection from predation. Estuaries provide a mixing zone of saline and freshwater in which the young salmon can adapt to marine waters. Pacific salmon use large portions of the north Pacific during ocean migration, although patterns vary between species and even between different populations of the same VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 species. It is clear that ocean migration can be extensive. During the ocean phase, salmon are susceptible to predation, fishing mortality, and lack of food resources. The Pacific Council and NMFS considered excluding large portions of the EEZ from EFH designation. However, the best scientific information available was insufficient to support refinement. They chose, therefore, to identify and describe the entire EEZ as EFH for Pacific salmon. The Pacific Council adopted relatively broad EFH descriptions because of the wide ranging life history strategy, the number of species involved, and the limited information on marine distribution. EFH for Chinook, Coho, and Pink Salmon Table 1 to part 660, subpart H lists those hydrologic units which are PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 identified as EFH for Chinook, coho, and pink salmon. Table 1 also includes, where appropriate, the names of impassible barriers that represent the upstream extent of Pacific salmon distribution. To assist Federal agencies and the public, the following three figures depict those 4th field USGS Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) that contain EFH for Pacific salmon. Figure 1 shows HUCs and marine waters that contain EFH for Chinook salmon in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. Figure 2 shows HUCs and marine waters that contain EFH for coho salmon in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. Figure 3 shows HUCs and marine waters that contain EFH for pink salmon in Washington. E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 19865 EP20AP07.000</GPH> cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules VerDate Aug<31>2005 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 EP20AP07.001</GPH> cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS 19866 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules In identifying and describing EFH for Pacific salmon in Amendment 14, the Pacific Council included those areas that have been identified and described as marine EFH for Pacific salmon by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (North Pacific Council). While VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 the task of identifying and describing EFH in Alaskan waters is the responsibility of the North Pacific Council, the Pacific Council chose to include the reference to Alaskan EFH in Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP in order to emphasize the relationship within the Pacific Coast ecosystem used PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 by Pacific salmon during their adult migrations. This proposed rule, however, only codifies EFH for Pacific salmon that is within the jurisdiction of the Pacific Council, and does not codify EFH identified and described by the North Pacific Council for Pacific salmon E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 EP20AP07.002</GPH> cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS EFH in Alaskan Marine Waters 19867 19868 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules Distinction Between EFH and Critical Habitat Effects of Identifying and Describing EFH cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS that is found in Alaskan waters under the North Pacific Council’s jurisdiction. EFH responsibilities under the Magnuson-Stevens Act should not be confused with the mandate to designate critical habitat under the ESA. Congress enacted these two statutes with very different purposes in mind. One of the purposes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act is to promote domestic commercial and recreational fisheries. In amending the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Congress found that: Once EFH is identified and described, the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that each FMP minimize to the extent practicable adverse effects to EFH. Adverse effects are broadly divided into effects from fishing and nonfishing activities. For impacts to EFH caused by fishing activities, each FMP must consider measures to minimize adverse effects on EFH, including EFH identified and described under other Federal FMPs. These measures may include equipment restrictions, time/ area closures, or harvest limits. In addition, the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires any Federal agency that determines that its action may adversely affect EFH to consult with NMFS. Section 305(b)(2) of the MagnusonStevens Act defines a Federal action as ‘‘any action authorized, funded, or undertaken, or proposed to be authorized, funded, or undertaken, by such agency that may adversely affect any essential fish habitat identified under this Act.’’ The consultation process is fully described in the EFH regulations at 50 CFR 600.920. In order for NMFS to conduct this consultation the Federal action agency provides an EFH assessment commensurate with the complexity and magnitude of the potential adverse effects of the action. After receiving a request for consultation and accompanying EFH assessment, NMFS must develop Conservation Recommendations for those actions that would adversely affect EFH, aimed at the need to avoid, minimize, mitigate, or offset adverse effects of the proposed action. NMFS must also provide Conservation Recommendations for those Federal and state actions that would adversely affect EFH in situations where consultation has not been requested. Upon receiving the recommended conservation measures, the Federal action agency must provide a detailed written response within 30 days, indicating the proposed measures to avoid or minimize adverse impacts on EFH. If the response is inconsistent with NMFS Conservation Recommendations, the Federal agency must explain its reasons for not following the recommendations, including the scientific justification for any disagreements with NMFS over the anticipated effects of the action and the measures needed to avoid, minimize, mitigate, or offset such effects. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 [o]ne of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats. Habitat considerations should receive increased attention for the conservation and management of fishery resources of the United States. 16 U.S.C 1801(a)(9). Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Congress established the mandate to identify and describe EFH in order to support the habitat needs of federally managed fish stocks to aid in ensuring long-term sustainable fisheries. The definition of EFH within the Magnuson-Stevens Act, as well as the EFH implementing regulations (EFH Final Rule), establishes a basis for broader geographic areas to be identified and described as EFH, compared with those areas designated as critical habitat. The Magnuson-Stevens Act defines EFH as ‘‘those areas necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.’’ 16 U.S.C. 1802(10). The EFH Final Rule provides a mechanism for aiding the fishery management councils in determining the extent of EFH for the managed species. While the EFH Final Rule emphasizes that EFH should be distinguished from all habitats potentially used by the managed species, it also states that ‘‘[a]reas described as EFH will normally be greater than or equal to aquatic areas that have been identified as ’critical habitat’ for any managed species listed as threatened or endangered under the [ESA].’’ 50 CFR 600.815(a)(1)(iv)(D). In addition, the EFH Final Rule provides the opportunity to increase the size of the area identified as EFH to include historic and/or degraded habitats where habitat loss may be contributing to reduced yield of the managed species. In contrast, the ESA was enacted ‘‘to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved’’ and ‘‘to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species.’’ 16 U.S.C. 1531(b). The ESA specifically articulates that: PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 the term ’critical habitat’ for a threatened or endangered species means 1. the specific areas within the geographic area occupied by the species at the time it is listed . . . on which are found those physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species and . . . which may require special management considerations and protections; and 2. specific areas outside the geographic area occupied by the species at the time it is listed . . . upon a determination by the Secretary that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species. 16 U.S.C. 1532(5)(A). The definition of critical habitat in the ESA also indicates that ‘‘except in those situations determined by the Secretary, critical habitat shall not include the entire geographic area which can be occupied by the threatened or endangered species.’’ 16 U.S.C. 1532(5)(C). While the ESA’s implementing regulations regarding critical habitat set forth procedures for designating areas outside the current area occupied by the species, unlike EFH in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the ESA regulations also allow the agency to exclude certain areas from critical habitat, or not designate at all, in certain situations. When the geographic locations of EFH and critical habitat overlap, the individual consultation requirements under the ESA and the MagnusonStevens Act both apply. If a Federal agency determines that its action may adversely affect EFH and may affect critical habitat, it must consult with NMFS under the ESA and MagnusonStevens Act. In these circumstances, NMFS will generally merge the consultations into one response package, whenever possible, to maximize efficiency. Classification This proposed rule is published under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. The NMFS Northwest Region completed an ESA section 7 consultation on November 18, 1999, on the effects of Amendment 14 on listed salmon evolutionarily significant units. Amendment 14 does not by itself authorize any fishing or other activity that would result in adverse effects to listed fish or designated critical habitat. Based on this and other considerations, NMFS concluded that Amendment 14 and its implementing regulations are not likely to adversely affect listed salmon or their critical habitat. This proposed rule is consistent with the determination in Amendment 14 that the action does not jeopardize the continued existence of ESA listed salmon. E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, as follows: The objective of this rule is to codify essential fish habitat (EFH) descriptions and identifications that were previously approved by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary)for Amendment 14 to the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan. EFH descriptions and identifications are required under the Magnuson Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802(b)(7). All vessels harvesting salmon from this fishery are considered small under the Small Business Act approved definition of a small fish harvester (average gross receipts not in excess of $4.0 million). Therefore, there can be no disproportionate impacts between small and large vessels. Furthermore, there are no disproportionate impacts based on homeport, gear type, or vessel size from the promulgation of this proposed rule. In 2004, there were 3,008 permits issued for this fishery, with a total exvessel value of $28,961,275. Of the 3,008 permits, only 910 actually landed salmon. There were 1508 vessel permits issued in California, 738 of which landed salmon, for an exvessel value of $17,883,216. There were 1,181 vessel permits issued in Oregon, 595 of which landed salmon, for an exvessel value of $9,893,065. There were 160 vessel permits issued in Washington, 86 of which landed salmon, for an exvessel value of $1,184,994. This rule would not result in any immediate impacts on revenues or costs for the small entities participating in the Pacific salmon fishery because it does not contain any new management measures that would have specific economic impact on the fishery. However, future rulemakings that are promulgated by NMFS on behalf of the Secretary may be based in part on the identification and description of the EFH and such actions would likely have specific measurable impacts on the small entities participating in the fishery. As a result, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and none has been prepared. NMFS will conduct the appropriate analyses for any subsequent rulemakings stemming from this proposed rule. This proposed rule is not significant for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 (Supplemental Regulatory Impact Review to Amendment 14 to the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan was prepared, see ADDRESSES). List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660 Administrative practice and procedure, Fisheries, Fishing, Incorporation by reference, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Dated: April 12, 2007. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator For Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50 CFR part 660 as follows: PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES 1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 2. Section 660.412 is added under subpart H to read as follows: § 660.412 EFH identifications and descriptions for Pacific salmon. Pacific salmon essential fish habitat (EFH) includes all those water bodies occupied or historically accessible in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California in hydrologic units identified in Table 1 of this subpart. Exceptions include cases in which man-made barriers (dams) identified in Table 1 of this subpart represent the upstream extent of Pacific salmon access. EFH also includes the EEZ (from zero to 200 miles) off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington State. 