[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 13 (Monday, January 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2658-2660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-742]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011107C]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION:  Receipt of an application for a scientific research permit; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application 
for a scientific research permit from Stillwater Sciences (Stillwater) 
in Berkeley, California (1282). The permit would affect federally 
threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, 
endangered Central California Coast coho salmon, threatened California 
Coastal Chinook salmon, endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook 
salmon, threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, threatened 
Northern California steelhead, threatened Central California Coast 
steelhead, threatened California Central Valley steelhead, threatened 
South-Central California Coast steelhead, and endangered Southern 
California steelhead. This document serves to notify the public of the 
availability of the permit application for review and comment.

DATES:  Written comments on the permit application must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on February 21, 2007.

ADDRESSES:  Comments submitted by e-mail must be sent to the following 
address: [email protected]. The application and related documents 
are available for review by appointment, for Permit 1282: Protected 
Resources Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 315, Santa Rosa, 
California 95404 (ph: 707-575-6097, fax: 707-578-3435).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jeffrey Jahn at phone number 707-575-
6097, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on a finding that such 
permits: (1) Are applied for in good faith; (2) would not operate to 
the disadvantage of the listed species which are the subject of the 
permits; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set 
forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to take listed species is 
subject to conditions set forth in the permits. Permits are issued in 
accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NMFS regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in 
this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such a 
hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit 
action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of NMFS.

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally threatened Southern Oregon/
Northern California Coast coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), 
endangered Central California Coast coho salmon (O. kisutch), 
threatened California Coastal Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), 
endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), 
threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), 
Northern California steelhead (O. mykiss), threatened Central 
California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), threatened California Central 
Valley steelhead (O. mykiss), threatened South-Central California Coast 
steelhead (O. mykiss), and endangered Southern California steelhead (O. 
mykiss).

Application Received

    Stillwater requests a 5-year permit (1282) for take of juvenile 
Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, Central 
California Coast coho salmon, California Coastal Chinook salmon, 
Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run 
Chinook salmon, Northern California steelhead, Central California Coast 
steelhead, California Central Valley steelhead, South-Central 
California Coast steelhead, and Southern California steelhead; and 
adult Central California Coast steelhead and California Central Valley 
steelhead associated with 11 scientific research projects located 
throughout California.
    Project 1 is a salmonid population abundance, out-migration 
monitoring,

[[Page 2659]]

