Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish, 7755-7757 [2013-02305]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2013 / Notices
announcements at industry meetings,
symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
Recruitment for the mission will
begin January 28, 2013 and conclude no
later than March 14, 2013. The U.S.
Department of Commerce will review
applications and make selection
decisions on a rolling basis until the
maximum of twenty participants is
reached. We will inform all applicants
of selection decisions as soon as
possible after the applications are
U.S. Commercial Service Cairo, Egypt
Dennis Simmons, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer
U.S. Commercial Service
Embassy of the United States of America
Email: Dennis.Simmons@trade.gov
Tel: (202) 2797–2610
Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2013–02262 Filed 2–1–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–FP–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XC477
Marine Mammals; File No. 17754
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
Sea World, Inc., 9205 South Park Circle,
Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819, has
applied in due form for a permit to
import one female, captive-born Pacific
white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus
obliquidens) for the purposes of public
display.
DATES: Written or telefaxed comments
must be received on or before March 6,
2013.
ADDRESSES: The application and related
documents are available for review
upon written request or by appointment
in the following offices:
Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705,
Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
(301)427–8401; fax (301)713–0376; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th
Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL
33701; phone (727) 824–5312; fax (727)
824–5309.
Written comments on this application
should be submitted to the Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division, at
the address listed above. Comments may
also be submitted by facsimile to
(301)713–0376, or by email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please
include the File No. 17754 in the subject
line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public
hearing should submit a written request
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
21:04 Feb 01, 2013
Jkt 229001
reviewed. Applications received after
the March 14 deadline will be
considered only if space and scheduling
constraints permit.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
U.S. Commercial Service Washington, DC
Anne Novak
U.S. Commercial Service
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 482–8178
Email: Anne.Novak@trade.gov
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation
Division at the address listed above. The
request should set forth the specific
reasons why a hearing on this
application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Skidmore or Kristy Beard,
(301)427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations
governing the taking and importing of
marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
The applicant requests authorization
to import one female captive-born
Pacific white-sided dolphin from
Kamogawa SeaWorld 1404–18 Higashicho, Kamogawa, Chiba, Japan to Sea
World San Antonio. The applicant
requests this import for the purpose of
public display. The receiving facility,
Sea World San Antonio, 10500
SeaWorld Drive, San Antonio, TX
78251, is: (1) Open to the public on
regularly scheduled basis with access
that is not limited or restricted other
than by charging for an admission fee;
(2) offers an educational program based
on professionally accepted standards of
the AZA and the Alliance for Marine
Mammal Parks and Aquariums; and (3)
holds an Exhibitor’s License, number
74–C–0180, issued by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture under the
Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131—
59).
In addition to determining whether
the applicant meets the three public
display criteria, NMFS must determine
whether the applicant has demonstrated
that the proposed activity is humane
and does not represent any unnecessary
risks to the health and welfare of marine
mammals; that the proposed activity by
itself, or in combination with other
activities, will not likely have a
significant adverse impact on the
species or stock; and that the applicant’s
expertise, facilities and resources are
adequate to accomplish successfully the
objectives and activities stated in the
application.
PO 00000
7755
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
determination has been made that the
activity proposed is categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
Concurrent with the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register,
NMFS is forwarding copies of this
application to the Marine Mammal
Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
Dated: January 29, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–02235 Filed 2–1–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XC476
Endangered and Threatened Species;
Take of Anadromous Fish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of two permit
applications and one permit
modification request for scientific
research and enhancement.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
NMFS has received two scientific
research and enhancement permit
applications and one permit
modification request relating to
anadromous species listed under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA). The
proposed research activities are
intended to increase knowledge of the
species and to help guide management
and conservation efforts. The
applications and related documents may
be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
04FEN1
7756
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2013 / Notices
noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_
comment.cfm. These documents are also
available upon written request or by
appointment by contacting NMFS by
phone (916) 930–3706 or fax (916) 930
3629.
Written comments on the permit
applications or modification request
must be received at the appropriate
address or fax number (see ADDRESSES)
no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard
time on March 6, 2013.
DATES:
Written comments on the
applications or modification request
should be submitted to the Protected
Resources Division, NMFS, 650 Capitol
Mall, Room 5–100, Sacramento, CA
95814. Comments may also be
submitted via fax to (916) 930–3629 or
by email to FRNpermits.SR@noaa.gov.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amanda Cranford, Sacramento, CA (ph.:
916–930–3706, email.:
Amanda.Cranford@noaa.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
This notice is relevant to federally
threatened California Central Valley
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss),
threatened Central Valley spring-run
Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha),
endangered Sacramento River winterrun Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha),
and the threatened southern distinct
population segment of North American
(SDPS) green sturgeon (Acipenser
medirostris).