19869 (a) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) EFH includes all streams, estuaries, marine waters, and other water bodies occupied or historically accessible to Chinook salmon in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California, in hydrologic units identified in Table 1 of this subpart. Exceptions include cases in which man-made barriers (dams) identified in Table 1 of this subpart represent the upstream extent of Pacific salmon access. EFH also includes the EEZ (from zero to 200 miles) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California north of Point Conception. (b) Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) EFH includes all streams, estuaries, marine waters, and other water bodies occupied or historically accessible to coho in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California, in hydrologic units identified in Table 1 of this subpart. Exceptions include cases in which man-made barriers (dams) identified in Table 1 of this subpart represent the upstream extent of Pacific salmon access. EFH also includes the EEZ (from zero to 200 miles) off the coasts Washington, Oregon, and California north of Point Conception. (c) Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) EFH includes all streams, estuaries, marine waters, and other water bodies occupied or historically accessible to pink salmon within Washington State, in hydrologic units identified in Table 1 of this subpart. Exceptions include cases in which manmade barriers (dams) identified in Table 1 of this subpart represent the upstream extent of Pacific salmon access. EFH also includes waters north and east of Cape Flattery, Washington, including Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia. 3. Table 1 to part 660, subpart H is added to read as follows: TABLE 1 TO PART 660, SUBPART H—PACIFIC SALMON EFH IDENTIFIED BY USGS HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE (HUC) Impassible Man-made Barrier (if present) State(s) 17110001 WA Fraser (Whatcom) Coho salmon n/a 17110002 WA Strait of Georgia Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110003 cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS USGS HUC1 WA San Juan Islands Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110004 WA Nooksack River Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110005 WA Upper Skagit Chinook, coho, and pink salmon Gorge Lake Dam VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Hydrologic Unit Name Frm 00063 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Salmon Species E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 19870 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules TABLE 1 TO PART 660, SUBPART H—PACIFIC SALMON EFH IDENTIFIED BY USGS HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE (HUC)— Continued Impassible Man-made Barrier (if present) State(s) 17110006 WA Sauk River Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110007 WA Lower Skagit River Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110008 WA Stillaguamish River Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110009 WA Skykomish River Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110010 WA Snoqualmie Chinook, coho, and pink salmon Tolt Dam (S. Fork Tolt R.) 17110011 WA Snohomish River Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110012 WA Lake Washington Chinook and coho salmon Cedar Falls (Masonry) Dam (Cedar R.) 17110013 WA Duwamish River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17110014 WA Puyallup River Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110015 WA Nisqually River Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110016 WA Deschutes River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17110017 WA Skokomish River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17110018 WA Hood Canal Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110019 WA Puget Sound Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110020 WA Dungeness - Elwha Chinook, coho, and pink salmon n/a 17110021 WA Hoko - Crescent Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100101 WA Hoh Quillayute Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100102 WA Queets - Quinault Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100103 WA Upper Chehalis River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100104 WA Lower Chehalis River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100105 WA Grays Harbor Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100106 WA Willapa Bay Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17080001 OR/WA Lower Columbia Sandy River Chinook and coho salmon Bull Run Project (Sandy R., Little Sandy R., Bull Run R.) 17080002 WA Lewis River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17080003 cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS USGS HUC1 OR/WA Lower Columbia Clatskanie River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17080004 WA Upper Cowlitz River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17080005 WA Lower Cowlitz River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17080006 OR/WA Lower Columbia Chinook and coho salmon n/a VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Hydrologic Unit Name Frm 00064 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Salmon Species E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules 19871 TABLE 1 TO PART 660, SUBPART H—PACIFIC SALMON EFH IDENTIFIED BY USGS HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE (HUC)— Continued Impassible Man-made Barrier (if present) State(s) 17090001 OR Middle Fork Willamette River Chinook salmon Dexter Dam 17090002 OR Coast Fork Willamette River Chinook salmon Dorena Dam 17090003 OR Upper Willamette River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17090004 OR McKenzie River Chinook and coho salmon Cougar Dam 17090005 OR N. Santiam River Chinook and coho salmon Big Cliff Dam 17090006 OR S. Santiam River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17090007 OR Mid. Willamette River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17090008 OR Yamhill River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17090009 OR Molalla - Pudding River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17090010 OR Tualatin River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17090011 OR Clackamas River Chinook and coho salmon Oak Grove Dam 17090012 OR Lower Willamette River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17070101 OR/WA Mid. Columbia - Lake Wallula Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17070102 OR/WA Walla Walla River Chinook salmon n/a 17070103 OR Umatilla River Chinook salmon n/a 17070104 OR Willow Chinook salmon n/a 17070105 OR/WA Mid. Columbia - Hood Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17070106 WA Klickitat River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17070301 OR Upper Deschutes River Chinook salmon n/a 17070305 OR Lower Crooked River Chinook salmon Opal Springs Dam 17070306 OR Lower Deschutes River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17070307 OR Trout Creek Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17070201 OR Upper John Day River Chinook salmon n/a 17070202 OR North Fork John Day River Chinook salmon n/a 17070203 OR Middle Fork John Day River Chinook salmon n/a 17070204 OR Lower John Day River Chinook salmon n/a 17030001 WA Upper Yakima River Chinook and coho salmon Keechelus Dam Kachess Dam (Kachess R.) Cle Elum Dam (Cle Elum R.) 17030002 WA Naches River Chinook and coho salmon Rimrock Dam (Tieton R.) 17030003 cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS USGS HUC1 WA Lower Yakima River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17020005 WA Columbia River Chinook and coho salmon Chief Joseph Dam 17020006 WA Okanogan River Chinook salmon n/a 17020007 WA Similkameen Chinook salmon n/a 17020008 WA Methow River Chinook and coho salmon n/a VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Hydrologic Unit Name Frm 00065 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Salmon Species E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1 19872 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules TABLE 1 TO PART 660, SUBPART H—PACIFIC SALMON EFH IDENTIFIED BY USGS HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE (HUC)— Continued Impassible Man-made Barrier (if present) State(s) 17020010 WA Upper Columbia - Entiat River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17020011 WA Wenatchee River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17020016 WA Upper Columbia - Priest Rapids Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17060101 OR/ID Hells Canyon Chinook salmon Hells Canyon Complex (Hells Canyon, Oxbow, and Brownlee Dams) 17060102 OR Imnaha River Chinook salmon n/a 17060103 OR/WA/ID Lower Snake - Asotin Creek Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17060104 OR Upper Grande Ronde Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17060105 OR Wallowa River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17060106 OR/WA Lower Grande Ronde Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17060107 OR Lower Snake - Tucannon River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17060110 OR Lower Snake River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17060201 ID Upper Salmon River Chinook salmon n/a 17060202 ID Pahsimeroi River Chinook salmon n/a 17060203 ID Mid. Salmon - Panther River Chinook salmon n/a 17060204 ID Lemhi River Chinook salmon n/a 17060205 ID Upper Middle Fork Salmon River Chinook salmon n/a 17060206 ID Lower Middle Fork Salmon River Chinook salmon n/a 17060207 ID Mid. Salmon - Chamberlain Chinook salmon n/a 17060208 ID S.F. Salmon River Chinook salmon n/a 17060209 ID Lower Salmon River Chinook salmon n/a 17060210 ID Little Salmon River Chinook salmon n/a 17060301 ID Upper Selway River Chinook salmon n/a 17060302 ID Lower Selway River Chinook salmon n/a 17060303 ID Lochsa River Chinook salmon n/a 17060304 ID M.F. Clearwater River Chinook salmon n/a 17060305 ID S.F. Clearwater River Chinook salmon n/a 17060306 cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS USGS HUC1 WA/ID Clearwater River Chinook and coho salmon Dworshak Dam (at border of HUCs 17060306 and 17060308) 17100201 OR Necanicum River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100202 OR Nehalem River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100203 OR Wilson - Trask - Nestucca Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100204 OR Siletz Yaquina River Chinook and coho salmon n/a Frm 00066 E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Hydrologic Unit Name Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Salmon Species 20APP1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules 19873 TABLE 1 TO PART 660, SUBPART H—PACIFIC SALMON EFH IDENTIFIED BY USGS HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE (HUC)— Continued Impassible Man-made Barrier (if present) State(s) 17100205 OR Alsea River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100206 OR Siuslaw River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100207 OR Siltcoos River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100301 OR N. Umpqua River Chinook and coho salmon Soda Springs Dam 17100302 OR S. Umpqua River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100303 OR Umpqua River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100304 OR Coos River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100305 OR Coquille River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100306 OR Sixes River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100307 OR Upper Rogue River Chinook and coho salmon Lost Creek Dam 17100308 OR Middle Rogue River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100309 CA/OR Applegate River Chinook and coho salmon Applegate Dam 17100310 OR Lower Rogue River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100311 CA/OR Illinois River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 17100312 CA/OR Chetco River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010101 CA/OR Smith River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010206 CA/OR Upper Klamath River Chinook and coho salmon Iron Gate Dam 18010207 CA Shasta River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010208 CA Scott River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010209 CA/OR Lower Klamath River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010210 CA Salmon River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010211 CA Trinity River Chinook and coho salmon Lewiston Dam 18010212 CA S.F. Trinity River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010102 CA Mad Redwood Chinook and coho salmon Robert W. Matthews Dam 18010103 CA Upper Eel River Chinook and coho salmon Scott Dam 18010104 CA Middle Fork Eel River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010105 CA Lower Eel River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010106 CA South Fork Eel River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010107 CA Mattole River Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010108 CA Big-Navarro-Garcia Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010109 CA Gualala - Salmon Creek Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18010110 cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS USGS HUC1 CA Russian River Chinook and coho salmon Coyote Valley Dam (E. Fork Russian R.) Warm Springs Dam (Dry Cr.) 18010111 CA Bodega Bay Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18060001 CA San Lorenzo Soquel Coho salmon Newell Dam (Newell Cr.) Frm 00067 E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Hydrologic Unit Name Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Salmon Species 20APP1 19874 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules TABLE 1 TO PART 660, SUBPART H—PACIFIC SALMON EFH IDENTIFIED BY USGS HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE (HUC)— Continued Impassible Man-made Barrier (if present) State(s) 18060006 CA Central Coastal Coho salmon n/a 18050001 CA Suisun Bay Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18050002 CA San Pablo Bay Chinook and coho salmon San Pablo Dam (San Pablo Cr.) 18050003 CA Coyote Creek Chinook and coho salmon LeRoy Anderson Dam 18050004 CA San Francisco Bay Chinook and coho salmon n/a 18050005 CA Tomales-Drakes Bay Coho salmon Nicasio Dam (Nicasio Cr.) Peters Dam (Lagunitas Cr.) 18050006 CA San Francisco-Coastal South Coho salmon n/a 18020101 CA Sac.-Lower Cow-Lower Clear Chinook salmon n/a 18020102 CA Lower Cottonwood Creek Chinook salmon n/a 18020103 CA Sacramento - Lower Thomes Chinook salmon n/a 18020104 CA Sacramento - Stone Corral Chinook salmon n/a 18020105 CA Lower Butte Creek Chinook salmon n/a 18020106 CA Lower Feather River Chinook salmon n/a 18020107 CA Lower Yuba River Chinook salmon n/a 18020108 CA Lower Bear River Chinook salmon n/a 18020109 CA Lower Sacramento River Chinook salmon n/a 18020110 CA Lower Cache Chinook salmon n/a 18020111 CA Lower American River Chinook salmon Nimbus Dam 18020112 CA Sacramento-Upper Clear Chinook salmon Keswick Dam (Sacramento R.) Whiskeytown Dam (Clear Cr.) 18020113 CA Cottonwood Headwaters Chinook salmon n/a 18020114 CA Elder Creek Chinook salmon n/a p CA River Chinook salmon n/a 18020118 CA Upper Cow - Battle Creek Chinook salmon n/a 18020119 CA Mill - Big Chico Chinook salmon n/a 18020120 CA Upper Butte Creek Chinook salmon n/a 18020125 CA Upper Yuba Chinook salmon n/a 18040001 cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS USGS HUC1 CA Mid. San Joaquin- L. Cowchilla Chinook salmon n/a 18040002 CA Mid. San Joaquin- L. Merced- L. Stanislaus Chinook salmon La Grange Dam (Tuolumne R.) 18040003 CA San Joaquin Delta Chinook salmon n/a 18040004 CA L. Calaveras - Mormon Slough Chinook salmon n/a Frm 00068 E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Hydrologic Unit Name Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Salmon Species 20APP1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules 19875 TABLE 1 TO PART 660, SUBPART H—PACIFIC SALMON EFH IDENTIFIED BY USGS HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE (HUC)— Continued Impassible Man-made Barrier (if present) USGS HUC1 State(s) 18040005 CA L. Consumnes- L. Mokelumne Chinook salmon Comanche Dam 18040010 CA Upper Stanislaus Chinook salmon Goodwin Dam 18040011 CA Upper Calveras Chinook salmon New Hogan Dam 18040013 CA Upper Cosumnes Chinook salmon n/a Hydrologic Unit Name Salmon Species 1. To clearly identify watersheds that contain EFH, NMFS uses fourth field hydrologic unit codes (HUCs) developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (defined in the Department of the Interior, USGS publication; Hydrologic Unit Maps, Water Supply Paper 2294, 1987). The geographic extent of HUCs range from first field (largest geographic extent) to sixth field (smallest geographic extent). Fourth field HUCs divide the landscape into distinct geographic areas that are identified by eight numbers unique to that hydrologic unit. [FR Doc. 07–1946 Filed 4–19–07; 8:45 am] cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 76 (Friday, April 20, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19862-19875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1946]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 070227047-7047-01; I.D. 020405C]
RIN 0648-AS96


Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; 
Amendment 14; Essential Fish Habitat Descriptions for Pacific Salmon

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 14 to the 
Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan (Salmon FMP) to identify and 
describe essential fish habitat (EFH) for Pacific salmon. The intent of 
this proposed rule is to codify the EFH identifications and 
descriptions for freshwater and marine habitats of Pacific salmon 
managed under the Salmon FMP, including Chinook, coho, and pink salmon. 
This proposed rule complies with an order issued by the U.S. District 
Court of Idaho directing NMFS to codify the EFH identifications and 
descriptions contained in the Salmon FMP. This proposed EFH rule is 
separate and distinct from the December 2004 proposed critical habitat 
rules in which NMFS proposed critical habitat for seven groupings of 
Chinook and coho salmon listed as threatened or endangered species 
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Where EFH and critical habitat 
overlap, NMFS will generally merge the results of both consultations 
into one response package to maximize regulatory efficiencies whenever 
possible.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 19, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or obtain a supplemental regulatory 
impact review to amendment 14 to the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management 
Plan by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: EFH.salmon@NOAA.gov. Include in the subject line 
the following identifier ``RIN 0648-AS96.''
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: For submitting paper, disk or CD ROM comments. Frank 
Lockhart, NMFS Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 
98115.
     Fax: 206-526-6736.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Lockhart at 206-526-6142.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Among other things, the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) 
authorizes development of Federal Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), and 
Federal regulation of domestic fisheries under those FMPs, within the 
200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 16 U.S.C. 1811, 1853. To 
assist the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) in carrying out specific 
management and conservation duties, the Magnuson-Stevens Act created 
eight regional fishery management councils. Under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, an FMP and any amendments are usually originated by one of the 
eight regional fishery management councils, 16 U.S.C. 1852, and must 
then be approved by the Secretary of Commerce. 16 U.S.C. 1854.