and habitat assessment study in the Santa Paula Creek watershed (a 
tributary to the Santa Clara River), in Ventura County, California. 
Stillwater requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal 
take of 940 juvenile Southern California steelhead, with no more than 1 
percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by rotary screw 
trap, pipe-trap, fyke-net trap, or backpack electrofishing), handling, 
and release of fish. Stillwater also requests authorization for an 
estimated annual non-lethal take of 60 juvenile Southern California 
steelhead, with no more than 1 percent unintentional mortality to 
result from capture (by rotary screw trap, pipe-trap, or fyke-net 
trap), handling, fin-clipping, and release of fish.
    Project 2 is a salmonid distribution and population abundance study 
in the following coastal water bodies, all located within Northern or 
Central California: Tillas Slough, Lake Earl, and Lake Tolowa in Del 
Norte County; Stone Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Humboldt Bay, and Eel River 
lagoon in Humboldt County; Ten Mile River lagoon, Virgin Creek lagoon, 
Pudding Creek lagoon, Davis Lake, and numerous unnamed ponds in 
Manchester Beach State Park in Mendocino County; Salmon Creek lagoon 
and Estero Americano lagoon in Sonoma County; Estero de San Antonio 
lagoon, Lagunitas Creek lagoon, and Rodeo Lagoon in Marin County; San 
Gregorio Creek lagoon, Pescadero Creek and Butano Creek lagoon, Bean 
Hollow Creek lagoon, and Arroyo de los Frijoles lagoon in San Mateo 
County; Laguna Creek lagoon, Baldwin Creek lagoon, Corcoran Lagoon, 
Aptos Creek lagoon, and Pajaro River lagoon in Santa Cruz County; and 
Bennett Slough in Monterey County. Stillwater requests authorization 
for an estimated annual non-lethal take of 100 juvenile Southern 
Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, 100 juvenile Central 
California Coast coho salmon, 100 juvenile California Coastal Chinook 
salmon, 100 juvenile Northern California steelhead, 100 juvenile 
Central California Coast steelhead, and 100 juvenile South-Central 
California Coast steelhead, with no more than 5 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture (by beach seine), handling, and 
release of fish.
    Project 3 is a salmonid distribution, habitat utilization, and fish 
community assemblage study in the lower Sacramento River and San 
Joaquin River delta at Sherman Island in Sacramento County, California. 
Stillwater requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal 
take of 75 juvenile Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, 75 
juvenile Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, and 75 juvenile 
California Central Valley steelhead with no more than 4 percent 
unintentional mortality to result from capture (by beach seine, purse 
seine, trawl, fyke-net trap, backpack electrofishing, or boat 
electrofishing), handling, and release of fish.
    Project 4 is a salmonid population abundance, out-migration 
monitoring, habitat utilization, diet composition, and life history 
study in the Lagunitas Creek watershed in Marin County, California. 
Stillwater requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal 
take of: 900 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon and 900 
juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, with no more than 2 
percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by backpack 
electrofishing), handling, fin-clipping, tagging (using passive 
integrated transponder (PIT) tags or visible implant elastomer (VIE 
tags)), and release of fish; 100 juvenile Central California Coast coho 
salmon and 100 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, with no 
more than 2 percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by 
backpack electrofishing), handling, fin-clipping, scale-sampling, 
tagging (using PIT tags or VIE tags), and release of fish; and 50 
juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon and 50 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead, with no more than 2 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture (by backpack electrofishing), 
handling, stomach sampling, and release of fish. Stillwater also 
requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 
1,200 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 400 juvenile 
California Coastal Chinook salmon, and 800 juvenile Central California 
Coast steelhead, with no more than 1 percent unintentional mortality to 
result from capture (by rotary screw trap, pipe-trap, or fyke-net 
trap), handling, and release of fish; 300 juvenile Central California 
Coast coho salmon, 100 juvenile California Coastal Chinook salmon, and 
200 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, with no more than 1 
percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by rotary screw 
trap, pipe-trap, or fyke-net trap), handling, fin-clipping, and release 
of fish; and 25 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, with no 
more than 10 percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by 
rotary screw trap, pipe-trap, or fyke-net trap), handling, radio-
tagging, and release of fish.
    Project 5 is a salmonid population abundance, out-migration 
monitoring, habitat utilization, and life history study in the Walker 
Creek watershed in Marin County, California. Stillwater requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 80 juvenile 
Central California Coast coho salmon and 400 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead, with no more than 2 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture (by backpack electrofishing), 
handling, fin-clipping, tagging (using PIT tags or VIE tags), and 
release of fish; and 20 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon 
and 100 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, with no more than 
2 percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by backpack 
electrofishing), handling, fin-clipping, scale-sampling, tagging (using 
PIT tags or VIE tags), and release of fish. Stillwater also requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of 100 juvenile 
Central California Coast coho salmon and 100 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead, with no more than 1 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture (by rotary screw trap, pipe-trap, or 
fyke-net trap), handling, fin-clipping, and release of fish; and 25 
juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, with no more than 10 
percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by rotary screw 
trap, pipe-trap, or fyke-net trap), handling, radio-tagging, and 
release of fish.
    Project 6 is a salmonid distribution, habitat utilization, habitat 
assessment, and fish community assemblage study in the following 
watersheds which are all within the Sacramento River watershed in 
California: Cow Creek in Shasta County; Battle Creek and Rock Creek in 
Tehama County; Butte Creek in Butte County; Feather River in Butte and 
Sutter counties; and American River and Mokelumne River in Sacramento 
County. Stillwater requests authorization for an estimated annual non-
lethal take of 500 juvenile Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon 
and 1,000 juvenile California Central Valley steelhead, with no more 
than 2 percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by seine 
or backpack electrofishing), handling, and release of fish.
    Project 7 is a salmonid distribution, population abundance, habitat 
utilization, and fish community assemblage study in Merced River, in 
Merced County, California. Stillwater requests authorization for an 
estimated annual non-lethal take of 100 juvenile California Central 
Valley steelhead, with no more than 5 percent unintentional mortality 
to result from capture (by seine, backpack electrofishing, or boat 
electrofishing), handling, and release of fish. Stillwater also 
requests authorization for an estimated annual

