[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30696-30698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13740]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XR011


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice; Applications for four new scientific research permits, 
seven permit renewals and two permit modifications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received 13 scientific 
research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon, 
steelhead, and green sturgeon. The proposed research is intended to 
increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The 
applications may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on July 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the applications should be sent to the 
Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, 
Portland, OR 97232-1274. Comments may also be sent by email to 
[email protected]. Include the permit number in the subject line 
of email.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shivonne Nesbit, Portland, OR at (503) 
231-6741 or by email: [email protected]. Permit application 
instructions are available from the address above, or online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice

     Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened 
California Coastal (CC); endangered Sacramento River winter-run (SRWR); 
threatened Central Valley spring-run (CVSR).
     Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened Southern Oregon/
Northern California Coast (SONCC); endangered Central California Coast 
(CCC).
     Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened Northern California 
(NC); threatened Central California Coast (CCC); threatened California 
Central Valley (CCV).
     North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris): 
Threatened southern distinct population segment (sDPS).

Background

Permit 13791-6M

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is seeking to modify a 5-
year permit that currently allows them to take juvenile CVSR and SRWR 
Chinook salmon, juvenile CCV steelhead and juvenile green sturgeon in 
the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and SF estuary, CA . The 
purposes of the research are to assess (1) abundance, temporal and 
spatial distribution, and survival of salmonids, (2) occurrence and 
habitat use of fishes within the Liberty Island and Cache Slough 
Complex, (3) relative gear efficiency for fish survey nets, and also 
the distribution of Delta smelt, (4) littoral habitat use of juvenile 
Chinook salmon within the Delta, (5) abundance and distribution of 
Delta smelt, (6) length at date race criteria of winter run sized and 
larger Chinook salmon, (7) winter and spring run sized Chinook salmon 
floodplain usage in the Yolo bypass, and (8) salmonid genetic 
monitoring. The FWS proposes to capture fish with seines (beach and 
purse), nets (fyke and gill), boat and backpack electroshocking, trawls 
(midwater and bottom), and with rotary screw traps. The FWS would also 
observe fish during snorkel and spawning ground surveys. A subset of 
the captured fish would be anesthetized, measured, weighed, tagged 
(acoustic or PIT), dye injected (tattoo, photonic) have a tissue sample 
taken, allowed to recover, and released. This modification is requested 
because the original permit application did not include take of adult 
salmon. The FWS is requesting take for adult SRWR and CVSR Chinook 
salmon, and CCV steelhead. While the FWS does not target adult fish, 
encounters with adult fish have occurred. The researchers would avoid 
adult salmonids, but some may be encountered as an unintentional result 
of sampling.

14808-4M

    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking to 
modify a 5-year permit that currently allows them to take juvenile and 
adult SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead and green sturgeon in 
the Central Valley of CA. The purposes of the research are to (1) 
monitor the outmigration of juvenile salmonids on a real-time basis, 
(2) provide daily

[[Page 30697]]

summaries of timing, abundance and size distribution of salmonids in 
the Sacramento River, (3) provide timing information to water agencies 
for better management decisions, (4) examine how environmental 
conditions (flow, temperature, turbidity) affect the downstream 
movement of juvenile salmonids, and (5) provide recommendations for the 
development of steelhead monitoring programs to assess restoration and 
recovery goals. The objectives of the steelhead monitoring program are 
to (1) estimate steelhead population abundance with estimated levels of 
precision in the Central Valley, (2) examine trends in steelhead 
abundance in the Central Valley, and (3) identify the spatial 
distribution of steelhead in the Central Valley to identify their 
current range and observe changes over time. The CDFW proposes to 
capture fish with rotary screw traps and to observe fish at weirs, fish 
ladders, dams and during snorkel surveys. Captured fish would be 
anesthetized, measured, weighed, tagged (acoustic, Floy, Elastomer, or 
PIT), have a tissue sample taken, allowed to recover, and released. The 
modification is requested because the original permit application 
included an indirect mortality rate of one percent for rotary screw 
trapping and the application is requesting a three percent indirect 
mortality rate. The researchers do not intend to kill any listed fish, 
but some may die as an inadvertent result of the research.

