WCR-2018-10181 October 4, 2018
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE West Coast Region 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100 Portland, OR 97232 Refer to NMFS No.: WCR-2018-10181 October 4, 2018 Amy Changchien Director, Office of Planning and Program Development U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration 915 Second Avenue Federal Bldg. Suite 3142 Seattle, Washington 98174-1002 Re: Reinitiation of Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Biological Opinion, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response for One Structure in Inland Marine Waters of Washington State: Annapolis Ferry Terminal Pier, Ramp, and Float Structure. Dear Ms. Changchien: Thank you for your June 6, 2018, letter requesting reinitiation of consultation with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We also completed an essential fish habitat (EFH) consultation on the proposed action, in accordance with section 305(b)(2) of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600. The enclosed document contains a biological opinion (opinion) that analyzes the effects of your proposal to permit the removal of one pier, ramp, float (PRF) structure and the installation of one PRF structure. In this opinion, we conclude that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Puget Sound (PS) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), PS steelhead (O. mykiss), or PS/Georgia Basin (GB) bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis), PS/GB yelloweye rockfish (S. ruberrimus), Southern Resident killer whale (Orcinus orca), and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Further, we conclude that the proposed action will not result in the destruction or adverse modification of their designated critical habitats. This document also contains the results of the MSA Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) determined that the project will adversely affect Pacific salmon EFH. NMFS concurs with that determination and is, therefore, providing conservation recommendations pursuant to the MSA (Section 305(b)(4)(A)). The FTA must respond to those recommendations within 30 days (MSA Section 305(b)(4)(B)). WCR-2017-10181 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Consultation History ..................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Action Area ................................................................................................................... 8 2. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: BIOLOGICAL OPINION AND INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT ............................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Analytical Approach ................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Rangewide Status of the Critical Habitat and Species ................................................ 11 2.2.1 Status of Critical Habitat .............................................................................. 13 2.2.2 Status of the Species .................................................................................... 18 2.3 Environmental Baseline .............................................................................................. 23 2.4 Effects of the Action ................................................................................................... 27 2.4.1. Effects on Critical Habitat .......................................................................... 27 2.4.2 Effects on Species ........................................................................................ 32 2.5 Cumulative Effects...................................................................................................... 46 2.6 Integration and Synthesis ............................................................................................ 47 2.6.1 Species Aggregate Analysis ......................................................................... 48 2.7 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 50 2.8 Incidental Take Statement........................................................................................... 50 2.8.1 Amount or Extent of Take ........................................................................... 51 2.8.2 Effect of the Take......................................................................................... 53 2.8.3 Reasonable and Prudent Measures ............................................................... 53 2.8.4 Terms and Conditions .................................................................................. 53 2.9 Conservation Recommendations ................................................................................ 54 2.10 Reinitiation of Consultation ...................................................................................... 54 2.11 “Not Likely to Adversely Affect” Determinations ................................................... 55 2.11.1 Southern Resident Killer Whale ................................................................ 55 2.11.2 Humpback Whales ..................................................................................... 59 2.11.3 Yelloweye Rockfish ................................................................................... 60 2.11.4 Yelloweye Rockfish Critical Habitat & Adult Bocaccio Critical Habitat . 60 3. MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT CONSULTATION ..................................................................... 60 3.1 Essential Fish Habitat Affected by the Project ........................................................... 61 3.2 Adverse Effects on Essential Fish Habitat .................................................................. 62 3.3 Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Recommendations ............................................ 63 3.4 Statutory Response Requirement ................................................................................ 63 3.5 Supplemental Consultation ......................................................................................... 64 4. DATA QUALITY ACT DOCUMENTATION AND PRE-DISSEMINATION REVIEW .... 64 5. REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 66 WCR-2018-10181 -i- LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS BMP Best Management Practices CFR Code of Federal Regulations CHART Critical Habitat Analytical Review Teams CR Conservation Recommendation dB Decibel DPS Distinct Population Segment DQA Data Quality Act EFH Essential Fish Habitat ESA Endangered Species Act ESU Evolutionarily Significant Unit FR Federal Register FTA Federal Transit Administration GB Georgia Basin HAPC Habitat Area of Particular Concern HPA Hydraulic Project Approval HUC Hydrologic Unit Code Hz Hertz LW large wood MHHW Mean High Higher Water MLLW Mean Lower Low Water MPGs Major Population Groups MSA Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration OHW Ordinary High Water Opinion Biological and Conference Opinion OWS Overwater Structures PBF Physical or Biological Features PCE Primary Constituent Element PRFs Piers, Ramps, and Floats PS Puget Sound PSP Puget Sound Partnership RL Received Levels SRKW Southern Resident Killer Whales SAV Submerged Aquatic Vegetation SEL Sound Exposure Level SPCC Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures TESC Temporary Erosion and Sedimentation Control TSS Total Suspended Solids TTS Temporary Threshold Shift U.S.C. United States Code VSP Viable Salmonid Population WDFW Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife WSDOT Washington State Department of Transportation WCR-2018-10181 -ii- 1. INTRODUCTION This Introduction section provides information relevant to the other sections of this document and is incorporated by reference into Sections 2 and 3 below. 1.1 Background The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) prepared the biological opinion (opinion) and incidental take statement portions of this document in accordance with section 7(b) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 402. We also completed an essential fish habitat (EFH) consultation on the proposed action, in accordance with section 305(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600. We completed pre-dissemination review of this document using standards for utility, integrity, and objectivity in compliance with applicable guidelines issued under the Data Quality Act (section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, Public Law 106-554). A complete record of this consultation