Draft Environmental Assessment Designate and Authorize the Reintroduction of a Nonessential Experimental Population of Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon in the upper Yuba River under Endangered Species Act Section 10(j) NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE WEST COAST REGION CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY OFFICE 650 CAPITOL MALL, SUITE 5-100 SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 2020 Placeholder Cover Sheet Draft Environmental Assessment Designate and Authorize Reintroduction of a Nonessential Experimental Population of Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon in the upper Yuba River under Endangered Species Act Section 10(j) Proposed Action: NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to: (1) Designate and authorize the release of a nonessential experimental population of Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon pursuant to Endangered Species Act section 10(j) in the upper Yuba River and its tributaries upstream of Englebright Dam; and (2) Establish take prohibitions for the nonessential experimental population and exceptions for particular activities under ESA section 4(d). Type of Statement: Environmental Assessment For Further Information: Jonathan Ambrose ([email protected]) National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Region, California Central Valley Office National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Region California Central Valley Office Sacramento, CA 95814 Telephone: (916) 930-3600 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK DRAFT Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ....................................................................................... 1 1.1 Federal Lead and Cooperating Agencies ....................................................................................... 3 1.2 Overview of the ESA Section 10(j) Designation Regulatory Framework ..................................... 3 1.2.1 The Endangered Species Act ............................................................................................ 3 1.2.2 Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon ESA Listing ................................................ 3 1.2.3 Experimental Populations under ESA section 10(j) ......................................................... 6 1.2.4 ESA section 4(d) Regulations ........................................................................................... 9 1.2.5 Relationship of the Proposed Experimental Population to ESA Recovery Efforts .......... 9 1.2.6 Relationship to Other Plans and Policies ........................................................................ 10 2.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION .......................................................... 12 2.1 Purpose of the Action .................................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Need for the Action ..................................................................................................................... 12 3.0 ACTION AREA................................................................................................................................. 13 3.1 Description of the Action Area .................................................................................................... 13 4.0 ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................................. 15 4.1 Alternative 1 (No-action) –No Designation of an Experimental Population, No Authorization for Reintroduction, and no Adoption of Protective Regulations .......................... 15 4.2 Alternative 2 (Proposed Action/Preferred Alternative) – Designation of a Nonessential Experimental Population, Authorization for Reintroduction, and Adoption of Limited Protective Regulations ................................................................................................................. 16 4.2.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.2 Regulatory Process ......................................................................................................... 17 4.3 Alternative 3 – Designation of a Nonessential Experimental Population, Authorization for Reintroduction, and Adoption of Current Protective Regulations ............................................... 20 4.3.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................... 20 4.3.2 Regulatory Process ......................................................................................................... 21 4.4 Alternative Considered but Not Analyzed in Detail .................................................................... 24 4.4.1 Designation as an Essential Experimental Population .................................................... 24 4.4.2. NEP Area Limited to the North Yuba River ................................................................... 25 5.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................................................... 27 5.1 Description of the Analysis Area ................................................................................................. 27 5.2 Overview and Approach .............................................................................................................. 27 5.3 Aquatic Habitat ............................................................................................................................ 28 5.3.1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 28 5.3.2 Fish Passage Considerations ........................................................................................... 32 5.3.3 Water Quality.................................................................................................................. 34 5.3.4 Anadromous Salmonid Habitat Availability and Quality ............................................... 37 5.3.5 Essential Fish Habitat ..................................................................................................... 40 5.3.6 Watershed Habitat Restoration Efforts ........................................................................... 40 Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon i December 2020 Endangered Species Act section 10(j) EA DRAFT 5.4 Fisheries Resources ..................................................................................................................... 42 5.4.1 ESA-listed Fish Species .................................................................................................. 42 5.4.2 Other Native Fish Species .............................................................................................. 42 5.4.3 Non-Native Fish Species ................................................................................................ 43 5.4.4 Fish Disease Considerations ........................................................................................... 44 5.5 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................ 44 5.5.1 Federal and California Listed or Special Status Species ................................................ 45 5.6 Land Use and Ownership ............................................................................................................ 47 5.7 Tourism and Recreation ............................................................................................................... 50 5.8 Socioeconomics ........................................................................................................................... 51 5.9 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................................... 54 5.9.1 Prehistoric Context ......................................................................................................... 55 5.9.2 Ethnohistoric Context ..................................................................................................... 56 5.9.3 Historical‐Era Context .................................................................................................... 57 5.9.4 Native American Consultation........................................................................................ 58 5.10 Environmental Justice .................................................................................................................. 59 6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ...................................................................................... 62 6.1 Analysis Approach and Alternative Description Summaries ...................................................... 62 6.1.1 Determination of Whether Effects of an Alternative are Significant .............................. 63 6.2 Effects on Aquatic Habitat .......................................................................................................... 64 6.2.1 Effects on Fish Passage .................................................................................................. 65 6.2.2 Effects on Water Quality ................................................................................................ 66 6.2.3 Effects on Anadromous Salmonid Habitat Availability and Quality .............................. 70 6.2.4 Effects on Essential Fish Habitat .................................................................................... 71 6.3 Effects on Fisheries