15169-2R

    The National Park Service (NPS) Point Reyes Station is seeking to 
renew for five years a research permit that currently allows them to 
take juvenile and adult CC Chinook salmon, CCC coho, and CCC steelhead 
along the central coast of California. The purposes of the research are 
to (1) monitor juvenile salmonid outmigration, (2) study the diet of 
juvenile salmonids, (3) document adult salmonid spawning, (4) study 
juvenile salmonid distribution and population abundance, (5) study 
winter habitat utilization, (6) document adult escapement, and (7) 
study fish movements in Tomales Bay. The NPS proposes to capture fish 
with nets (fyke, seine, beach), backpack electroshocking, weirs, and 
rotary screw traps and to observe fish during snorkel and spawning 
ground surveys. A subset of captured fish would be anesthetized, 
measured, weighed, tagged (acoustic, FLOY or PIT), dye injected 
(tattoo, photonic) have a tissue sample taken, have stomachs pumped for 
diet analysis, allowed to recover, and released. The researchers do not 
intend to kill any listed fish, but some may die as an inadvertent 
result of the research.

16344-3R

    The Oregon State University is seeking to renew for five years a 
research permit that currently allows them to take juvenile listed 
hatchery SONCC coho in the Upper Klamath River.
    The purposes of this research are to (1) determine the effects of 
infection by the myxozoan parasite Ceratonova shasta on coho salmon, 
and (2) estimate disease effects for each study year on the wild coho 
population. Juvenile coho salmon from Iron Gate and/or Trinity River 
hatcheries would be transported to selected locations on the Klamath 
River and monitored for disease after the exposure to C. shasta. 
Following exposure, all fish would be transported to the Oregon State 
University J. L. Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory where time to 
morbidity, overall morbidity and infection prevalence would be 
ascertained through microscopic and molecular analysis of intestinal 
tissues. Because all of the fish will be exposed to the parasite C. 
shasta, they can not be released after the experiments. In addition, 
infection prevalence data are needed which requires euthanizing all 
fish surviving the exposures, since surviving fish may still be 
infected with the parasite.

16491-3R

    Fawcett Ecological Consulting is seeking to renew for five years a 
research permit that currently allows them to take juvenile CC Chinook 
salmon, CCC coho and CCC steelhead in coastal Northern California 
streams. The purposes of the research are to (1) monitor salmonid 
populations in Salmon Creek, Sonoma County, in relation to habitat 
restoration and coho restocking efforts, and (2) study the genetics, 
variability in abundance, and life histories of steelhead in small 
coastal streams. The applicant proposes to capture fish using beach 
seines and to observe fish during snorkel and spawning ground surveys. 
A subset of captured fish would be anesthetized, measured, weighed, 
tagged (FLOY), have a tissue sample taken, allowed to recover, and 
released. The researchers do not intend to kill any listed fish, but 
some may die as an inadvertent result of the research.

16506-3R

    Mike Podlech, an independent researcher, is seeking to renew for 
five years a research permit that currently allows him to take juvenile 
and adult CCC coho and steelhead in Squaw and Pescadero creeks in 
Sonoma and San Mateo counties. The purposes of the research are to (1) 
monitor CCC steelhead population trends in Squaw and Pescadero creeks, 
(2) assess whether previous coho salmon broodstock releases have 
resulted in wild progeny in Pescadero Creek, and (3) to gather 
population data to inform ongoing watershed restoration and salmonid 
recovery efforts in Pescadero Creek. The applicant proposes to capture 
fish with a fyke net and backpack electrofishing. A subset of the 
captured fish would be anesthetized, measured, weighed, have a tissue 
sample taken, allowed to recover, and released. The researchers would 
avoid adult salmonids, but some may be encountered as an unintentional 
result of sampling. The researchers do not intend to kill any listed 
fish, but some may die as an inadvertent result of the research.

17751-3R

    The CDFW is seeking to renew for five years a research permit that 
currently allows them to take juvenile green sturgeon, adult CCV 
steelhead, and adult SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon in the Sacramento-San 
Joaquin Delta in San Francisco Bay, CA. The purposes of the research 
are to (1) document juvenile green sturgeon movement, emigration 
patterns, and survival, and (2) to determine the timing of Pacific 
Ocean entry and subsequent ocean migration patterns. The applicant 
proposes to capture fish with a gill net. Captured green sturgeon would 
be anesthetized, measured, weighed, tagged (acoustic or sonic), have a 
tissue sample taken, allowed to recover, and released. The researchers 
would avoid adult salmonids, but some may be encountered as an 
unintentional result of sampling. The researchers do not intend to kill 
any listed fish, but some may die as an inadvertent result of the 
research.

17913-2R

    Stillwater Sciences is seeking to renew for five years a research 
permit that currently allows them to take juvenile CCC steelhead in the 
Lower Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers, CA.
    The purposes of the research are to (1) provide information on the 
effects to fish populations from flow management of the Don Pedro 
Project downstream of La Grange Dam, and (2) provide information on the 
abundance and habitat use of non-listed fish species to evaluate the 
effects of past and ongoing habitat restoration and management actions. 
The applicant proposes to capture fish with beach seines and to observe 
fish during snorkel surveys.

