Biological Opinion on Klamath Project Operations

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Biological Opinion on Klamath Project Operations United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Pacific Southwest Regional Office 2800 Cottage Way Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 414-6464 In Reply Refer To: 8-10-10-TAILS# March 29, 2019 08EKLA00-20 I 9-F-0068 Memorandum To: Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation Klamath Basin Area Office Klamath Falls, Oregon From: Michael Senn, Deputy Assistant Regional Director- Ecological ~~ ~ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California Subject: Transmittal of Biological Opinion on Klamath Project Operations Thank you for your December 21, 2018, letter requesting initiation of formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). During the consultation period, USFWS received memoranda describing changes to the proposed action on February 15, 2019, March 8, 2019, and March 25, 2019. This letter transmits the Service's biological opinion for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation's) proposed operation of the Klamath Project from April I, 2019, to March 31, 2024, which describes the Service's analysis of the effects of Reclamation's implementation of proposed action on endangered Lost River sucker (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris). This biological opinion has been coordinated with the National Marine Fisheries Service to ensure compatibility with their biological opinion on the effects to species over which they have jurisdiction. Based on the best available scientific and commercial information, the Service concludes that the action, as proposed, is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker and is not likely to result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat for Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker. However, the Service does anticipate incidental take of Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker as well as adverse effects to their designated critical habitat as a result of implementation of the proposed action. The Service appreciates Reclamation's close coordination and collaboration throughout the development of the proposed action and consultation period to meet the needs of endangered species with the proposed action. We look forward to providing appropriate assistance to Reclamation during implementation of the proposed action. If you have any questions regarding this biological opinion, please contact Daniel Blake, Field Supervisor of the Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office, at (541) 885-2512. Attachment cc: w/ attachment Jim Simondet, NMFS, Northern California Office Lisa Van Atta, NMFS, California Coastal Office Biological Opinion on the Effects of Proposed Klamath Project Operations from April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2024, on the Lost River Sucker and the Shortnose Sucker (TAILS # 08EKLA00-2019-F-0068) Prepared By: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Region Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office TABLE O F CONTENTS 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 2 Background and Consultation History .................................................................................... 1 2.1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 1 2.2 History of Consultation ................................................................................................... 2 3 Action area .............................................................................................................................. 5 4 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................... 7 4.1 Element One.................................................................................................................... 9 4.2 Annual Storage of Water ................................................................................................ 9 UKL Flood Prevention Threshold Elevations........................................................... 10 4.3 Element Two ................................................................................................................. 12 General Description .................................................................................................. 12 Operation and Delivery of Water from UKL and the Klamath River ...................... 13 Operation and Delivery of Water to the East Side of the Project ............................. 38 4.4 Element Three ............................................................................................................... 44 Dams and Reservoirs ................................................................................................ 45 4.5 Water Shortage Planning .............................................................................................. 49 4.6 Conservation Measures ................................................................................................. 50 Canal Salvage............................................................................................................ 50 Sucker Assisted Rearing Program ............................................................................ 51 Sucker Monitoring and Recovery Program Participation ......................................... 52 Coho Restoration Grant Program .............................................................................. 52 5 Interrelated and Interdependent Actions ............................................................................... 53 6 Status and Environmental Baseline of the Lost River Sucker and the Shortnose Sucker .... 53 6.1 Legal status ................................................................................................................... 54 6.2 Life History ................................................................................................................... 54 Migration................................................................................................................... 55 Spawning................................................................................................................... 55 Larvae ....................................................................................................................... 56 Juveniles .................................................................................................................... 57 Adults ........................................................................................................................ 57 6.3 Range and Distribution ................................................................................................. 58 Historical Distribution .............................................................................................. 58 Current Distribution .................................................................................................. 59 Population Abundance and Dynamics ...................................................................... 61 6.4 Reasons for listing and new threats .............................................................................. 67 New Threats Identified Since Listing ....................................................................... 68 Survival and Recovery Needs ................................................................................... 69 6.5 Environmental Baseline ................................................................................................ 71 Habitat ....................................................................................................................... 71 Water Quantity .......................................................................................................... 74 Water Quality ............................................................................................................ 79 Die Off Events .......................................................................................................... 81 Genetic Introgression ................................................................................................ 82 ii Harvest ...................................................................................................................... 83 Climate ...................................................................................................................... 84 Environmental Contaminants.................................................................................... 84 Predation ................................................................................................................... 85 Disease and Parasites ................................................................................................ 86 Consulted on Effects ................................................................................................. 87 Conservation Efforts ................................................................................................. 90 7 Effects of the action on the Lost River Sucker and the Shortnose Sucker ........................... 92 7.1 Analytical Approach ..................................................................................................... 92 Use of the Period of Record Hydrograph as a Tool to Analyze Project Effects ....... 92 Use of the KBPM Model as a Tool to Analyze Project
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