Designation of Critical Habitat for Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon and Puget Sound Steelhead (2016)

NOAA Fisheries issued a final rule to designate critical habitat for lower Columbia River coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Puget Sound steelhead (O. mykiss) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The specific areas designated for lower Columbia River coho salmon include approximately 2,300 mi (3,701 km) of freshwater and estuarine habitat in Oregon and Washington. The specific areas designated for Puget Sound steelhead include approximately 2,031 mi (3,269 km) of freshwater and estuarine habitat in Puget Sound, WA.

In developing this final rule, we considered public and peer review comments, as well as economic and other relevant impacts. We excluded a number of particular areas from designation because the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion, and exclusion will not result in the extinction of the species.

More Information

• Pacific Salmon on the West Coast
• Pacific Steelhead on the West Coast
• Conserving Salmon and Steelhead on the West Coast
• Protecting Marine Life on the West Coast
• West Coast Region About Us
• Endangered Species Conservation