Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon

The Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon is a threatened species. NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region, along with the Science Centers, work to protect and conserve this species under the Endangered Species Act.

West Coast

Species Status

ESA Listing Status: Threatened on May 6, 1997 (62 FR 24588) and June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37159); updated April 14, 2014 (79 FR 20802)

ESU Description: This evolutionarily significant unit, or ESU, includes naturally spawned coho salmon originating from coastal streams and rivers between Cape Blanco, Oregon, and Punta Gorda, California. Also included are coho salmon from the following artificial propagation programs:

Cole Rivers Hatchery Program
Trinity River Hatchery Program
Iron Gate Hatchery Program.

Current Population Trends: ESA Status Reviews and 5-Year Updates Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon

Critical Habitat: Designated May 5, 1999 (64 FR 24049)

Protective Regulations:Issued June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37159)

Recovery Plan: Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Salmon Recovery Plan (2014)

Species Recovery

NOAA Fisheries delineated eight recovery domains, or geographic recovery planning areas, for the ESA-listed salmon and steelhead populations on the West Coast. The Southern Oregon and Northern California Coast Recovery Domain is one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the West Coast, supporting numerous plant life and terrestrial and aquatic animals. The domain includes California's Klamath and Eel rivers and Oregon's Rogue River (see map of recovery domains).

There is one ESA-listed salmon in this domain: Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon. However, this domain overlaps with the North-Central California Coast Recovery Domain and the area within that domain that is home to Northern California steelhead, and California Coastal Chinook.

NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region manages recovery planning and implementation for this domain through its California Coastal Area Office.

Recovery Plan

NOAA Fisheries released the final Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Salmon Recovery Plan on September 30, 2014. The goal of the plan is to restore SONCC coho salmon to healthy, self-sustaining numbers so that the protections of the Endangered Species Act are no longer necessary. Conservation partners have advanced many habitat restoration, barrier removal, and threat reduction actions since the species was listed in 1997, and the plan was developed with extensive input from these partners. The recovery plan provides a means to organize and coordinate recovery of this species based on the best available scientific information.

Implementing recovery plans is an adaptive process. Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation helps to prioritize and select the right projects in the right places. This ensures investments are focused on the greatest needs of the species. In addition, these investments provide substantial benefits to local communities. Habitat restoration, for example, creates jobs at a level comparable to traditional infrastructure investments, such as road and water projects. Restored habitat also improves water supplies, reduces property damage from flooding, and limits risks associated with high severity fire, among other recreational and cultural benefits.

Partnerships for Recovery

Federal and State Partners

Tribal Partners

Local and Private Partners

More Information

Contact

If you have questions, would like to learn more about recovery efforts in your watershed, or would like to get involved directly, please contact:

West Coast Region - California Coastal Office

Julie Weeder
Email: Julie.Weeder@noaa.gov
Phone: 707.825.5168

Last updated by West Coast Regional Office on 08/21/2024