Essential Fish Habitat

    The Magnuson-Stevens Act, originally enacted in 1976, has been 
amended several times. In 1996, the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) 
amended the Magnuson-Stevens Act adding provisions aimed at halting 
overfishing and rebuilding overfished fisheries, reducing bycatch, and 
assessing and minimizing the impacts of management measures on fishing 
communities. Congress articulated in its findings that:
    one of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of 
commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing loss of 
marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats. Habitat 
considerations should receive increased attention for the 
conservation and management of fishery resources of the United 
States. 16 U.S.C. 1801(a).
    In making such findings, Congress declared one of the purposes of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act to be the promotion of ``the protection of 
[EFH] in the review of projects conducted under Federal permits, 
licenses, or other authorities that affect or have the potential to 
affect such habitat.'' 16 U.S.C. 1802(b)(7). To ensure habitat 
considerations receive increased attention for the conservation and 
management of fishery resources, the amended Magnuson-Stevens Act 
required each existing, and any new, FMP to:
    describe and identify essential fish habitat for the fishery 
based on the guidelines established by the Secretary under section 
1855(b)(1)(A) of this title, minimize to the extent practicable 
adverse effects on such habitat caused by fishing, and identify 
other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of such 
habitat. 16 U.S.C. 1853(a)(7).
    ``EFH'' is defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Act as ``those waters 
and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or 
growth to maturity.'' 16 U.S.C. 1802(10).
    The EFH regulations (50 CFR 600.815) establish additional guidance 
to the Councils on how to identify and describe EFH. The regulations 
indicate that Councils should:
    obtain information to describe and identify EFH from the best 
available sources, including peer reviewed literature, unpublished 
scientific reports, data files of government resource agencies, 
fisheries landing reports, and other sources of information.
    The regulations identify four classification levels to organize 
available information relevant to EFH identifications and descriptions. 
Level 1 information is limited to species distributional data; level 2 
information includes habitat-related densities; level 3 includes 
growth, reproduction or survival rates within habitats; and level 4 
consists of production rates by habitat. Councils are encouraged to 
identify and describe EFH based on the highest level of detail (i.e., 
level 4). Readers are encouraged to see the EFH regulations (50 CFR 
600.815, subpart J) for a complete description of each of these levels 
as well as guidance on how the Councils should analyze the available 
information. In determinating EFH, the regulations advise the Councils 
to interpret the available information in a ``risk-averse fashion to 
ensure adequate areas are identified as EFH for managed species.'' 50 
CFR 600.815(a)(1)(iv)(A). For Pacific salmon, the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Pacific Council) obtained information at all four 
levels

