Renewal of the Carmel River Steelhead Rescue and Rearing Enhancement Program

NOAA Fisheries received an Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement permit application from the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) for the continuation of the Carmel River Steelhead Rescue and Rearing Enhancement Program (Program) for ten years in accordance with the revised Rescue and Rearing Management Plan (RRMP). The purpose of the Program is to enhance the S-CCC steelhead population in the Carmel River watershed in Monterey County, California.

The permit would authorize the take of the threatened S-CCC Distinct Population Segment (DPS) steelhead. Covered activities include:

1. collection, transport, and relocation of natural- origin steelhead in streams of the Carmel River watershed;
2. temporary captive rearing of juvenile steelhead at the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility and subsequent release; and
3. monitoring activities, including tagging and tracking of juvenile steelhead, to inform Program performance.

Implementation of these actions will be guided by the RRMP and a technical advisory team with staff from NOAA Fisheries, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the District, and the Carmel River Steelhead Association.

NOAA Fisheries is providing public notice to allow other agencies, tribes, and the public an opportunity to review and submit written data, views, arguments concerning activities proposed in the application, or to request a hearing in connection with the action. The District’s application and RRMP are available on NOAA Fisheries’ Authorization and Permits for Protected Species website at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm