Biological Opinions - Bureau of Reclamation

(Independent Scientific Advisory Board 2007). Coho salmon typically do well when ocean
conditions are cool and upwelling occurs.
Global average surface temperature has increased by approximately 0.7°C during the 20 th
Century (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007) and appears to be accelerating, and
the global trend over the past 50 years is nearly twice that rate. Regional trends in temperature
show even greater warming tendencies. In general, conditions in the climate and within the
ecosystems on which coho salmon rely will change dramatically and at an ever-increasing rate.
In the near future, climate change will likely surpass habitat loss as the primary threat to the
conservation of species in most if not all regions (Thomas et al. 2004). Climate change is
having, and will continue to have, an impact on salmonids throughout the Pacific Northwest and
California (Battin et al. 2007). Overall, climate change is believed to represent a growing threat
for the SONCC coho salmon ESU, and will challenge the resilience of coho salmon.
11.2.2.4 Watershed Restoration
Since the 1990s, a variety of stakeholders and agencies have undertaken fisheries habitat
restoration projects that benefit the SONCC coho salmon ESU. Today, there are various
restoration and recovery actions underway across the SONCC coho salmon ESU aimed at
removing barriers to salmonid habitat and improving habitat and water quality conditions for
anadromous salmonids. Watershed restoration activities have improved freshwater habitat
conditions in some areas, and are helping to reduce the stressors to the SONCC coho salmon
ESU. The CDFW created both a multi-stakeholder coho recovery team to address range-wide
recovery issues, and a sub-working group (Shasta –Scott Recovery Team) to develop coho
salmon recovery strategies associated specifically with agricultural management within the Scott
and Shasta rivers to return coho salmon to a level of viability so that they can be delisted. The
CDFW has been prioritizing restoration proposals that are consistent with the coho salmon
recovery strategies for funding under the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program. NMFS, FWS,
USDA Forest Service, NRCS and local resource conservation districts have implemented
fisheries habitat restoration throughout southern Oregon and Northern California.
Since 2005, several significant fish passage improvements have occurred throughout the ESU.
In the Rogue River, three dams have been recently removed (i.e., Savage Rapids Dam in 2009,
Gold Hill Dam in 2008, and Gold Ray Dam in 2010) and one notched (i.e., Elk Creek Dam in
2008) to restore natural flow and fish passage. The Rogue River now flows unimpeded for 157
miles from the Cascade foothills to the ocean, increasing salmon returns by an estimated 22
percent (NMFS 2010b). In addition, 75 barriers in the California portion of the SONCC ESU
have been remediated since 2005, through the CDFW’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program
(Carpio 2010). Overall, coho salmon passage has improved. However, barriers remain a major
threat because many are still unaddressed and continue to block passage.
In addition, the five northern California counties affected by the Federal listing of coho salmon
(which includes Humboldt County) have created a 5 County Conservation Plan that establish
continuity among the counties for managing anadromous fish stocks (Voight and Waldvogel
2002). The plan identifies priorities for monitoring, assessment, and habitat restoration projects.
The Bear Creek Watershed Council (Rogue River tributary) is developing restorative,
213