[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21857-21858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9456]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA373


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Application for the renewal of a scientific research permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a scientific 
research permit application request relating to salmonids listed under 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed research is intended to 
increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and 
conservation efforts. The application and related documents may be 
viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm. These documents are also available upon written 
request or by appointment by contacting NMFS by phone (707) 825-5186 or 
fax (707) 825-4840.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application must be received at 
the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 
p.m. Pacific standard time on May 19, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be submitted to 
the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 
95521. Comments may also be submitted via fax to (707) 825-4840 or by 
e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shari Anderson, Arcata, CA ph.: (707) 
825-5186, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally threatened California Coastal 
(CC) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), threatened Southern 
Oregon/Northern California (SONCC) Coho salmon (O. kisutch), and 
threatened Northern California (NC) steelhead (O. mykiss).

[[Page 21858]]

Authority

    Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226). NMFS 
issues permits based on findings that such permits: (1) Are applied for 
in good faith; (2) if granted and exercised, 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. The authority to take listed species is 
subject to conditions set forth in the permits.
    Anyone 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). Such hearings are held at the 
discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS.

Application Received

Permit 16128

    United States Geological Survey (USGS), California Coop Fish & 
Wildlife Research Unit, is requesting a 5-year permit to take adult and 
juvenile CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho salmon, and NC steelhead 
associated with three research projects in two watersheds in northern 
California. In the three studies described below, researchers do not 
expect to kill any listed fish but a small number may die as an 
unintended result of the research activities.
    Project 1 is a study to estimate abundance and survival of all life 
stages of CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho salmon, and NC steelhead in 
Prairie Creek (Humboldt County). Annually, USGS proposes to observe 
(snorkel survey), capture (backpack electrofisher), handle (identify), 
and release fish to estimate juvenile abundance. Escapement of adults 
will be estimated annually from the capture (resistance board weir), 
handle (identify and measure), marking (PIT tagging), and releasing of 
fish. Carcasses will be captured, handled, and released; live adults 
and redds will be observed (spawning surveys) annually. Smolt abundance 
will be estimated annually through the capture (screw trap), handling 
(identify, measure), marking (dye injection), and release of fish. 
Samples (scale collection) will be collected from NC steelhead smolts 
when captured. Data collected by this research will inform managers of 
the status and trends in abundance and survival of these species.
    Project 2 is a study that will estimate adult CC Chinook salmon, 
SONCC coho salmon, and NC steelhead escapement in Redwood Creek 
(Humboldt County) using dual frequency identification sonar (DIDSON). 
Adult CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho salmon, and NC steelhead will be 
observed annually through the operation of a small sonar device from 
the edge of the river channel to record fish passing upstream. The 
research will inform managers of the status and trends in abundance of 
these species.
    Project 3 is a study that will document the importance of cool 
water habitats in the Klamath River watershed (Humboldt County). The 
study will be performed in two different locations in the Klamath River 
basin; tributary mouths in the Lower Klamath River and estuary, and at 
the confluence of Independence Creek and the Klamath River. USGS 
proposes to gather information on juvenile Chinook salmon (not ESA 
listed), juvenile steelhead (not ESA listed), and SONCC coho salmon use 
of cool water habitats. Annually, intensive sampling will occur at the 
confluence of Independence Creek and the Klamath River. Sampling will 
be carried out weekly during the months of July, August, and September. 
Intensive sampling will monitor the movements of juvenile salmonids in 
and out of cool water habitats and their feeding behaviors in those 
habitats. Juvenile salmonids will be captured (beach seine), handled 
(identify, measure, weigh), marked (PIT tagged), and released. A 
portion of the fish captured (no more than 20) will have their stomachs 
pumped to determine relative feeding success. Abundance of juvenile 
salmonids and the frequency of their feeding behaviors will be 
estimated through observation (snorkel survey). Less intensive sampling 
will occur once every two weeks during the months of July, August, and 
September in the Lower Klamath River, its tributaries, and the estuary 
and will consist of capture (beach seine), handle (identify, measure, 
weigh), and release of fish. The information gathered will inform 
managers on the importance of cool water habitats in planning for 
restoration of the river.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments 
submitted to determine whether the application meet the requirements of 
section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit 
decision will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment 
period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: April 14, 2011.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-9456 Filed 4-18-11; 8:45 am]
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