[[Page 19863]]

for certain freshwater areas, and the first three levels of information 
for the estuaries; only the first level of information was available 
for marine areas.

Amendment 14 to the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan

    The Secretary approved the Salmon FMP under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., in 1978. The Pacific Council has amended 
the Salmon FMP 14 times since 1978. For more information on the FMP 
process, refer to 16 U.S.C. 1651-1654.
    The Pacific Council identified and described EFH for Pacific salmon 
in Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP and submitted it on June 12, 2000, 
for Secretarial review. After a public comment period, NMFS approved 
Amendment 14 on September 27, 2000. The Pacific salmon EFH descriptions 
and identifications were not codified during the development of 
Amendment 14.
    NMFS issues this proposed rule in response to a U.S. District Court 
of Idaho (Court) order (Case No. CV02-C-EJL, District Court of Idaho) 
directing NMFS to codify the EFH identifications and descriptions 
contained in the Salmon FMP. The Court determined that the EFH 
identifications and descriptions included in the amendment constitute a 
substantive rule under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The 
Court remanded, but did not vacate, the EFH identifications and 
descriptions contained in Amendment 14 to NMFS, and ordered NMFS to 
undertake notice and comment rulemaking to codify identified and 
described EFH for the Pacific salmon fishery.
    The intent of this proposed rule is to codify, in compliance with 
the Court's order, the EFH identifications and descriptions for 
freshwater and marine habitats of Pacific salmon managed under the 
Salmon FMP for Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho (O. kisutch), 
and pink (O. gorbuscha) salmon in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and 
California.
    As new information becomes available, the Pacific Council will 
consider potential modifications to the identifications and 
descriptions of EFH. The Pacific Council is scheduled to review salmon 
EFH, pursuant to the review process schedule set up by both the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and the EFH regulations at 50 CFR 600.815(a)(10). 
Upon completion of this 5-year review, the Pacific Council and NMFS may 
propose changes to the EFH descriptions depending on the level of new 
information and the effect that information has on the existing EFH 
identifications and descriptions.
    This proposed rule does not contradict or make obsolete the 
information contained in appendix A of Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP. 
Rather, this proposed rule summarizes key features of appendix A and 
would codify the EFH geographic extent descriptions for Pacific salmon. 
Appendix A contains important background and supplementary information 
on EFH, and can be found on the Council's website at https://
www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salfmp/a14.html.

Pacific Council Approach to EFH Identification

    The Pacific Council chose a comprehensive rather than a limiting 
approach in the Amendment 14 identification of salmon EFH for the 
following reasons, all of which made it very difficult to narrowly 
define EFH geographically. In the marine environment, Pacific salmon 
distribution is: (1) extensive; (2) varies seasonally and 
interannually; and (3) has not been extensively sampled in many ocean 
areas. In estuaries and freshwater, there is a high degree of natural 
variability in distribution of salmon species and habitat use (e.g., 
fluctuation in population abundance that can lead to a wider extent of 
habitat being used during high abundance years and a smaller extent of 
habitat being occupied during lower abundance years; varying levels of 
habitat quality; and interannual stream flow variation and water 
quality changes). For these reasons, the Pacific Council was not able 
to designate EFH based on fixed attributes of the streams (e.g., 
channel morphology (channel habitat type), streamflow, water quality, 
riparian condition, and temperature) because there may be areas of 
degraded habitat that may still be used by Pacific salmon and 
considered EFH.
    The Pacific Council chose to adopt an inclusive, watershed-based 
description of EFH using United States Geological Survey (USGS) 
hydrologic units, because it recognizes the species' use of diverse 
habitats, considers the variability of freshwater habitat as affected 
by environmental conditions (droughts, floods, etc.), and reinforces 
important linkages between aquatic and adjacent upslope areas. A more 
detailed background on the Pacific Council's approach can be found in 
appendix A of Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP.

Consideration of Artificial Barriers

    In identifying the upstream extent of EFH, the Pacific Council 
considered artificial barriers and dams that affect Pacific salmon 
habitat. Numerous hydropower, water storage, and flood control systems 
have been built that either block access to areas historically 
accessible to Pacific salmon or alter the hydrology of downstream 
reaches. The Pacific Council therefore considered whether more than 50 
large impassible barriers in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California 
should be designated as the upstream extent of EFH. These barriers are 
identified in Table 1 to part 660, subpart H. Should it become feasible 
for Pacific salmon to have access to or be reintroduced above the 
impassible dams, the FMP requires the Pacific Council to recommend 
identifying and describing the areas above the barriers as Pacific 
salmon EFH. The potential for expansion of EFH under these 
circumstances is addressed at 50 CFR 600.815(a)(1)(iv)(C) and (F).

Pacific Salmon Biology

    The Magnuson-Stevens Act links EFH identifications and descriptions 
to life history stages, and the physiological, biological, and habitat 
parameters on which each life stage depends. To accomplish the task of 
linking these parameters in a meaningful way, the Pacific Council 
established tables and a narrative that present habitat requirements as 
they relate to fish life history stage and physiology. The four life 
history stages are eggs, larvae (alevins), juveniles, and adults. The 
biological needs include diet, substrate type, water quality, and 
others. These tables can be found in appendix A of Amendment 14 (Tables 
A-3, A-4, and A-5).
    A brief overview of Pacific salmon life history and habitat 
requirements is provided below. This information is not intended to be 
a thorough review of Pacific salmon habitat requirements. Rather, it is 
intended to provide a sample of the information that supported the 
Pacific Council's EFH identifications and descriptions. See appendix A 
of Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP for more detailed information on 
habitat use specific to life stage.
    Chinook, coho, and pink salmon all have similar life history and 
habitat requirements; yet all three species have unique survival and 
reproductive strategies. They are anadromous, and by definition live 
the first part of their lives in freshwater and the adult part of their 
lives in marine waters before returning to spawn in freshwater.
    For spawning and rearing, these salmon require clean, cold, well-
oxygenated water with moderate