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Authority
Scientific research permits are issued
in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(A)
of the ESA of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531–
1543) and regulations governing listed
fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts
222–226). NMFS issues permits based
on findings that such permits: (1) Are
applied for in good faith; (2) if granted
and exercised, would not operate to the
disadvantage of the listed species which
are the subject of the permits; and (3)
are consistent with the purposes and
policies set forth in section 2 of the
ESA. The authority to take listed species
is subject to conditions set forth in the
permits.
Anyone requesting a hearing on the
applications or permit modification
request listed in this notice should set
out the specific reasons why a hearing
on the application(s) would be
appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such
hearings are held at the discretion of the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NMFS.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
21:04 Feb 01, 2013
Jkt 229001
Applications Received
Permit 17299
The NMFS Southwest Fisheries
Science Center, Fisheries Ecology
Division (SWFSC) is requesting a 5-year
scientific research and enhancement
permit to take adult, smolt and juvenile
CCV steelhead, SR winter-run Chinook
salmon, CV spring-run Chinook salmon,
and adult and juvenile SDPS green
sturgeon associated with research
activities in the Central Valley,
California. Incidental mortality of ESAlisted species is not expected to exceed
two percent of the total take for Permit
17299. The overall goal of this project is
to provide critical information in
support of conservation and
management of California’s salmon
stocks. The SWFSC will conduct
comparative studies on salmonid
ecology across all Central Valley
habitats (streams, rivers and Delta) to
increase our knowledge of California’s
Chinook salmon and steelhead life
histories.
The studies proposed for Permit
17299 will follow three directions: (1)
Telemetry studies to assess river habitat
use, behavior, and survival, (2) predator
impacts on salmon, and (3)
physiological measurements of aerobic
scope across stocks. The results of these
studies will be integrated into life-cycle
modeling efforts at the SWFSC and
provide guidance to NMFS, Southwest
Region and other Central Valley
agencies for their resource management
efforts.
In situations where the SWFSC are
unable to rely on collaborators to
capture fish through rotary screw
trapping, collection methods will
include fyke nets, backpack
electrofishing, beach seining, tangle
netting, DIDSON observations, and hook
and line. Handling will typically
involve sedation of juveniles (MS–222),
measurements, tissue sampling (fin
clips and scales from most, stomach
lavage [subset] and tagging [PIT tags,
acoustic tags]) followed by release of
live fish. Another group of hatchery
produced salmonids will be tested in
the laboratory to measure aerobic scope
under a range of temperature and flow
combinations. A small subset of those
hatchery produced fish will be
sacrificed to collect otoliths for age and
growth measurements, organ tissue for
isotope analysis, biochemical and
genomic expression assays, and tag
effects/retention studies.
Permit 17777
David Vogel, Senior Scientist with
Natural Resource Scientists, Inc. (NRSI)
is requesting a 2-year scientific research
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and enhancement permit to take
entrained juvenile CCV steelhead, SR
winter-run Chinook salmon, CV springrun Chinook salmon, and SDPS green
sturgeon associated with research
activities at the Sycamore diversion site
on the middle Sacramento River, Colusa
County, California.
This research is part of an ongoing
effort to develop criteria to prioritize
fish screening projects on the
Sacramento River and experiment with
devices to reduce fish entrainment into
unscreened diversions. The site was
selected by state and federal agencies.
Sampling will involve the use of fyke
nets positioned at the diversion outfall
in the irrigation canal. The diversion
has been screened with two retractable
screens. The UC-Davis Hydraulics
Laboratory has designed an alternative
device to reduce fish entrainment for
placement over the two riverine intakes
in lieu of the two fish screens. Fish
sampling will occur every day with the
behavioral devices in place and
removed on alternating days throughout
the irrigation season. The effectiveness
of the behavioral device will be
determined by comparing the numbers
of fish entrained each day with the
devices in place and removed.
