DRAFT Environmental Assessment Yankee Fork and Panther Creek Chinook Salmon hatchery programs Upper Salmon River Basin January 15, 2019 Draft Section 1 - Introduction DRAFT | Do Not Cite or Distribute Yankee Fork/Panther Creek Hatcheries EA January 15, 2019 Draft Section 1 - Introduction DRAFT | Do Not Cite or Distribute Yankee Fork and Panther Creek Chinook Salmon Hatchery Programs Draft Environmental Assessment January 13, 2020 Lead Agency: National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Region National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Responsible Official: Barry Thom Regional Administrator, West Coast Region National Marine Fisheries Service For further information contact: Brett Farman 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100 Portland, OR 97232 503-231-6222 [email protected] Persons and Agencies Consulted Include name and agency of those consulted for information during the preparation of the EA. Preparers (note this section is optional and not required by CEQ NEPA regulations) Include name and agency DRAFT Yankee Fork/Panther Creek Hatcheries EA i January 15, 2019 Draft Section 1 - Introduction DRAFT | Do Not Cite or Distribute Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Purpose and Need ..................................................................................................... 1-2 1.2 Project Area and Analysis Area ................................................................................. 1-2 1.3 Relationship to Other Plans, Regulations, Agreements, Laws, Secretarial Orders, and Executive Orders ................................................................................................................. 1-4 1.3.1 Tribal Trust Responsibility under the Endangered Species Act ........................... 1-4 1.3.2 U.S. v. Oregon ................................................................................................... 1-4 1.3.3 Northwest Power Act/Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program ............................... 1-5 2 Description of Alternatives ............................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Alternative 1, No Action ........................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Alternative 2, Proposed Action.................................................................................. 2-2 2.2.1 Yankee Fork Chinook Salmon ........................................................................... 2-2 2.2.2 Yankee Fork Chinook Salmon Production .......................................................... 2-4 2.2.3 Panther Creek Chinook Salmon ......................................................................... 2-7 2.2.4 Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation .............................................................. 2-11 2.2.5 Operation and Maintenance .............................................................................. 2-11 2.3 Alternative 3, Reduced Production .......................................................................... 2-13 2.4 Alternative 4, Program Termination/No production ................................................. 2-13 2.5 Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail ................................................ 2-13 2.5.1 Hatchery Programs with Increased Production Levels ...................................... 2-14 2.5.2 Hatchery Programs with Other Decreased Production Levels ........................... 2-14 2.5.3 Increased Harvest to Reduce Hatchery Fish on Spawning Grounds .................. 2-14 3 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Listed Species ........................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 ESA-Listed Salmon and Steelhead Populations .................................................. 3-1 3.2 Non-listed Species .................................................................................................... 3-3 3.3 Fish Habitat .............................................................................................................. 3-4 3.3.1 Critical Habitat and Essential Fish Habitat ......................................................... 3-4 3.4 Tourism and recreation.............................................................................................. 3-6 3.5 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................... 3-7 3.6 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................... 3-8 3.6.1 Shoshone-Bannock Tribes .................................................................................. 3-9 3.6.2 Nez Perce Tribe ................................................................................................. 3-9 DRAFT Yankee Fork/Panther Creek Hatcheries EA ii January 15, 2019 Draft Section 1 - Introduction DRAFT | Do Not Cite or Distribute 3.6.3 Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation ..................................... 3-10 3.6.4 Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation ........................................ 3-10 3.7 Socioeconomics ...................................................................................................... 3-12 3.8 Human Health and Safety........................................................................................ 3-14 3.9 Water Quality, Water Quantity, and Hydrology ....................................................... 3-14 3.9.1 Yankee Fork .................................................................................................... 3-14 3.9.2 Panther Creek Weir Facility ............................................................................. 3-16 3.10 Land Use and Ownership ........................................................................................ 3-17 3.10.1 Yankee Fork .................................................................................................... 3-17 3.10.2 Panther Creek Weir Facility ............................................................................. 3-19 3.11 Transportation ......................................................................................................... 3-20 3.11.1 Yankee Fork .................................................................................................... 3-20 3.11.2 Panther Creek .................................................................................................. 3-21 4 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Listed Species ........................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Alternative 1 – No Action .................................................................................. 4-2 4.1.2 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action......................................................................... 4-6 4.1.3 Alternative 3 – Reduced Production ................................................................... 4-8 4.1.4 Alternative 4 – Program Termination ............................................................... 4-10 4.2 Non-listed Species .................................................................................................. 4-12 4.2.1 Alternative 1 – No Action ................................................................................ 4-12 4.2.2 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action....................................................................... 4-13 4.2.3 Alternative 3 – Reduced Production ................................................................. 4-14 4.2.4 Alternative 4 – Program Termination ............................................................... 4-14 4.3 Fish Habitat ............................................................................................................ 4-15 4.3.1 Alternative 1 – No Action ................................................................................ 4-15 4.3.2 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action....................................................................... 4-16 4.3.3 Alternative 3 – Reduced Production ................................................................. 4-16 4.3.4 Alternative 4 – Program Termination ............................................................... 4-16 4.4 Tourism and Recreation .......................................................................................... 4-16 4.4.1 Alternative 1 – No Action ................................................................................ 4-16 4.4.2 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action....................................................................... 4-17 4.4.3 Alternative 3 – Reduced Production ................................................................. 4-17 4.4.4 Alternative 4 – Program Termination ............................................................... 4-17 DRAFT Yankee Fork/Panther Creek Hatcheries EA iii January 15, 2019 Draft Section 1 - Introduction DRAFT | Do Not Cite or Distribute 4.5 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................. 4-17 4.5.1 Alternative 1 – No Action ................................................................................ 4-17 4.5.2 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action......................................................................