[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 152 (Thursday, August 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42508-42509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20773]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 072897A]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Draft Recovery Plan for 
Winter-run Chinook Salmon

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing the availability of a draft recovery plan 
for the Sacramento River winter-run chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha). NMFS is seeking review and public comments on the 
recovery plan. Copies are available on request.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received by December 
5, 1997, if they are to be considered during preparation of a final 
recovery plan.

ADDRESSES: Requests for a copy of the draft plan should be addressed to 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa 
Rosa, CA 95405; telephone: 707-575-6050. Copies of the draft plan can 
also be obtained from the NMFS Southwest Region World Wide Web site at 
http://swr.ucsd.edu. Written comments and materials regarding the draft 
plan should be directed to the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Wingert, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Southwest Region, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, 
Long Beach, CA, 90802-4213; telephone: 562-980-4021.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 42509]]

Background

    Sacramento River winter-run chinook salmon are a unique population 
of chinook salmon in the Sacramento River and are distinguished from 
other runs based on the timing of their upstream migration and spawning 
season. Adult winter-run chinook generally leave the ocean and migrate 
through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the upper Sacramento River 
during the winter and spawn during the summer.
    The Endangered Species Act requires that a recovery plan be 
developed and implemented for the survival and conservation of listed 
species, unless it is determined that a plan will not promote the 
conservation of the species. Because it was determined that a recovery 
plan was necessary for the survival and conservation of the endangered 
Sacramento River winter-run chinook salmon, NMFS appointed a Recovery 
Team (Team) to assist in the development of the recovery plan for the 
species. In March 1996, the Team submitted its final recommendations to 
NMFS. NMFS used these recommendations to formulate the Draft Winter-run 
Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan.
    The draft plan discusses the natural history and current status of 
winter-run chinook salmon and factors leading to its decline. The draft 
plan identifies delisting criteria and proposes specific recovery 
measures considered necessary to achieve recovery and delist the 
species. Recovery measures are identified for seven broad goals, 
including restoring spawning and rearing habitat, improving juvenile 
survival, improving adult passage in their upstream migration; 
artificial propagation, harvest management, improving other fish and 
wildlife management programs, and improving our understanding of life 
history and habitat requirements. In addition, an economic analysis 
evaluates the costs to recovering winter-run chinook.

Public Comments Solicited

    NMFS intends that the final recovery plan will take advantage of 
information and recommendations from all interested parties. Therefore, 
comments and suggestions are solicited from the public, other concerned 
governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, and any 
other person concerned with this draft recovery plan. Based on requests 
from the public, NMFS will schedule, announce, and conduct public 
hearings on the draft recovery plan as necessary.

    Dated: July 31, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-20773 Filed 8-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F