On March 16, 1995, NMFS identified a KMP steelhead ESU and published a proposed rule to list it as a threatened species under the ESA. The proposed ESU included steelhead populations inhabiting coastal river basins between the Elk River in Oregon and the Klamath River in California, inclusive. Subsequent to this proposal, the agency completed a coastwide status review of steelhead (NMFS, 1996a)that identified a total of 15 steelhead ESUs in the States of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California. By August 9, 1996, the agency had proposed 10 steelhead ESUs, including KMP steelhead, for listing as threatened or endangered under the ESA. While the agency had proposed listing KMP steelhead prior to the other ESUs, unresolved issues and practical considerations made it more prudent to consider a final determination on KMP steelhead in context of final listing decisions for all West Coast steelhead ESUs.

On August 18, 1997, NMFS published a final rule listing five ESUs as threatened and endangered under the ESA. In a separate document published on the same day, NMFS determined that substantial scientific disagreement remained for 5 proposed ESUs, including the KMP steelhead ESU. In accordance with the ESA, NMFS deferred its decision on these five steelhead ESUs for ths for the purpose of soliciting additional data. During this 6 month period of deferral, NMFS' scientists evaluated new information regarding the status of these proposed steelhead ESUs. This new information resulted in the updating of status review documents for these 5 ESUs.

Based on a review of the updated information for these ESUs and of a review and evaluation of Federal, state, and local conservation efforts being made to reduce the threats to these ESUs, NMFS issued a final rule on March 19, 1998 (63 FR 13347) listing two ESUs as threatened (Lower Columbia River and Central Valley California) and a notice of determination that three ESUs (KMP, Oregon Coast, and Northern California) did not warrant listing. The latter determination was based on the best available scientific and commercial data that these ESUs had been at a lower risk of extinction than they were at the time of the proposed listing determinations. Even though the risks confronting these ESUs had been reduced to a point at which listing was not warranted, NMFS still expressed concerns about the status of these three ESUs in the notice of determination and, therefore, identified them as candidate species, which the agency would continue to monitor and re-assess by 2002.

KMP Steelhead ESU Determination

The KMP steelhead ESU has been described in NMFS' status review documents and Federal Register notices cited earlier; no new scientific information has been received to indicate that the ESU should be redefined. This ESU includes both winter and summer steelhead inhabiting coastal river basins between the Elk River in Oregon and the Klamath River in California, inclusive. Half-pounder juveniles (described previously under "Life History of KMP Steelhead") also occur in this geographic area. Geologically, this region includes the Klamath Mountains Geological Province, which is not as erosive as the Franciscan formation terrains south of the Klamath River Basin. Dominant vegetation along the coast is redwood forest, while some interior basins are much drier than the surrounding areas. The region is characterized by many endemic plant species. Elevated stream temperatures are a factor affecting steelhead and other species in some of the larger river basins. With the exception of major river basins, such as the Rogue and Klamath, most rivers in this region have a short duration of peak flows. Strong and consistent coastal upwelling begins at about Cape Blanco and continues south into the central California coast, resulting in a relatively productive nearshore marine environment. Protein electrophoretic analyses of coastal steelhead have indicated genetic discontinuities between the steelhead of this region and those to the north and south (Hatch, 1990; NMFS, 1993 and 1994). Chromosomal studies have also identified a distinctive karyotype that has been reported only from populations within this ESU.

The relationship between hatchery steelhead populations and naturally spawned steelhead within this ESU was also assessed in a NMFS' status review update (NMFS, 1998). Based on this assessment, NMFS' steelhead Biological Review Team (BRT) concluded that seven steelhead hatchery stocks are part of this ESU because they were established from indigenous natural populations. In Oregon these stocks are Applegate River, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) stock 62 (winter run); Upper Rogue River, ODFW stock 52 (winter run); Upper Rogue River, ODFW stock 52 (summer run); and Chetco River, ODFW stock 96 (winter run). In California, the stocks are Iron Gate Hatchery stock (winter run); Trinity River Hatchery stock (winter run); and Rowdy Creek Hatchery stock. The majority of the BRT also concluded that these hatchery stocks were not likely to be essential for the recovery of the ESU (i.e., if the ESU were listed).

Status of the KMP Steelhead ESU

Section 3 of the ESA defines the term "endangered species" as "any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range." The term "threatened species" is defined as "any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range." In its previous status reviews for West Coast salmon and steelhead, NMFS has identified a number of factors that should be considered in evaluating the level of risk faced by an ESU, including

1. absolute numbers of fish and their spatial and temporal distribution,
2. current abundance in relation to historical abundance and current carrying capacity of the habitat,
3. trends in abundance,
4. natural and human-influenced factors that cause variability in survival and abundance,
5. possible threats to genetic integrity(e.g., from strays or outplants from hatchery programs), and
6. recent events (e.g., a drought or changes in harvest management) that have predictable short-term consequences for abundance of the ESU.

Based on these factors and on the best available scientific information, NMFS' BRT first reviewed the status of the KMP steelhead in 1994 (NMFS, 1994) and determined that it was likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. The agency subsequently proposed this ESU for listing as a threatened species (60 FR 14253, March 16, 1995), noting that available information indicated that most of the steelhead populations in the KMP ESU were in significant decline and not self-sustaining. After completing a coastwide status review in 1996, the agency restated its proposal to list the ESU as threatened and highlighted concerns for summer steelhead as well as the apparent replacement of natural fish with hatchery-produced fish. The status of the ESU was last reassessed in a 1997 status review update (NMFS, 1997), wherein the NMFS' BRT analyzed new information and once again concluded that the KMP ESU was likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. The BRT expressed concern about the lack of reliable and recent data for many populations and the almost universal decline of native summer steelhead populations in this ESU. Although the percentage of naturally spawning hatchery fish was considered low to moderate in Oregon streams in the ESU, the BRT had major concerns regarding stray hatchery fish in the Klamath and Trinity River Basins. In addition, the BRT cited significant risks resulting from habitat loss and degradation (e.g., due to dams, logging, water withdrawals, and mining) within the range of this ESU.

In addition to the BRT's assessment, the agency also considered existing and recently implemented conservation efforts focused on KMP steelhead. Significant state efforts in Oregon and California (including harvest restrictions, monitoring, and habitat improvements) appeared to have reduced threats to this species. In addition, NMFS believed that biological risks associated with habitat modification and degradation on Federal lands had decreased as a result of the Northwest Forest Plan (Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT), 1993). While NMFS remained concerned about habitat conditions on non- Federal lands within the range of the ESU, the agency noted that the majority of lands were actually under Federal ownership. After reviewing all of the available types of information, NMFS concluded in March 1998 that the KMP steelhead ESU did not warrant listing as a threatened species but instead should be classified as a candidate species and its status re-evaluated by 2002. However, the recent ruling by the Court on October 25, 2000, states that NMFS erred in arriving at this determination and requires the agency to re-assess this ESU.

NMFS scientists have recently conducted a preliminary survey of new information on KMP steelhead populations that has become available since the BRT last reviewed the species in December 1997 (NMFS, 2000). Available new data for Oregon populations in the KMP steelhead ESU are concentrated in the Rogue River Basin and show no major changes since the last assessment. New information on California steelhead populations in NMFS' possession is also very limited and consist primarily of short-term data from creel and snorkel surveys. This paucity of available data compels the agency to re-propose the ESU as a threatened species at this time. However, the agency is hopeful that data sets currently being compiled in Oregon and California, as well as any new information received in response to this listing proposal, will permit a more rigorous assessment prior to a final listing determination.

If you would like to read more... Click here for the King James Version