[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41061-41062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17208]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR02312000, 15XR0680A3, RX.04167000.6000000,]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Long-Term Plan To Protect Adult Salmon in the Lower 
Klamath River, Humboldt County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to evaluate the effects of the Long-Term Plan for the 
Protection of Adult Salmon in the lower Klamath River. The proposed 
action is to increase lower Klamath River flows to reduce the 
likelihood, and potentially reduce the severity, of any fish die-off in 
future years due to crowded holding conditions for pre-spawn adults, 
warm water temperatures, and presence of disease pathogens as the 
likely major factors contributing to the adult mortalities. The 
proposed increased flows would be provided primarily from releases of 
water stored in Trinity Reservoir on the main stem of the Trinity 
River, with the potential for some of the flows to be derived from the 
Klamath River above the confluence with the Trinity River depending on 
existing hydrologic and related environmental conditions. The purpose 
of the proposed action is to reduce the likelihood, and potentially 
reduce the severity, of any Ich epizootic event that could lead to an 
associated fish die-off in future years. The need is based on the past 
extensive fish die-off in 2002.

DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the draft EIS by August 
20, 2015. Four public scoping meetings will be held on the following 
dates and times:
     Wednesday, August 5, 2015, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Arcata, CA.
     Thursday, August 6, 2015, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Weaverville, CA.
     Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Klamath Falls, 
OR.
     Wednesday, August 12, 2015, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Sacramento, 
CA.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the scope of the draft EIS, or 
requests to be added to the EIS mailing list, to Mr. Paul Zedonis, 
Northern California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 16349 Shasta 
Dam Boulevard, Shasta Lake, CA 96019; or by email to [email protected]. Environmental documents for the Long-Term Plan EIS will 
be available for review and download at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=22021.
    The public scoping meetings will be held at the following 
locations:
     Arcata--Red Roof Inn, 4975 Valley W Blvd., Arcata, CA 
95521.
     Weaverville--Trinity County Library, 351 Main Street, 
Weaverville, CA 96093.
     Klamath Falls--Shilo Inn, 2500 Almond Street, Klamath 
Falls, OR 97601.
     Sacramento--Cafeteria Conference Rooms 1001 & 1002, 2800 
Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Zedonis, Bureau of 
Reclamation, 530-275-1554; or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In August and September 2002, an estimated 170,000 fall-run Chinook 
salmon returned to the Klamath River, and a significant number of adult 
Chinook salmon (~33,000) and other salmonids died prematurely in the 
lower Klamath River. This included an estimated 344 coho salmon listed 
as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Federal, tribal, and 
state biologists studying the die-off concluded that: (1) Pathogens 
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) and Flavobacterium columnare 
(Columnaris) were the primary causes of death to fish; and (2) warm 
water temperatures, low water velocities and volumes, high fish 
density, and long fish residence times likely contributed to the 
disease outbreaks and subsequent mortalities. Flows in the lower 
Klamath averaged about 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) during 
September 2002.
    In 2003, 2004, 2012, and 2013 predictions of large runs of fall-run 
Chinook salmon to the Klamath River Basin and drier than normal 
hydrologic conditions prompted the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 
to arrange for late-summer flow augmentation to improve environmental 
conditions in the lower Klamath River to reduce the probability of a 
disease outbreak. The State Water Resources Board has advised 
Reclamation that, as the operator of Trinity Dam, Reclamation may 
bypass and/or release water for various purposes, including releases 
made to improve instream conditions for the benefit of aquatic 
resources, without State Board approval. In these years, 38 thousand 
acre-feet (TAF) of supplemental water was released from Trinity 
Reservoir in 2003, 36 TAF in 2004, 39 TAF in 2012, and 17.5 TAF in 
2013. In 2013 a legal challenge occurred over implementing the flow 
augmentation action, which subsequently resulted in a delay. Also, 
accretions were greater than forecasted and ultimately lead to the 
smaller volume used in that year. General observations regarding the 
effectiveness of the sustained higher releases are that no significant 
disease or adult mortalities occurred suggesting flow augmentation was 
effective at meeting its intended purpose. National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) reviews (Environmental Assessments) were conducted in 
each of these years concluding in Findings of No Significant Impacts.
    The initial decision in 2014 was to not provide augmentation flows 
on a preventive basis due to the small run size and lack of any disease 
outbreak. However, during the first half of August, hydrologic 
conditions and observed fish health worsened. It was reported the adult 
return began much earlier than expected, and thousands of fish were 
stalled at the mouth of Blue Creek on the lower Klamath River mainstem. 
After consulting with fish agencies, Reclamation determined that an 
emergency release from Trinity Reservoir was necessary to avert a 
potentially significant fish loss. In response to a continued and 
unprecedented concern that a fish die-off was imminent, Reclamation

[[Page 41062]]

extended the release of augmentation flows on an emergency basis for a 
longer duration (and higher magnitude) than in prior years based on the 
emergency criteria established for the releases. In 2014 the total 
volume released was 64 TAF. As in prior years of implementing flow 
augmentation, and despite the unprecedented high incidence of 
infection, no significant mortalities of fish occurred. In 2014 due to 
the rapid worsening of conditions in the lower Klamath River and the 
documented occurrence of disease, NEPA compliance was implemented 
through the ``Emergency'' provisions as identified by the Council of 
Environmental Quality.
    In response to the need to provide augmentation flows in several of 
the past years, and the indication that such flows will be needed in 
future years, Reclamation committed to developing a long-term plan to 
address this need along with the appropriate NEPA compliance. 
Reclamation has determined an EIS is the appropriate level of NEPA 
compliance for the Long-Term Plan, and will serve as the Lead Agency.

Additional Information

    The purpose of the scoping process is to solicit early input from 
the public regarding the development of reasonable alternatives and 
potential environmental impacts to be addressed in the EIS for the 
lower Klamath River Long-Term Plan. Written comments are requested to 
help identify alternatives and issues that should be analyzed in the 
EIS. Federal, State and local agencies, Tribes, and the general public 
are invited to participate in the environmental review process.

Special Assistance for Public Scoping Meetings

    Requests for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired 
and all other special assistance needs to participate in the meetings 
may be submitted by any of the following methods at least five working 
days before the meeting:
     Email to: Mr. Paul Zedonis, [email protected].
     U.S. Mail to: Mr. Paul Zedonis, Northern California Area 
Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 16349 Shasta Dam Boulevard, Shasta Lake, 
CA 96019.
     Telephone: Mr. Paul Zedonis, 530-275-1554.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

     Dated: June 12, 2015.
Pablo R. Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-17208 Filed 7-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P