Five Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans for the Puyallup River Basin

NOAA Fisheries is making available for public review its Proposed Evaluation and Pending Determination (PEPD) for five hatchery programs rearing and releasing fall Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and fall chum salmon in the Puyallup River basin. The programs are jointly operated by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

An ESA Section 4(d) Limit 6 determination may be made on the joint state-tribal plan, which allows for programs in the U.S. v. Washington Management Agreement to be operated. These programs propagate Puget Sound Chinook salmon from the Puyallup River fall Chinook salmon population.

The hatchery programs are intended to:

• Supplement or support local natural salmon populations;
• Mitigate for fish losses caused by development and habitat degradation;
• Provide future fishing opportunities for states and tribes, and
• Provide prey to ESA-listed Southern Resident Killer Whales.

These programs are described in five Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) submitted to NOAA Fisheries for review and determination. The HGMPs describe the programs in detail, including monitoring and evaluation to assess performance in meeting conservation and supplementation objectives and the effects on ESA-listed Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Puget Sound steelhead.

Comments are only being solicited on the PEPD. See the Federal Register Notice (link below) for information on the comment period opening and closing dates, and for details about how to provide comments.

For more information on hatchery programs that NOAA Fisheries is evaluating along the West Coast, including in Puget Sound, please visit our hatcheries page.

For more information, contact Molly Gorman at (206) 526-6114 or molly.gorman@noaa.gov.