EPA's Vessel General Permit and Small Vessel General

Eulachon formerly experienced widespread, abundant runs and have been a staple of Native
American diets for centuries along the northwest coast. However, such runs that were formerly
present in several California rivers as late as the 1960s and 1970s (i.e., Klamath River, Mad
River and Redwood Creek) no longer occur (Larson and Belchik 2000). This decline likely
began in the 1970s and continued until, in 1988 and 1989, the last reported sizeable run occurred
in the Klamath River and no fish were found in 1996, although a moderate run was noted in 1999
(Larson and Belchik 2000, Moyle 2002). Eulachon have not been identified in the Mad River
and Redwood Creek since the mid-1990s (Moyle 2002).
Critical Habitat
Critical habitat has been proposed for the southern population of Pacific eulachon (76 FR 515).
Threats
Natural threats. Numerous predatory fishes, marine mammals, birds and terrestrial mammals
prey on eulachon (Clemens et al. 1936, Hart 1973a, Scott and Crossman 1973b, Jeffries 1984,
Drake and Wilson 1991, Yang and Nelson 1999, Willson et al. 2006). The high fat content of
eulachon make them a valuable prey for white sturgeon in the Columbia and Fraser rivers during
winter (Willson et al. 2006).
Anthropogenic threats. Fisheries harvests are likely a major contributor to eulachon decline. The
best available information for catches comes from the Columbia River, where catches have been
as high as 5.7 million pounds per year, but averaged near 2 million pounds from 1938 to 1993
(Wydoski and Whitney 1979a). Since 1993, catches have not exceeded 1 million pounds
annually and the median catch has been 43,000 pounds (97.7% reduction in catch), even when
effort is accounted for (WDFW and ODFW 2001). Bycatch from fishing along U.S. and
Canadian coasts has also been high, composing up to 28% of the total catch by weight (Hay and
McCarter 2000, DFO 2008).
Construction projects have also had a negative impact on eulachon stocks. Dams, such as the
Bonneville Dam on the Hood River, have blocked eulachon from moving into former spawning
habitat (Smith and Saalfeld 1955). Such damming projects also alter sedimentation and flow
dynamics that eulachon have developed around in their evolution. River substrate composition,
likely critical to successful spawning, is also altered by dams. The impoundment of water tends
to raise water temperatures; a factor that spawning eulachon are particularly sensitive to (NMFS
2008c). Eulachon ecotoxicological studies show high contaminant burdens, particularly of
arsenic and lead (Futer and Nassichuk 1983, Rogers et al. 1990, EPA 2002).
Sturgeon
Sturgeon (Acipenseridae) are one of the oldest Osteichthyes (bony fish) families in existence.
They are native to rivers and coastal areas of North America. The two listed sturgeon, discussed
below, are part of the genus Acipenser and share some common characteristics. Members of the
genus have a characteristic external morphology distinguished by the inferior mouth typical of
bottom-feeders. Most species are anadromous, although a few species are entirely fresh water
and many species can survive if they become land-locked. Both listed species (discussed below)
are anadromous and tend to remain in coastal waters. As an anadromous fish, sturgeon spawn in
fresh water and feed and rear in marine or estuarine waters. Sturgeon are capable of many
reproductive cycles and tend to be very long-lived.
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