Proposed Recovery Plan For Lake Ozette Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Photo by: Mike Young Photo by: Mike April 14, 2008 NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Regional Office Salmon Recovery Division DISCLAIMER Recovery plans delineate such reasonable actions as may be necessary, based upon the best scientific and commercial data available, for the conservation and survival of listed species. Plans are published by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), sometimes prepared with the assistance of recovery teams, State agencies, contractors, and others. Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views, official positions, or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than the NMFS. They represent the official position of NMFS only after they have been signed by the Northwest Regional Administrator. Recovery Plans are guidance and planning documents only; identification of an action to be implemented by any public or private party does not create a legal obligation beyond existing legal requirements. Nothing in this plan should be construed as a commitment or requirement that any Federal agency obligate or pay funds in any one fiscal year in excess of appropriations made by Congress for that fiscal year in contravention of the Anti-Deficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341, or any other law or regulation. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new information, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery actions. Additional copies may be obtained from: National Marine Fisheries Service Salmon Recovery Division 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100 Portland, Oregon 97232-1274 (503) 230-5418 The proposed recovery plan can be downloaded via the Internet at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon-Recovery-Planning/ESA-Recovery-Plans/Draft- Plans.cfm Acknowledgments The proposed Lake Ozette Sockeye Salmon Recovery Plan represents many years of intense effort by many individuals from multiple disciplines, far too many to acknowledge and thank individually; however, special recognition is deserved by consultant Mike Haggerty, who served as the primary author of the plan. We would like to thank the Lake Ozette Steering Committee for its input, support, and guidance throughout the planning process. Steering Committee members provided valuable comments during three previous draft versions of the recovery plan. In addition, the Puget Sound Technical Recovery Team was instrumental in providing a sound science foundation for the plan, as well as reviewing and commenting on earlier draft versions. And we thank the five biologists who co-authored the draft Limiting Factors Analysis, which provides essential information for designing recovery actions and monitoring. Contributing Authors – Recovery Plan: Mike Haggerty – Haggerty Consulting Rosemary Furfey – National Marine Fisheries Service Molly Hollenbach – National Marine Fisheries Service Thom Hooper – National Marine Fisheries Service Matthew Longenbaugh – National Marine Fisheries Service Mark Plummer – Northwest Fisheries Science Center Blake Trask – Triangle Associates Tim Tynan – National Marine Fisheries Service Robert Wheeler – Triangle Associates NMFS gratefully acknowledges the following people who provided updated information or reviewed the plan: Ken Currens, Robert Fuerstenberg, Phil Miller, George Pess, Derek Poon, Kit Rawson, Andy Ritchie, Mary Ruckelshaus, and Norma Jean Sands. NMFS reviewers of the plan were: Elizabeth Gaar, Rob Walton, Laurie Beale, Susan Pultz and Naomi Lundberg. Finally, the authors would like to recognize all those who have worked over the years to conserve Lake Ozette sockeye salmon. This proposed recovery plan builds on their dedication and their effort to preserve this species for the citizens of Washington and the nation. Lake Ozette Steering Committee Members Name Organization/Affiliation Almond, Lyle Makah Fisheries Management Barnes, Seth WA Department of Natural Resources Baumann, Cheryl NOPLE (North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity) Bell, Harry Green Crow Bowen, Ed Ozette Citizen Brenkman, Sam Olympic National Park Byrnes, Coleman Citizen and Property Owner Christiansen, David WA Department of Natural Resources Crain, Pat Olympic National Park Eggleston, Cari Makah Fisheries Management Furfey, Rosemary NOAA Fisheries, Salmon Recovery Division Gilman, Jeremy Makah Fisheries Management Haggerty, Mike Consultant Hamerquist, Don Citizen, Pysht River Hinton, Joe Makah Fisheries Management Hooper, Thomas NOAA Fisheries Knox, Randi Citizen and Private Landowner Krueger, Katie Quileute Tribe, Environmental Att./Policy Analyst Lear, Cathy Clallam County Longenbaugh, Matt NOAA Fisheries Low, David WA Department of Fish and Wildlife MacIver, Ian Rayonier