Five Hatchery Programs in the Lake Washington Basin
Summary
NOAA Fisheries proposes to issue five Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 4(d) determinations for hatchery operations in the Lake Washington basin tributaries (see Supporting Materials, below).
Five ESA Section 4(d) Limit 6 determinations may be made on five joint state-tribal plans. These programs propagate ESA-listed coho salmon, Puget Sound Chinook salmon, and non-ESA listed sockeye salmon.
The hatchery programs are intended to:
- Supplement or support local natural salmon populations;
- Mitigate for fish losses caused by the construction and operation of the Landsburg dam, and
- Provide fishing opportunities for states and tribes.
These programs are described in separate Hatchery and Genetics Management Plans (HGMPs) submitted to NOAA Fisheries for review and determination. These HGMPs describe the programs in detail, including monitoring and evaluation to assess performance in meeting conservation and supplementation objectives and their effects on ESA-listed spring Chinook salmon and steelhead. The HGMPs were submitted under the above-mentioned ESA compliance pathway.
The public comment period for the draft EA and PEPD closes on September 27, 2021.
Comments may be submitted by e-mail to: hatcheries.public.comment@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following identifier: Comments on the Environmental Assessment for the Lake Washington hatchery programs