[[Page 19864]]

current. Spawning adults need medium to coarse gravel in which to 
deposit eggs. Eggs and alevins need well-oxygenated interstitial spaces 
with continuous water flow. This life stage is susceptible to poor 
water quality, predation, and physical impacts such as flooding or 
excessive siltation, which can smother the eggs.
    At an age that varies among species, juvenile salmon migrate 
downstream towards the ocean. During this migration, the juvenile 
salmon require high water quality and protection from predation. 
Estuaries provide a mixing zone of saline and freshwater in which the 
young salmon can adapt to marine waters.
    Pacific salmon use large portions of the north Pacific during ocean 
migration, although patterns vary between species and even between 
different populations of the same species. It is clear that ocean 
migration can be extensive. During the ocean phase, salmon are 
susceptible to predation, fishing mortality, and lack of food 
resources. The Pacific Council and NMFS considered excluding large 
portions of the EEZ from EFH designation. However, the best scientific 
information available was insufficient to support refinement. They 
chose, therefore, to identify and describe the entire EEZ as EFH for 
Pacific salmon. The Pacific Council adopted relatively broad EFH 
descriptions because of the wide ranging life history strategy, the 
number of species involved, and the limited information on marine 
distribution.

EFH for Chinook, Coho, and Pink Salmon

    Table 1 to part 660, subpart H lists those hydrologic units which 
are identified as EFH for Chinook, coho, and pink salmon. Table 1 also 
includes, where appropriate, the names of impassible barriers that 
represent the upstream extent of Pacific salmon distribution.
    To assist Federal agencies and the public, the following three 
figures depict those 4th field USGS Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) that 
contain EFH for Pacific salmon. Figure 1 shows HUCs and marine waters 
that contain EFH for Chinook salmon in Washington, Oregon, California, 
and Idaho. Figure 2 shows HUCs and marine waters that contain EFH for 
coho salmon in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. Figure 3 
shows HUCs and marine waters that contain EFH for pink salmon in 
Washington.

[[Page 19865]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP20AP07.000


[[Page 19866]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP20AP07.001


[[Page 19867]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP20AP07.002

EFH in Alaskan Marine Waters

    In identifying and describing EFH for Pacific salmon in Amendment 
14, the Pacific Council included those areas that have been identified 
and described as marine EFH for Pacific salmon by the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (North Pacific Council). While the task of 
identifying and describing EFH in Alaskan waters is the responsibility 
of the North Pacific Council, the Pacific Council chose to include the 
reference to Alaskan EFH in Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP in order to 
emphasize the relationship within the Pacific Coast ecosystem used by 
Pacific salmon during their adult migrations. This proposed rule, 
however, only codifies EFH for Pacific salmon that is within the 
jurisdiction of the Pacific Council, and does not codify EFH identified 
and described by the North Pacific Council for Pacific salmon

[[Page 19868]]

that is found in Alaskan waters under the North Pacific Council's 
jurisdiction.

Effects of Identifying and Describing EFH

    Once EFH is identified and described, the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
requires that each FMP minimize to the extent practicable adverse 
effects to EFH. Adverse effects are broadly divided into effects from 
fishing and nonfishing activities. For impacts to EFH caused by fishing 
activities, each FMP must consider measures to minimize adverse effects 
on EFH, including EFH identified and described under other Federal 
FMPs. These measures may include equipment restrictions, time/area 
closures, or harvest limits.
    In addition, the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires any Federal agency 
that determines that its action may adversely affect EFH to consult 
with NMFS. Section 305(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act defines a 
Federal action as ``any action authorized, funded, or undertaken, or 
proposed to be authorized, funded, or undertaken, by such agency that 
may adversely affect any essential fish habitat identified under this 
Act.'' The consultation process is fully described in the EFH 
regulations at 50 CFR 600.920. In order for NMFS to conduct this 
consultation the Federal action agency provides an EFH assessment 
commensurate with the complexity and magnitude of the potential adverse 
effects of the action.
    After receiving a request for consultation and accompanying EFH 
assessment, NMFS must develop Conservation Recommendations for those 
actions that would adversely affect EFH, aimed at the need to avoid, 
minimize, mitigate, or offset adverse effects of the proposed action. 
NMFS must also provide Conservation Recommendations for those Federal 
and state actions that would adversely affect EFH in situations where 
consultation has not been requested. Upon receiving the recommended 
conservation measures, the Federal action agency must provide a 
detailed written response within 30 days, indicating the proposed 
measures to avoid or minimize adverse impacts on EFH. If the response 
is inconsistent with NMFS Conservation Recommendations, the Federal 
agency must explain its reasons for not following the recommendations, 
including the scientific justification for any disagreements with NMFS 
over the anticipated effects of the action and the measures needed to 
avoid, minimize, mitigate, or offset such effects.

Distinction Between EFH and Critical Habitat

    EFH responsibilities under the Magnuson-Stevens Act should not be 
confused with the mandate to designate critical habitat under the ESA. 
Congress enacted these two statutes with very different purposes in 
mind. One of the purposes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act is to promote 
domestic commercial and recreational fisheries. In amending the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, Congress found that:
    [o]ne of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of 
commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing loss of 
marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats. Habitat 
considerations should receive increased attention for the 
conservation and management of fishery resources of the United 
States. 16 U.S.C 1801(a)(9).
    Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Congress established the mandate to 
identify and describe EFH in order to support the habitat needs of 
federally managed fish stocks to aid in ensuring long-term sustainable 
fisheries.
    The definition of EFH within the Magnuson-Stevens Act, as well as 
the EFH implementing regulations (EFH Final Rule), establishes a basis 
for broader geographic areas to be identified and described as EFH, 
compared with those areas designated as critical habitat. The Magnuson-
Stevens Act defines EFH as ``those areas necessary to fish for 
spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.'' 16 U.S.C. 
1802(10). The EFH Final Rule provides a mechanism for aiding the 
fishery management councils in determining the extent of EFH for the 
managed species. While the EFH Final Rule emphasizes that EFH should be 
distinguished from all habitats potentially used by the managed 
species, it also states that ``[a]reas described as EFH will normally 
be greater than or equal to aquatic areas that have been identified as 
'critical habitat' for any managed species listed as threatened or 
endangered under the [ESA].'' 50 CFR 600.815(a)(1)(iv)(D). In addition, 
the EFH Final Rule provides the opportunity to increase the size of the 
area identified as EFH to include historic and/or degraded habitats 
where habitat loss may be contributing to reduced yield of the managed 
species.
    In contrast, the ESA was enacted ``to provide a means whereby the 
ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend 
may be conserved'' and ``to provide a program for the conservation of 
such endangered species and threatened species.'' 16 U.S.C. 1531(b). 
The ESA specifically articulates that:
    the term 'critical habitat' for a threatened or endangered 
species means -
    1. the specific areas within the geographic area occupied by the 
species at the time it is listed . . . on which are found those 
physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the 
species and . . . which may require special management 
considerations and protections; and
    2. specific areas outside the geographic area occupied by the 
species at the time it is listed . . . upon a determination by the 
Secretary that such areas are essential for the conservation of the 
species. 16 U.S.C. 1532(5)(A).
    The definition of critical habitat in the ESA also indicates that 
``except in those situations determined by the Secretary, critical 
habitat shall not include the entire geographic area which can be 
occupied by the threatened or endangered species.'' 16 U.S.C. 
1532(5)(C). While the ESA's implementing regulations regarding critical 
habitat set forth procedures for designating areas outside the current 
area occupied by the species, unlike EFH in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
the ESA regulations also allow the agency to exclude certain areas from 
critical habitat, or not designate at all, in certain situations.
    When the geographic locations of EFH and critical habitat overlap, 
the individual consultation requirements under the ESA and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act both apply. If a Federal agency determines that 
its action may adversely affect EFH and may affect critical habitat, it 
must consult with NMFS under the ESA and Magnuson-Stevens Act. In these 
circumstances, NMFS will generally merge the consultations into one 
response package, whenever possible, to maximize efficiency.

