ESA Recovery Plan for the Southern DPS of Eulachon
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Endangered Species Act Recovery Plan for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) Prepared by: National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Region U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service ESA Recovery Plan: Southern DPS Eulachon | 2 This Page Intentionally Left Blank 2017 | National Marine Fisheries Service ESA Recovery Plan: Southern DPS Eulachon | 3 Recovery Plan for Southern Distinct Population Segment of Eulachon Thaleichthys pacificus 2017 | National Marine Fisheries Service ESA Recovery Plan: Southern DPS Eulachon | 4 This Page Intentionally Left Blank 2017 | National Marine Fisheries Service ESA Recovery Plan: Southern DPS E u l a c h o n | 5 Disclaimer Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plans delineate such reasonable actions as may be necessary, based upon the best available scientific and commercial data available, for the conservation and survival of listed species. Plans are published by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views, official positions, or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than NMFS. They represent the official position of NMFS only after they have been signed by the Assistant Administrator. ESA 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. LITERATURE CITATION SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS: National Marine Fisheries Service. September 2017. Recovery Plan for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus). National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Region, Protected Resources Division, Portland, OR, 97232. ADDITIONAL COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM: National Marine Fisheries Service 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100 Portland, OR 97232 Phone: 503.230.5400 Recovery plans can also be downloaded from the NMFS website: http://www.nmfs.wcr.gov Photo Credit: Copyright: Michele Cornelius, www.123rf.com/profile_mscornelius 2017 | National Marine Fisheries Service ESA Recovery Plan: Southern DPS E u l a c h o n | 6 Acknowledgements Eulachon Recovery Team The National Marine Fisheries Service gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the Eulachon Recovery Team, and thanks them for generously contributing their time and expertise in the development of this Recovery Plan. The National Marine Fisheries Service expresses its solemn gratitude to the late Dr. Robert (Bob) Emmett for his contributions to this Recovery Plan. Robert Anderson – National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Region Dr. Rick Gustafson – National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center Dr. Jeff Hard – National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center Olaf Langness – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Dr. Steve Munch – National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center Dr. Tom Wainwright – National Marine Fisheries Service (retired), Northwest Fisheries Science Center Eulachon Stakeholder Group The National Marine Fisheries Service also acknowledges the contributions of the Eulachon Stakeholder Group for their time and contributions to this Recovery Plan: Taylor Aalvik, Cowlitz Indian Tribe; John Barco, Bonneville Power Administration; Michael Belchik, Yurok Indian Tribe; Dave Bingaman, Quinault Indian Tribe; Jeff Breckel, Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board; Bobby Brunoe, Warm Springs Indian Tribe; Joyce Casey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Heather Brekke, Department of Oceans and Fisheries Canada; Cindy LeFleur, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Mike McHenry, Elwha Indian Tribe; Lynn Palensky, Northwest Power and Conservation Council; Brad Pettinger, Oregon Trawl Commission; Kevin Shaffer, California Department of Fish and Wildlife; Tom Rien, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Paul Ward, Confederation Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Recovery Plan Author Robert Anderson – National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Region, Protected Resources Division 2017 | National Marine Fisheries Service ESA Recovery Plan: Southern DPS E u l a c h o n | 7 Recovery Plan Development This recovery plan is the product of a collaborative process initiated by NMFS and strengthened through regional and local participation. The goal was to produce a Recovery Plan that would meet NMFS’ ESA requirements for recovery plans as well as broader needs. Throughout the recovery planning process, NMFS collaborated with the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as with other Federal agencies, tribal and local governments, representatives of industry and environmental groups, other stakeholders, and the public. The collaborative process reflects NMFS’ belief that ESA recovery plans should be based on state, regional, tribal, local, and private conservation efforts already underway throughout the region. Local support of recovery plans by those whose activities directly affect the listed species, and whose actions will be most affected by recovery efforts, is essential to recovery plan implementation. NMFS developed this Recovery Plan by synthesizing the best available scientific and commercial data available with input from (1) the Eulachon Recovery Team, and (2) the Eulachon Stakeholder Group. On October 20, 2016, we released the Proposed ESA Recovery Plan for the southern DPS of Eulachon (Draft Recovery Plan), and published a notice of availability in the Federal Register (81 FR 72572) requesting comments. Four comment submissions were received during the 60-day public comments period on the Draft Recovery Plan. We considered all of the public comments received on the Draft Recovery Plan in developing the final version of the Recovery Plan. 2017 | National Marine Fisheries Service ESA Recovery Plan: Southern DPS E u l a c h o n | 8 Table of Contents Disclaimer .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................... 6 Eulachon Recovery Team ........................................................................................................................... 6 Eulachon Stakeholder Group ..................................................................................................................... 6 Recovery Plan Author ................................................................................................................................ 6 Recovery Plan Development ...................................................................................................................... 7 List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... 11 List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Abbreviations and Acronyms ................................................................................................................ 14 Terms and Definitions ........................................................................................................................... 15 EULACHON RECOVERY PLAN—EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................... 18 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Current Status of the DPS ........................................................................................................................ 18 Abundance and Productivity ................................................................................................................... 18 Threats and Limiting Factors ................................................................................................................... 19 Eulachon Recovery—what does recovery look like, and how will we know when we are there? ......... 20 Recovery Strategy .................................................................................................................................. 22 Priority Actions ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Near-Term Research Priorities ................................................................................................................ 23 Recovery Goal, Objectives, and Delisting Criteria ............................................................................... 24 Recovery Goal ......................................................................................................................................... 24 Recovery Objectives