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Lewis River Hydroelectric Project NMFS Biological Opinion

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Lewis River Hydroelectric Project NMFS Biological Opinion Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Consultation Biological Opinion and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Consultation Operation of PacifiCorp and Cowlitz PUD’s Lewis River Hydroelectric Projects for 50 years from the new licenses issued date(s) Merwin FERC No. 935 Yale FERC No. 2071 Swift No. 1 FERC No. 2111 Swift No. 2 FERC No. 2213 Lewis River, HUC 17080002 Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania Counties, Washington Action Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Consultation Conducted by: National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Region Hydropower Division NMFS Log Number: 2005/05891 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................1 1.1 History of FERC Relicensing ...........................................................................................1 1.2 Lewis River Collaborative Process...................................................................................3 1.3 ESA Listings and Consultation History............................................................................4 1.4 Application of ESA Section 7(a)(2) Standards - Analytical Approach ............................5 2. PROPOSED ACTION..............................................................................................................7 2.1 Action Area.......................................................................................................................9 2.2 Projects Description ..........................................................................................................9 2.2.1 Basin Description...................................................................................................9 2.2.2 The Utilities’ North Fork Lewis River Hydroelectirc Facilities..........................11 2.3 Lewis River Settlement Agreement Terms.....................................................................15 2.3.1 Fish Passage and Reintroduction Measures.........................................................24 2.3.2 Additional Aquatic Resources Measures .............................................................34 2.3.3 Flow Releases for Fish and Other Aquatic Species .............................................35 2.3.4 Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Actions................................................................38 2.3.5 Hatchery Programs; Supplementation .................................................................40 2.3.6 Aquatic Monitoring And Evaluation....................................................................44 2.3.7 Terrestrial Measures.............................................................................................44 2.3.8 Recreation Measures............................................................................................45 2.3.9 Cultural Measures ................................................................................................46 2.3.10 Socioeconomic Measures...................................................................................46 3. RANGEWIDE STATUS OF LISTED SPECIES AND DESIGNATED CRITICAL HABITAT ................................................................................................................................48 3.1 Rangewide Status of the Species ....................................................................................48 3.2 Life Histories, Factors for Decline, and Population Trends ...........................................48 3.2.1 Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon.............................................................48 3.2.2 Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon..................................................................50 3.2.3 Columbia River Chum Salmon............................................................................52 3.2.4 Lower Columbia River Steelhead........................................................................53 3.3 Critical Habitat................................................................................................................54 4. ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE.........................................................................................57 4.1 Status of Populations within the Action Area.................................................................57 4.1.1 North Fork Lewis River Chinook ........................................................................57 4.1.2 North Fork Lewis River Coho Salmon ................................................................59 4.1.3 North Fork Lewis River Chum Salmon ...............................................................60 4.1.4 North Fork Lewis Steelhead ................................................................................62 4.1.5 Factors Affecting the Status of Populations in North Fork Lewis River.............64 4.1.6 Summary: Status of Populations in the Action Area ...........................................64 4.2 Status of P of Designated Critical Habitat within the Action Area ................................65 4.2.1 PCEs of Designated Critical Habitat within the North Fork Lewis River...........65 4.2.2 Factors Affecting the Status of PCEs of Designated Critical Habitat within the North Fork Lewis River........................................................................................66 4.3 Summary of the Environmental Baseline .......................................................................71 ii 5. EFFECTS OF THE ACTION................................................................................................72 5.1 Effects of the Action on Listed Species..........................................................................72 5.1.1 Direct Project Effects on Anadromous Fish and Habitat.....................................72 5.1.1.1 Fish Passage and Reintroduction Measures ...........................................72 5.1.1.2 Additional Aquatic Resources Measures................................................81 5.1.1.3 Flow Releases for Listed Fish and Other Aquatic Species.....................82 5.1.1.4 Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Actions ..................................................90 5.1.1.5 Hatchery and Supplementation Program................................................91 5.1.1.6 Aquatic Monitoring and Evaluation .......................................................93 5.1.1.7 Terrestrial Measures .............................................................................100 5.1.1.8 Recreation Measures ............................................................................101 5.1.1.9 Socioeconomic Measures .....................................................................102 5.1.2 Indirect Project Effects on Anadromous Fish....................................................102 5.1.3 Effects of the Proposed Action on Designated Critical Habitat.........................104 6. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS..................................................................................................111 7. CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................................112 8. REINITIATION OF CONSULTATION............................................................................114 9. INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT.................................................................................115 9.1 Amount or Extent of Take ............................................................................................115 9.2 Effect of Take................................................................................................................117 9.3 Reasonable and Prudent Measures and Terms and Conditions ....................................118 9.3.1 Terms and Conditions ........................................................................................118 10. CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................................130 11. MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT ACT..131 11.1 Background .................................................................................................................131 11.2 EFH Conservation Recommendations........................................................................131 11.3 Statutory Response Requirement................................................................................131 11.4 Supplemental Consultation .........................................................................................132 12. DATA QUALITY ACT DOCUMENTATION & PRE-DISSEMINATION REVIEW133 13. LITERATURE CITED ......................................................................................................134 ATTACHMENT 1: Anadromous Salmonid Passage Facility Guidelines and Criteria (2004) ATTACHMENT 2: Post-Season Monitoring and Evaluation Form iii TABLE OF FIGURES & TABLES Figure 1-1. Lewis River Hydroelectric Projects Area Map...........................................................2 Table 1-1. List of Anadromous Fish Species that Occur in the Action Area and Their Status Under the Endangered Species Act ............................................................................. 4 Table 2-1. Measures Proposed Under the Lewis river Settlement Agreement with the Potential to Affect ESA-listed Species...................................................................... 16 Table 2-2. Conditions When Adjustments or Modifications to Downstream Passage Facilities are Made for Anadromous Fish ................................................................. 30 Table 2-3. Upper
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