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    Captured fish would be anesthetized, measured, weighed, tagged 
(PIT), allowed to recover, and released. The researchers do not intend 
to kill any listed fish, but some may die as an inadvertent result of 
the research.

19400-3R

    ICF Consulting is seeking to renew for five years a research permit 
that currently allows them to take juvenile natural and listed hatchery 
SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead and juvenile green sturgeon 
in Suisan Bay, CA. The purposes of the research are to (1) determine 
the spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of juvenile Chinook 
salmon in shallow-water habitats and compare observed patterns to 
predictions from habitat suitability models, and (2) provide baseline 
fish and invertebrate samples for a Before-After Control-Impact (BACI) 
study design to assess the impact of a planned breach at the Tule Red 
restoration site. The applicant proposes to capture fish with seines 
(beach, Lampara), nets (fyke), and trawls (midwater, otter). This study 
would result in the capture, handle, and release of juvenile green 
sturgeon and intentional directed mortality of juvenile salmon for 
isotopic and otolith analysis.

22270

    The Wiyot tribe is seeking a five-year research permit that would 
allow them to annually take juvenile NC steelhead in the South Fork of 
the Eel River, CA. The purposes of the research are to (1) to evaluate 
the impacts of Sacramento pikeminnow, a non-native predator, on Pacific 
lamprey, steelhead, and other native species, and (2) to develop and 
test methods for pikeminnow population suppression in terms of catch-
per-unit-effort and cost-per-fish-captured. The applicant proposes to 
capture fish with backpack and boat electrofishing, fyke net, seine, 
baited frame traps, dip netting and hook-and-line and to observe fish 
during snorkel surveys. A subset of captured fish would be 
anesthetized, measured, weighed, have a tissue sample taken, allowed to 
recover, and released. The researchers do not intend to kill any listed 
fish, but some may die as an inadvertent result of the research.

22303

    The NOAA Fisheries California Central Valley office is seeking a 
five-year research permit that would allow them to annually take adult 
SRWR, CVSR, and CC Chinook salmon, subadult and adult green sturgeon. 
The purpose of the research is to test the use of DIDSON cameras to 
characterize the physical interaction between green sturgeon and the 
halibut bottom trawl fishery (CHBT) operating out of Half Moon and San 
Francisco bays. In a previous cooperative study conducted with CHBT 
fishermen, NOAA observers, NMFS Science Center staff, and the CDFW, 
satellite tags were used to measure green sturgeon post-release 
survival in the halibut fishery. In this study, researchers would test 
the use of DIDSON cameras in the CHBT nets to characterize the physical 
interaction between green sturgeon and CHBT nets. Study results would 
be used to evaluate methods to minimize gear interactions and bycatch 
of green sturgeon. The applicant proposes to capture fish with a bottom 
trawl. Captured green sturgeon would be captured, handled and released. 
The researchers would avoid adult salmonids, but some may be 
encountered as an unintentional result of sampling. The researchers do 
not intend to kill any listed fish, but some may die as an inadvertent 
result of the research.

22700

    The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project (MBSTP) is seeking a 
five-year research permit that would allow them to annually take adult 
CC coho and CCC steelhead in the San Lorenzo River, CA. The purpose of 
the research is to gather genetic and life history data on CCC 
steelhead. This research will contribute to large-scale salmonid 
monitoring programs on the San Lorenzo River that are currently being 
implemented by the City and County of Santa Cruz. The applicant 
proposes to capture fish at the Felton Diversion Facility weir. 
Captured adult steelhead would be measured, weighed, PIT tagged, have a 
tissue sample taken, allowed to recover, and released. Adult coho would 
be captured, handled and released. The researchers do not intend to 
kill any listed fish, but some may die as an inadvertent result of the 
research.

22939

    Tim Salamunovich of TRPA Fish Biologist is seeking a 5-year 
research permit that would allow him to annually take juvenile SRWR and 
CVSR Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead and green sturgeon in a central 
valley delta wetland area known as The Big Ditch on the Peterson Ranch 
in eastern Solano County, California. The purpose of this research is 
to collect seasonal presence/absence and relative abundance data to 
document seasonal fish use throughout the project area in order to 
document the baseline conditions prior to restoration efforts. The 
applicant proposes to capture fish with beach seines and minnow traps. 
Captured fish would be anesthetized, measured, weighed, allowed to 
recover, and released. The researchers do not intend to kill any listed 
fish, but some may die as an inadvertent result of the research.

Authority

    Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR 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 that are the subject of the permit; 
and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policy of 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.

Applications Received

    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the applications, associated documents, and comments 
submitted to determine whether the applications meet the requirements 
of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit 
decisions 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: June 21, 2019.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-13740 Filed 6-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P