Classification

    This proposed rule is published under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    The NMFS Northwest Region completed an ESA section 7 consultation 
on November 18, 1999, on the effects of Amendment 14 on listed salmon 
evolutionarily significant units. Amendment 14 does not by itself 
authorize any fishing or other activity that would result in adverse 
effects to listed fish or designated critical habitat. Based on this 
and other considerations, NMFS concluded that Amendment 14 and its 
implementing regulations are not likely to adversely affect listed 
salmon or their critical habitat. This proposed rule is consistent with 
the determination in Amendment 14 that the action does not jeopardize 
the continued existence of ESA listed salmon.

[[Page 19869]]

    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
as follows:
    The objective of this rule is to codify essential fish habitat 
(EFH) descriptions and identifications that were previously approved 
by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary)for Amendment 14 to the 
Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan. EFH descriptions and 
identifications are required under the Magnuson Fisheries 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802(b)(7). All vessels 
harvesting salmon from this fishery are considered small under the 
Small Business Act approved definition of a small fish harvester 
(average gross receipts not in excess of $4.0 million). Therefore, 
there can be no disproportionate impacts between small and large 
vessels. Furthermore, there are no disproportionate impacts based on 
homeport, gear type, or vessel size from the promulgation of this 
proposed rule. In 2004, there were 3,008 permits issued for this 
fishery, with a total exvessel value of $28,961,275. Of the 3,008 
permits, only 910 actually landed salmon. There were 1508 vessel 
permits issued in California, 738 of which landed salmon, for an 
exvessel value of $17,883,216. There were 1,181 vessel permits 
issued in Oregon, 595 of which landed salmon, for an exvessel value 
of $9,893,065. There were 160 vessel permits issued in Washington, 
86 of which landed salmon, for an exvessel value of $1,184,994. This 
rule would not result in any immediate impacts on revenues or costs 
for the small entities participating in the Pacific salmon fishery 
because it does not contain any new management measures that would 
have specific economic impact on the fishery. However, future 
rulemakings that are promulgated by NMFS on behalf of the Secretary 
may be based in part on the identification and description of the 
EFH and such actions would likely have specific measurable impacts 
on the small entities participating in the fishery.
    As a result, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required and none has been prepared. NMFS will conduct the appropriate 
analyses for any subsequent rulemakings stemming from this proposed 
rule.
    This proposed rule is not significant for the purposes of Executive 
Order 12866 (Supplemental Regulatory Impact Review to Amendment 14 to 
the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan was prepared, see 
ADDRESSES).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Administrative practice and procedure, Fisheries, Fishing, 
Incorporation by reference, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 12, 2007.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator For Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50 
CFR part 660 as follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    2. Section 660.412 is added under subpart H to read as follows:


Sec.  660.412  EFH identifications and descriptions for Pacific salmon.

    Pacific salmon essential fish habitat (EFH) includes all those 
water bodies occupied or historically accessible in Washington, Oregon, 
Idaho, and California in hydrologic units identified in Table 1 of this 
subpart. Exceptions include cases in which man-made barriers (dams) 
identified in Table 1 of this subpart represent the upstream extent of 
Pacific salmon access. EFH also includes the EEZ (from zero to 200 
miles) off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington State.
    (a) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) EFH includes all 
streams, estuaries, marine waters, and other water bodies occupied or 
historically accessible to Chinook salmon in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, 
and California, in hydrologic units identified in Table 1 of this 
subpart. Exceptions include cases in which man-made barriers (dams) 
identified in Table 1 of this subpart represent the upstream extent of 
Pacific salmon access. EFH also includes the EEZ (from zero to 200 
miles) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California north of 
Point Conception.
    (b) Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) EFH includes all streams, 
estuaries, marine waters, and other water bodies occupied or 
historically accessible to coho in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and 
California, in hydrologic units identified in Table 1 of this subpart. 
Exceptions include cases in which man-made barriers (dams) identified 
in Table 1 of this subpart represent the upstream extent of Pacific 
salmon access. EFH also includes the EEZ (from zero to 200 miles) off 
the coasts Washington, Oregon, and California north of Point 
Conception.
    (c) Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) EFH includes all streams, 
estuaries, marine waters, and other water bodies occupied or 
historically accessible to pink salmon within Washington State, in 
hydrologic units identified in Table 1 of this subpart. Exceptions 
include cases in which man-made barriers (dams) identified in Table 1 
of this subpart represent the upstream extent of Pacific salmon access. 
EFH also includes waters north and east of Cape Flattery, Washington, 
including Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of 
Georgia.
    3. Table 1 to part 660, subpart H is added to read as follows:

        Table 1 to Part 660, Subpart H--Pacific Salmon EFH Identified by USGS Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Impassible Man-
           USGS HUC\1\                State(s)        Hydrologic Unit       Salmon Species     made Barrier (if
                                                            Name                                   present)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110001                          WA                Fraser (Whatcom)     Coho salmon          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110002                          WA                Strait of Georgia    Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110003                          WA                San Juan Islands     Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110004                          WA                Nooksack River       Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110005                          WA                Upper Skagit         Chinook, coho, and   Gorge Lake Dam
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 19870]]

