Capture, Transportation and Reintroduction of Lower Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon into the Upper White Salmon River

摘要

In September 1999, a Settlement Agreement was signed by PacifiCorp and State, Federal, Tribal and non-governmental organizations to remove Condit Dam and reopen the upper White Salmon River to fish passage (PacifiCorp 1999). In preparation for removal of Condit Dam, the potential impacts of removal have been investigated and evaluated for terrestrial and aquatic species through Environmental Impact Statements by the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission (FERC 2002) and Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE 2007). Formal Endangered Species Act consultations on bull trout by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS 2002 and 2005) found that the dam removal action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of bull trout in the Lower Columbia Recovery Unit or in the Columbia River Distinct Population Segment and is not likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. The National Marine Fisheries Service has determined that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed lower Columbia River (LCR) Chinook salmon, lower Columbia coho salmon, Columbia River chum salmon or mid-Columbia River steelhead in the White Salmon River, or destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat due to the limited time and space of the action (NMFS 2006).