Fish captured on the outfall side of
the pumped diversions are not expected
to be alive or salvageable since fish will
be mortally injured by the pumps,
lethally stressed in pressurized pipes
and warm water, or otherwise lost to the
water distribution systems. Dead or
moribund fish will be identified to
species, enumerated, measured, and the
carcasses put back into the canals at the
sampling site. To the extent practicable,
any captured live ESA-listed species
will be immediately returned to the
river. This study will also incorporate
an ongoing process to correlate fish
entrainment with physical, hydraulic,
and habitat variables at diversion sites.
Results from this research should assist
in providing the technical basis to
determine the effectiveness of the
behavioral devices, as well as
developing criteria for ranking and
prioritizing diversions for future
screening opportunities.
Modification Request Received
Permit 16543–M1
Permit 16543 was issued to the
California Department of Water
Resources (CDWR) on October 2, 2012
for take of adult CCV steelhead, SR
winter-run Chinook salmon, CV springrun Chinook salmon, and adult,
subadult, and juvenile SDPS green
sturgeon associated with research
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
04FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2013 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
activities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta, California.
This project examines predation by
introduced fishes and native resident
fishes on migrating native fishes across
a variety of habitats and migration
corridors in the northern SacramentoSan Joaquin Delta. Results provide
information on spatial and
environmental patterns of predation;
critical information for guiding future
restoration projects on conditions likely
to support or discourage higher
predation rates on endangered and
native fishes. Sampling is conducted
April, June and December in the
Sacramento River above Rio Vista,
Georgiana, Steamboat, Miner, and Cache
sloughs, and the Sacramento Deep
Water Ship Channel. Predators are
sampled using trammel nets, with the
goal of genetically analyzing gut
contents for the DNA of various prey
items. While listed species are not the
target of the sampling program,
incidental take may occur and will
provide valuable information on
abundance, habitat use, and migration
timing.
CDWR is requesting a modification of
Permit 16543. The proposed changes
include; an additional monitoring site at
Liberty Island in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta and an increase in
juvenile, sub-adult, and adult SDPS
green sturgeon take across all locations.
Incidental mortality estimates will
remain at zero.
The monitoring carried out under
Permit 16543 represents the initial field
effort for a brand new project. The take
estimates for SDPS green sturgeon for
Permit 16543 was purely an estimate
based on the expectation that SDPS
green sturgeon densities are very low in
the region. However, preliminary
monitoring attempts by CDWR were met
with higher than anticipated catches of
SDPS green sturgeon. Given the paucity
of information on the location and
behavior of SDPS green sturgeon in the
Delta, continued sampling will provide
new data on the movements and
locations of SDPS green sturgeon and
further assist NMFS and other agencies
in their management of this species.
Dated: January 29, 2013.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–02305 Filed 2–1–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:26 Feb 01, 2013
Jkt 229001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Proposed Agenda
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
7757
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
RIN 0648–XC475
Council Coordination Committee
Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.
AGENCY:
NMFS will host a meeting of
the Council Coordination Committee
(CCC), consisting of the Regional
Fishery Management Council chairs,
vice chairs, and executive directors in
February 2013. The intent of this
meeting is to discuss issues of relevance
to the Councils, including FY 2013
budget allocations and budget planning
for FY 2014 and beyond, National
Standard One update, fisheries
allocation, Managing Our Nations
Fisheries III Conference, electronic
monitoring of fisheries, and other topics
related to implementation of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(MSA).
SUMMARY:
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.
on Wednesday, February 20, 2013,
recess at 5:30 p.m. or when business is
complete; and reconvene at 9 a.m. on
Thursday, February 21, 2013, and
adjourn by 5 p.m. or when business is
complete.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel, 8777
Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD
20001, telephone 301–589–0800, fax
301–589–4791.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William D. Chappell: Telephone 301–
427–8505 or email at
William.Chappell@noaa.gov; or Tara
Scott: Telephone 301–427–8505 or
email at Tara.Scott@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management
Reauthorization Act (MSRA) of 2006
established the Council Coordination
Committee (CCC) by amending Section
302 (16 U.S.C. 1852) of the MSA. The
committee consists of the chairs, vice
chairs, and executive directors of each
of the eight Regional Fishery
Management Councils authorized by the
MSA or other Council members or staff.
NMFS will host this meeting and
provide reports to the CCC for its
information and discussion. All sessions
are open to the public.