 
17110006                          WA                Sauk River           Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110007                          WA                Lower Skagit River   Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110008                          WA                Stillaguamish River  Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110009                          WA                Skykomish River      Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110010                          WA                Snoqualmie           Chinook, coho, and   Tolt Dam (S. Fork
                                                                          pink salmon          Tolt R.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110011                          WA                Snohomish River      Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110012                          WA                Lake Washington      Chinook and coho     Cedar Falls
                                                                          salmon               (Masonry) Dam
                                                                                               (Cedar R.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110013                          WA                Duwamish River       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110014                          WA                Puyallup River       Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110015                          WA                Nisqually River      Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110016                          WA                Deschutes River      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110017                          WA                Skokomish River      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110018                          WA                Hood Canal           Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110019                          WA                Puget Sound          Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110020                          WA                Dungeness - Elwha    Chinook, coho, and   n/a
                                                                          pink salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17110021                          WA                Hoko - Crescent      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100101                          WA                Hoh Quillayute       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100102                          WA                Queets - Quinault    Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100103                          WA                Upper Chehalis       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     River                salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100104                          WA                Lower Chehalis       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     River                salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100105                          WA                Grays Harbor         Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100106                          WA                Willapa Bay          Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17080001                          OR/WA             Lower Columbia       Chinook and coho     Bull Run Project
                                                     Sandy River          salmon               (Sandy R., Little
                                                                                               Sandy R., Bull
                                                                                               Run R.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17080002                          WA                Lewis River          Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17080003                          OR/WA             Lower Columbia -     Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     Clatskanie River     salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17080004                          WA                Upper Cowlitz River  Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17080005                          WA                Lower Cowlitz River  Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17080006                          OR/WA             Lower Columbia       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 19871]]

 
17090001                          OR                Middle Fork          Chinook salmon       Dexter Dam
                                                     Willamette River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090002                          OR                Coast Fork           Chinook salmon       Dorena Dam
                                                     Willamette River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090003                          OR                Upper Willamette     Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     River                salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090004                          OR                McKenzie River       Chinook and coho     Cougar Dam
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090005                          OR                N. Santiam River     Chinook and coho     Big Cliff Dam
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090006                          OR                S. Santiam River     Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090007                          OR                Mid. Willamette      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     River                salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090008                          OR                Yamhill River        Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090009                          OR                Molalla - Pudding    Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     River                salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090010                          OR                Tualatin River       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090011                          OR                Clackamas River      Chinook and coho     Oak Grove Dam
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17090012                          OR                Lower Willamette     Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     River                salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070101                          OR/WA             Mid. Columbia -      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     Lake Wallula         salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070102                          OR/WA             Walla Walla River    Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070103                          OR                Umatilla River       Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070104                          OR                Willow               Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070105                          OR/WA             Mid. Columbia -      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     Hood                 salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070106                          WA                Klickitat River      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070301                          OR                Upper Deschutes      Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070305                          OR                Lower Crooked River  Chinook salmon       Opal Springs Dam
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070306                          OR                Lower Deschutes      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     River                salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070307                          OR                Trout Creek          Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070201                          OR                Upper John Day       Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070202                          OR                North Fork John Day  Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070203                          OR                Middle Fork John     Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     Day River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17070204                          OR                Lower John Day       Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17030001                          WA                Upper Yakima River   Chinook and coho     Keechelus Dam
                                                                          salmon              Kachess Dam
                                                                                               (Kachess R.)
                                                                                              Cle Elum Dam (Cle
                                                                                               Elum R.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17030002                          WA                Naches River         Chinook and coho     Rimrock Dam
                                                                          salmon               (Tieton R.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17030003                          WA                Lower Yakima River   Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17020005                          WA                Columbia River       Chinook and coho     Chief Joseph Dam
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17020006                          WA                Okanogan River       Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17020007                          WA                Similkameen          Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17020008                          WA                Methow River         Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 19872]]

 
17020010                          WA                Upper Columbia -     Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     Entiat River         salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17020011                          WA                Wenatchee River      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17020016                          WA                Upper Columbia -     Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     Priest Rapids        salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060101                          OR/ID             Hells Canyon         Chinook salmon       Hells Canyon
                                                                                               Complex (Hells
                                                                                               Canyon, Oxbow,
                                                                                               and Brownlee
                                                                                               Dams)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060102                          OR                Imnaha River         Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060103                          OR/WA/ID          Lower Snake -        Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     Asotin Creek         salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060104                          OR                Upper Grande Ronde   Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060105                          OR                Wallowa River        Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060106                          OR/WA             Lower Grande Ronde   Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060107                          OR                Lower Snake -        Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     Tucannon River       salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060110                          OR                Lower Snake River    Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060201                          ID                Upper Salmon River   Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060202                          ID                Pahsimeroi River     Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060203                          ID                Mid. Salmon -        Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     Panther River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060204                          ID                Lemhi River          Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060205                          ID                Upper Middle Fork    Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     Salmon River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060206                          ID                Lower Middle Fork    Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     Salmon River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060207                          ID                Mid. Salmon -        Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     Chamberlain
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060208                          ID                S.F. Salmon River    Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060209                          ID                Lower Salmon River   Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060210                          ID                Little Salmon River  Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060301                          ID                Upper Selway River   Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060302                          ID                Lower Selway River   Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060303                          ID                Lochsa River         Chinook salmon       n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060304                          ID                M.F. Clearwater      Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060305                          ID                S.F. Clearwater      Chinook salmon       n/a
                                                     River
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17060306                          WA/ID             Clearwater River     Chinook and coho     Dworshak Dam (at
                                                                          salmon               border of HUCs
                                                                                               17060306 and
                                                                                               17060308)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100201                          OR                Necanicum River      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100202                          OR                Nehalem River        Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100203                          OR                Wilson - Trask -     Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     Nestucca             salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100204                          OR                Siletz Yaquina       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                     River                salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 19873]]

 
17100205                          OR                Alsea River          Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100206                          OR                Siuslaw River        Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100207                          OR                Siltcoos River       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100301                          OR                N. Umpqua River      Chinook and coho     Soda Springs Dam
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100302                          OR                S. Umpqua River      Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100303                          OR                Umpqua River         Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100304                          OR                Coos River           Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100305                          OR                Coquille River       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100306                          OR                Sixes River          Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100307                          OR                Upper Rogue River    Chinook and coho     Lost Creek Dam
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100308                          OR                Middle Rogue River   Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100309                          CA/OR             Applegate River      Chinook and coho     Applegate Dam
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100310                          OR                Lower Rogue River    Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100311                          CA/OR             Illinois River       Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17100312                          CA/OR             Chetco River         Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18010101                          CA/OR             Smith River          Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18010206                          CA/OR             Upper Klamath River  Chinook and coho     Iron Gate Dam
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18010207                          CA                Shasta River         Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18010208                          CA                Scott River          Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18010209                          CA/OR             Lower Klamath River  Chinook and coho     n/a
                                                                          salmon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18010210                          CA                Salmon River         Chinook and coho     n/a
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