Caspian Tern Management to Reduce Predation of Juvenile Salmonids in the Columbia River Estuary
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Caspian Tern Management to Reduce Predation of Juvenile Salmonids in the Columbia River Estuary Final Environmental Impact Statement by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97232 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District 333 SW 1st Avenue Portland, Oregon 97204-3495 NOAA Fisheries 525 NE Oregon Suite 500 Portland, Oregon 97232 January 2005 Recommended Citation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2005. Caspian Tern Management to Reduce Predation of Juvenile Salmonids in the Columbia River Estuary, Final Environmental Impact Statement. Portland, Oregon. Cover Photo Credits: Background and inset photo of Caspian terns, courtesy of Dr. Dan Roby, Ph.D., U.S. Geological Survey; salmonid photo courtesy of Bonneville Power Administration. Caspian Tern Management to Reduce Predation of Juvenile Salmonids in the Columbia River Estuary Final EIS TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………..………….………TOC-1 Executive Summary……………………………....………………………………………..….........……….…...…ES-1 CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1- 1 1.2 Purpose of and Need for Action ................................................................................................................ 1- 2 1.2.1 Guiding Principles ..................................................................................................................... 1- 4 1.2.2 Context of Purpose and Need .................................................................................................. 1- 4 1.3 Authority and Responsibility..................................................................................................................... 1- 5 1.3.1 US Fish and Wildlife Service ................................................................................................... 1- 5 1.3.2 US Army Corps of Engineers.................................................................................................. 1- 5 1.3.3 National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) ........................................................ 1- 6 1.4 Policy, Legal Compliance, Consultation, an Coordination with Others................................................ 1- 7 1.4.1 Policy and Legal Compliance ................................................................................................... 1- 7 1.4.2 Consultation and Coordination with Others .......................................................................... 1- 7 Public Outreach .................................................................................................................... 1- 7 Coordination with Other Agencies..................................................................................... 1- 8 Coordination with Tribal Governments............................................................................. 1- 8 1.5 Scoping.......................................................................................................................................................... 1- 8 1.5.1 Issues and Concern Identified During Scoping..................................................................... 1- 8 1.5.2 Issues Raised, but Eliminated from Detailed Study ............................................................ 1- 9 CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES 2.1 Alternative Development ........................................................................................................................... 2- 1 2.1.1 Rationale for Alternative Design............................................................................................. 2- 1 2.2 Similarities Among Alternatives............................................................................................................... 2- 2 2.3 Detailed Description of Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 2- 2 2.3.1 Alternative A – No Action (Current Management Plan) ..................................................... 2- 2 2.3.2 Alternative B – No Management............................................................................................. 2- 3 2.3.3 Alternative C – Redistribution of East Sand Island Tern Colony – Preferred Alternative ...... 2- 3 2.3.4 Alternative D – Redistribution and Lethal Control of East Sand Island Tern Colony ...... 2- 6 2.4 Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan........................................................................................... 2- 7 2.5 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated From Detailed Study ........................................................... 2- 7 2.5.1 Elimination of Caspian Terns from East Sand Island.......................................................... 2- 7 2.5.2 Maximum Redistribution of Terns throughout the Region ................................................. 2- 8 2.5.3 Lethal Control of East Sand Island Tern Colony ................................................................. 2- 9 2.5.4 Reduction of Caspian tern Nesting Habitat on East Sand Island and No Active Facilitation to Other Sites within the Region................................................................... 2- 9 2.6 Comparison of Alternatives ....................................................................................................................... 2- 10 Table of Contents TOC - 1 Caspian Tern Management to Reduce Predation of Juvenile Salmonids in the Columbia River Estuary Final EIS Caspian Tern Management to Reduce Predation of Juvenile Salmonids in the Columbia River Estuary Final EIS CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 3.1 Physical Environment ................................................................................................................................ 3- 1 3.2 Biological Environment.............................................................................................................................. 3- 5 3.2.1 Caspian Terns............................................................................................................................. 3- 5 3.2.2 Fish .............................................................................................................................................. 3- 10 3.2.3 Federally Endangered and Threatened Fish ........................................................................ 3- 12 3.2.4 Other birds.................................................................................................................................. 3- 15 3.2.5 Mammals..................................................................................................................................... 3- 15 3.2.6 Federally Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants............................................... 3- 16 3.3 Socioeconomic Environment...................................................................................................................... 3- 17 3.3.1 Commercial and Recreational Fisheries ................................................................................ 3- 17 3.4 Tribal Fisheries............................................................................................................................................ 3- 18 3.5 Cultural Resources...................................................................................................................................... 3- 19 CHAPTER 4: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 4.1 Effects to Physical Environment .............................................................................................................. 4- 1 4.1.1 Alternative A .............................................................................................................................. 4- 1 4.1.2 Alternative B .............................................................................................................................. 4- 1 4.1.3 Alternative C .............................................................................................................................. 4- 2 4.1.4 Alternative D.............................................................................................................................. 4- 4 4.2 Effects to Biological Environment............................................................................................................ 4- 4 4.2.1 Effects to Caspian Terns .......................................................................................................... 4- 4 4.2.1.1 Alternative A............................................................................................................. 4- 4 4.2.1.2 Alternative B............................................................................................................. 4- 6 4.2.1.3 Alternative C............................................................................................................. 4- 8 4.2.1.4 Alternative D ............................................................................................................ 4- 11 4.2.2 Effects to Fishes ........................................................................................................................ 4- 12 4.2.2.1 Alternative A............................................................................................................. 4- 12 4.2.2.2 Alternative B............................................................................................................