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
9 a.m.—Morning Session Begins
9 a.m.–9:20—Welcome and
introductions
9:20–9:30—Report on Kona meeting
actions and issues
9:30–10:30—Council reports on status of
implementing MSA provisions and
other current activities of interest
(10 min/Council)
• Top three priorities
• New species status designations,
rebuilding plans, or management
approaches
• Problems/concerns/other issues
10:30–10:45—Break
10:45–11:15—Council reports
(continued)
11:15–12:15—Management and Budget
Update
• FY2012: Status, Council funding
• FY2013: Update
• Longer term discussion
• National Appeals Office
12:15—Lunch
1:45—Afternoon Session Begins
1:45–2:30—Councils/Marine Fisheries
Advisory Committee Endangered
Species Act (ESA) Working Group
update
2:30–3:30—MSA—National Standard
One update
3:30–3:45—Break
3:45–4:30—NOAA/NOAA Fisheries
Policy on National Environmental
Protection Act (NEPA)
4:30–5:30—Fisheries allocation
5:30—Adjourn for the day
Thursday, February 21, 2013
9 a.m.—Morning Session Begins
9 a.m.–9:45—Update on Inspector
General Report on MSA
Rulemaking
9:45–10:15—National science programs
review
10:15–10:30—Break
10:30–11:30—Electronic monitoring of
fisheries
11:30–12 p.m.—Fisheries litigation
update
12 p.m.—Lunch
1:30—Afternoon Session Begins
1:30–2:30—Council records retention,
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA),
and meeting guidance
2:30–3:15—MSA Reauthorization
3:15–3:30—Break
3:30–4:15—Managing Our Nation’s
Fisheries (MONF) III Conference
• Conference structure review
• CCC consideration of (MONF) III
results
• Questions
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
04FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7755-7757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02305]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC476
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of two permit applications and one permit modification
request for scientific research and enhancement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received two scientific
research and enhancement permit applications and one permit
modification request relating to anadromous species listed under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed research activities are
intended to increase knowledge of the species and to help guide
management and conservation efforts. The applications and related
documents may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.
[[Page 7756]]
noaa.gov/preview/preview--open--for--comment.cfm. These documents are
also available upon written request or by appointment by contacting
NMFS by phone (916) 930-3706 or fax (916) 930 3629.
DATES: Written comments on the permit applications or modification
request must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on March 6, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the applications or modification request
should be submitted to the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 650
Capitol Mall, Room 5-100, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments may also be
submitted via fax to (916) 930-3629 or by email to
FRNpermits.SR@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Cranford, Sacramento, CA (ph.:
916-930-3706, email.: Amanda.Cranford@noaa.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
This notice is relevant to federally threatened California Central
Valley steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), threatened Central Valley
spring-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), endangered Sacramento River
winter-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), and the threatened southern
distinct population segment of North American (SDPS) green sturgeon
(Acipenser medirostris).
Authority
Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and regulations
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226). NMFS
issues permits based on findings that such permits: (1) Are applied for
in good faith; (2) if granted and exercised, would not operate to the
disadvantage of the listed species which are the subject of the
permits; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set
forth in section 2 of the ESA. The authority to take listed species is
subject to conditions set forth in the permits.
Anyone requesting a hearing on the applications or permit
modification request listed in this notice should set out the specific
reasons why a hearing on the application(s) would be appropriate (see
ADDRESSES). Such hearings are held at the discretion of the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS.
Applications Received
Permit 17299
The NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Fisheries Ecology
Division (SWFSC) is requesting a 5-year scientific research and
enhancement permit to take adult, smolt and juvenile CCV steelhead, SR
winter-run Chinook salmon, CV spring-run Chinook salmon, and adult and
juvenile SDPS green sturgeon associated with research activities in the
Central Valley, California. Incidental mortality of ESA-listed species
is not expected to exceed two percent of the total take for Permit
17299. The overall goal of this project is to provide critical
information in support of conservation and management of California's
salmon stocks. The SWFSC will conduct comparative studies on salmonid
ecology across all Central Valley habitats (streams, rivers and Delta)
to increase our knowledge of California's Chinook salmon and steelhead
life histories.
The studies proposed for Permit 17299 will follow three directions:
(1) Telemetry studies to assess river habitat use, behavior, and
survival, (2) predator impacts on salmon, and (3) physiological
measurements of aerobic scope across stocks. The results of these
studies will be integrated into life-cycle modeling efforts at the
SWFSC and provide guidance to NMFS, Southwest Region and other Central
Valley agencies for their resource management efforts.