[[Page 2660]]

non-lethal take of 5 adult California Central Valley steelhead, with 
zero unintentional mortality to result from capture (by seine, backpack 
electrofishing, or boat electrofishing), handling, and release of fish.
    Project 8 is a salmonid distribution, population abundance, habitat 
utilization, habitat assessment, and fish community assemblage study in 
the lower Tuolumne River in Stanislaus County, California. Stillwater 
requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of 20 
juvenile California Central Valley steelhead, with no more than 10 
percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by seine, fyke-
net trap, backpack electrofishing, or boat electrofishing), handling, 
and release of fish.
    Project 9 is a salmonid population abundance, out-migration 
monitoring, habitat utilization, food availability, predation, and life 
history study in the Napa River watershed in Napa County, California. 
Stillwater requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal 
take of: 300 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, with no more 
than 2 percent unintentional mortality to result from capture (by 
backpack electrofishing), handling, tagging (using PIT tags), and 
release of fish; 1,900 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, 
with no more than 2 percent unintentional mortality to result from 
capture (by rotary screw trap, pipe-trap, or fyke-net trap), handling, 
and release of fish; 100 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, 
with no more than 2 percent unintentional mortality to result from 
capture (by rotary screw trap, pipe-trap, or fyke-net trap), handling, 
tagging (using PIT tags), and release of fish; and 200 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead with no more than 2 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture (by boat electrofishing), handling, 
and release of fish. Stillwater also requests authorization for an 
estimated annual non-lethal take of 3 adult Central California Coast 
steelhead, with zero unintentional mortality to result from accidental 
encounter during boat electrofishing activities. Stillwater does not 
request capture, handling, or unintentional mortality of adult 
salmonids associated with this study.
    Project 10 is a salmonid distribution, population abundance, 
habitat utilization, and habitat assessment study in Tuolumne River in 
Stanislaus County, California. Stillwater requests authorization for an 
estimated annual non-lethal take of 100 juvenile California Central 
Valley steelhead, with no more than 2 percent unintentional mortality 
to result from capture (by seine, backpack electrofishing, or boat 
electrofishing), handling, and release of fish.
    Project 11 is a salmonid population abundance, out-migration 
monitoring, habitat utilization, and life history study in the Gualala 
River watershed in Mendocino County, California. Stillwater requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 1,000 
juvenile Northern California steelhead, with no more than 2 percent 
unintentional mortality to result from capture (by backpack 
electrofishing), handling, and release of fish; and 500 juvenile 
Northern California steelhead, with no more than 2 percent 
unintentional mortality to result from capture (by backpack 
electrofishing), handling, fin-clipping, tagging (using PIT tags or VIE 
tags), and release of fish. Stillwater also requests authorization for 
an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 400 juvenile Northern 
California steelhead, with no more than 1 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture (by rotary screw trap, pipe-trap, or 
fyke-net trap), handling, and release of fish; 100 juvenile Northern 
California steelhead, with no more than 1 percent unintentional 
mortality to result from capture (by rotary screw trap, pipe-trap, or 
fyke-net trap), handling, fin-clipping, and release of fish; and 25 
juvenile Northern California steelhead, with no more than 10 percent 
unintentional mortality to result from capture (by rotary screw trap, 
pipe-trap, or fyke-net trap), handling, radio-tagging, and release of 
fish.

    Dated: January 12, 2007.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-742 Filed 1-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S