Draft Snohomish early winter SH plan

The Federal Register Notice for proposed determination under the ESA for the two early winter steelhead programs in the Snohomish system is out and can be found at:

http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/hatcheries/hgmp/snohomish_ewsteelhead_pepd.html

Comment period closes March 24, 2016


Additional information can be found at:

http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/hatcheries/salmon_and_steelhead_hatcheries.html

All good info but the immediate question of concern is when will NOAA/NMFS render its decisions?

See: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/...ws_deis_faq.pdf

And then the hot link Draft EIS for Five EWSH Hatchery Programs in Puget Sound and further there under find the Frequently Asked Questions and at the absolute end of page 5 the following:


"When will NOAA Fisheries complete its evaluations under the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act?

NOAA Fisheries anticipates releasing both a final environmental impact statement and record of decision, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act, and determinations on this action under the Endangered Species Act, in the spring of 2016."

Will it be in time???? Tic Toc, Tic Toc.......

We can only hope, but the wheels of federal agencies oftentimes turn very slowly......

CHOP CHOP NOAA. Lots of work to do in a short amount of time.

To the extent that NOAA has had steelhead HGMPs for an excruciatingly long time and with a critical go/no go decision point rapidly coming up for this year's release of EWSH smolt production the Agency needs to (1) meet its review obligations and render a "verdict" before that date or (2) issue a temporary permit allowing continuation of EWSH plants in those river systems pending completion of its processes.

It is my understanding that the HGMP's as submitted call for ongoing EWSH plants using progeny of in river returns (only). Point being that if we lose brood stock from those systems the current HGMPs under review will not allow for bringing in plants from another system (i.e. from the Skykomish) meaning no further EWSH in those systems or another protracted process of revised HGMPs for review and approval.