In situations where the SWFSC are unable to rely on collaborators
to capture fish through rotary screw trapping, collection methods will
include fyke nets, backpack electrofishing, beach seining, tangle
netting, DIDSON observations, and hook and line. Handling will
typically involve sedation of juveniles (MS-222), measurements, tissue
sampling (fin clips and scales from most, stomach lavage [subset] and
tagging [PIT tags, acoustic tags]) followed by release of live fish.
Another group of hatchery produced salmonids will be tested in the
laboratory to measure aerobic scope under a range of temperature and
flow combinations. A small subset of those hatchery produced fish will
be sacrificed to collect otoliths for age and growth measurements,
organ tissue for isotope analysis, biochemical and genomic expression
assays, and tag effects/retention studies.
Permit 17777
David Vogel, Senior Scientist with Natural Resource Scientists,
Inc. (NRSI) is requesting a 2-year scientific research and enhancement
permit to take entrained juvenile CCV steelhead, SR winter-run Chinook
salmon, CV spring-run Chinook salmon, and SDPS green sturgeon
associated with research activities at the Sycamore diversion site on
the middle Sacramento River, Colusa County, California.
This research is part of an ongoing effort to develop criteria to
prioritize fish screening projects on the Sacramento River and
experiment with devices to reduce fish entrainment into unscreened
diversions. The site was selected by state and federal agencies.
Sampling will involve the use of fyke nets positioned at the diversion
outfall in the irrigation canal. The diversion has been screened with
two retractable screens. The UC-Davis Hydraulics Laboratory has
designed an alternative device to reduce fish entrainment for placement
over the two riverine intakes in lieu of the two fish screens. Fish
sampling will occur every day with the behavioral devices in place and
removed on alternating days throughout the irrigation season. The
effectiveness of the behavioral device will be determined by comparing
the numbers of fish entrained each day with the devices in place and
removed.
Fish captured on the outfall side of the pumped diversions are not
expected to be alive or salvageable since fish will be mortally injured
by the pumps, lethally stressed in pressurized pipes and warm water, or
otherwise lost to the water distribution systems. Dead or moribund fish
will be identified to species, enumerated, measured, and the carcasses
put back into the canals at the sampling site. To the extent
practicable, any captured live ESA-listed species will be immediately
returned to the river. This study will also incorporate an ongoing
process to correlate fish entrainment with physical, hydraulic, and
habitat variables at diversion sites. Results from this research should
assist in providing the technical basis to determine the effectiveness
of the behavioral devices, as well as developing criteria for ranking
and prioritizing diversions for future screening opportunities.
Modification Request Received
Permit 16543-M1
Permit 16543 was issued to the California Department of Water
Resources (CDWR) on October 2, 2012 for take of adult CCV steelhead, SR
winter-run Chinook salmon, CV spring-run Chinook salmon, and adult,
subadult, and juvenile SDPS green sturgeon associated with research
[[Page 7757]]
activities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California.
This project examines predation by introduced fishes and native
resident fishes on migrating native fishes across a variety of habitats
and migration corridors in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Results provide information on spatial and environmental patterns of
predation; critical information for guiding future restoration projects
on conditions likely to support or discourage higher predation rates on
endangered and native fishes. Sampling is conducted April, June and
December in the Sacramento River above Rio Vista, Georgiana, Steamboat,
Miner, and Cache sloughs, and the Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel.
Predators are sampled using trammel nets, with the goal of genetically
analyzing gut contents for the DNA of various prey items. While listed
species are not the target of the sampling program, incidental take may
occur and will provide valuable information on abundance, habitat use,
and migration timing.
CDWR is requesting a modification of Permit 16543. The proposed
changes include; an additional monitoring site at Liberty Island in the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and an increase in juvenile, sub-adult,
and adult SDPS green sturgeon take across all locations. Incidental
mortality estimates will remain at zero.
The monitoring carried out under Permit 16543 represents the
initial field effort for a brand new project. The take estimates for
SDPS green sturgeon for Permit 16543 was purely an estimate based on
the expectation that SDPS green sturgeon densities are very low in the
region. However, preliminary monitoring attempts by CDWR were met with
higher than anticipated catches of SDPS green sturgeon. Given the
paucity of information on the location and behavior of SDPS green
sturgeon in the Delta, continued sampling will provide new data on the
movements and locations of SDPS green sturgeon and further assist NMFS
and other agencies in their management of this species.
Dated: January 29, 2013.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-02305 Filed 2-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