Martin, Doug Martin Environmental Consultant Miller, John Clallam County Miller, Phil WA Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office Murray, Joseph Merrill and Ring (Forestry & Land Management) Ness, Pat Citizen/Landowner Northcut, Kris Quileute Tribe, Fisheries Biologist Osborne, Rich North Pacific Coast Lead Entity Peterschmidt, Caroline Former Makah Tribe Staff Plummer, Mark NOAA Fisheries Poon, Derek EPA Region 10, Regional Salmon Ecologist Porter, Janeen Citizen Rochelle, Jim Rochelle Env. Consulting Sands, Norma Jean NOAA, Puget Sound TRT (PSTRT) Schaaf, Norm Merrill and Ring Shaffer, Ann WA Department of Fish and Wildlife Shellberg, Jeff Former Makah Tribe Staff Sims, Gary NOAA Fisheries Snyder, Rob Lost Resort at Lake Ozette Springer, Jim WA Department of Natural Resources Svec, Russell Makah Fisheries Trask, Blake Triangle Associates Tynan, Tim NOAA Fisheries Vaughan, Al WA Department of Natural Resources Voner, Al Olympic National Park Wheeler, Bob Triangle Associates, facilitator Puget Sound Technical Recovery Team Mary Ruckelshaus Norma Jean Sands Ken Currens William Graeber Kit Rawson Robert Fuerstenberg Jim Scott Authors – Lake Ozette Sockeye Limiting Factors Analysis Mike J. Haggerty Andrew C. Ritchie Jeffrey G. Shellberg Michael J. Crewson Jyrki Jalonen LAKE OZETTE SOCKEYE RECOVERY PLAN SUMMARY keys to understanding habitat definition recovery INTRODUCTION Why Lake Ozette sockeye? This is a proposed plan for the protection and restoration of Lake Ozette sockeye salmon. Lake • Lake Ozette sockeye salmon are a Ozette sockeye were listed as a threatened species species listed under the Endangered Species Act because they are in danger under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1999. of becoming extinct, and they are found The ESA requires the National Marine Fisheries nowhere else. Service (NMFS) to develop recovery plans for all • Their numbers have dramatically listed salmon species; therefore, this recovery plan declined from historical levels. was developed to comply with the law. What about other species of fish in the The plan includes a proposal for actions that may lake? voluntarily be taken to stop the downward trend Other fish species will also benefit from of the species and return it to a healthy, naturally improvements to the freshwater habitat for sockeye. self-sustaining condition. Lake Ozette, its perimeter shore, and most of the Ozette River, which forms the outlet of the NMFS, a branch of the National Oceanic and lake, are included in the 922,000-acre Olympic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has National Park (ONP). This plan complements, directed preparation of this recovery plan. NMFS, recognizes, and works within the authorities of also called NOAA Fisheries, is the Federal agency the ONP, as well as Clallam County, the Forest charged with stewardship of the nation’s marine Practices Habitat Conservation Plan (FPHCP), resources, and NMFS has the responsibility for the Washington Department of Natural Resources listing and delisting salmon species under the (DNR) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and ESA. For purposes of this summary, the acronym tribal trust and treaty rights. Theplan does not NMFS will be used for the agency that directed augment or supersede these or other authorities. this recovery plan. Lake Ozette Sockeye Recovery Plan Summary 1 NMFS prepared this recovery plan with the important questions as who will do what, the active participation of the Lake Ozette Steering specific costs, the funding sources that may be Committee, a group made up of local citizens, available, the time frame for various actions, and landowners, biologists, and representatives of what opportunities will be provided for public and several county, state, tribal, and Federal entities agency input and involvement. Work will start on (listed in Appendix A). The Steering Committee an implementation plan for Lake Ozette sockeye met 13 times over the last two years to discuss recovery later in 2008. and comment on all aspects of successive drafts Why a recovery plan? of this recovery plan. Additionally, NMFS met with various groups and agencies with interests Because the ESA requires NMFS to in this planning effort, including the Lake Ozette develop recovery plans for all listed species. basin property owners (see Appendix C), timber companies, tribal representatives, Clallam County Is this plan voluntary or required? Commissioners and staff, and Olympic National NMFS is required to make a plan. Implementing Park. Input and comments from all of these the recovery actions is voluntary. The plan is meetings were considered, evaluated, and, where not a law and it is not a regulation; it’s just a appropriate, incorporated into the Recovery roadmap, guidance, and resource for people Plan, although the plan’s content remains