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III. Listed Species and Critical Habitat Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are listed as endangered (November 20, 1991, 57 FR 58619). Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were listed as threatened (April 22, 1992, 57 FR 14653), but were reclassified as endangered through an Emergency Interim Rule (August 18, 1994, 59 FR 42529). The classification of Snake River Spring/Summer chinook and fall chinook reverted to threatened on April 17, 1995 (April 17, 1995 60 FR 19342). However, whether the species is listed as threatened or endangered does not per se affect the consultation process or the conclusions of a biological opinion, which depend on the biological requirements of the species and not their listing status. Critical habitat was designated for Snake River sockeye salmon, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon, and Snake River fall chinook salmon on December 28, 1993 (58 FR 68543), effective on January 27, 1994. The designation of critical habitat provides notice to Federal agencies and the public that these areas and features are vital to the conservation of listed Snake River salmon. The essential features of the critical habitat of Snake River salmon have been further defined to include four components: (1) spawning and juvenile rearing areas, (2) juvenile migration corridors, (3) areas for growth and development to adulthood, and (4) adult migration corridors. PFMC fisheries occur in the Pacific Ocean where growth and development to adulthood occurs. The Pacific Ocean areas used by listed Snake River salmon for growth and development have not been determined and are not well understood. Accordingly, essential features and primary constituent elements for the ocean have not been identified. Although it is important, critical habitat does not include the open ocean habitat because this area does not appear to be in need of special management consideration as discussed at 58 FR 68547. If additional evidence supports the inclusion of marine areas, NMFS may revise designated critical habitat. The Sacramento River winter-run chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is a unique population of chinook salmon in the Sacramento River. It is distinguishable from the other three Sacramento chinook runs by the timing of its upstream migration and spawning season. NMFS listed winter-run chinook as threatened under emergency provisions of the ESA on August 4, 1989 (54 FR 32085), and formally listed the species on November 5, 1990 (55 FR 46515). The State of California listed winter-run chinook as endangered in 1989 under the California State Endangered Species Act. On January 4, 1994, NMFS reclassifiedthe winter-run chinook as an endangered species (59 FR 442). On June 16, 1993, NMFS designated critical habitat for the winter-run chinook from Keswick Dam (Sacramento river mile 302) to the Golden Gate Bridge (58 FR 33212). The designated habitat includes the area from the Sacramento River at Keswick Dam downstream to the San Francisco Bay. The open ocean was considered important, but was not designated as critical habitat because degradation of the open ocean did not appear to have significantly contributed to the decline of the species. The essential features of the critical habitat include 1) the river water, 2) the river bottom including those areas used as spawning substrate, 3) the adjacent riparian zone used for rearing, and 4) the estuarine water column and essential foraging habitat and food resources of the Delta and Bay, used for juvenile emigration and adult upmigration. |
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