Biological Opinions - Bureau of Reclamation

enhancement, and rehabilitative actions targeted at limiting factors. Similarly, several
assessments have been completed for the Oregon coast in coordination with the Oregon
Watershed Enhancement Board. These plans and assessments are helping to reduce, or stabilize,
sediment inputs into streams throughout the ESU. Additionally, in areas where riparian
vegetation has been replanted or enhanced, stream temperatures and cover for salmonids has
been positively affected.
11.3 Environmental Baseline of Coho Salmon Critical Habitat in the Action Area
Endangered Species Act regulations define the environmental baseline as “…the past and present
impacts of all Federal, State, or private actions and other human activities in the action area, the
anticipated impacts of all proposed Federal projects in the action area that have already
undergone formal or early section 7 consultation, and the impact of State or private actions
which are contemporaneous with the consultation in process” (50 CFR 402.02). The “effects of
the action” include the direct and indirect effects of the proposed action and interrelated or
interdependent activities “…that will be added to the environmental baseline” (50 CFR 402.02).
Implicit in both these definitions is a need to anticipate future effects, including the future
component of the environmental baseline. Future effects of ongoing Federal projects that have
undergone consultation and of contemporaneous State and private actions, as well as future
changes due to natural processes, are all part of the environmental baseline, to which effects of
the proposed project are added for analysis.
Designated critical habitat for the SONCC coho salmon ESU in the action area is in the
mainstem Klamath River downstream of IGD. Within the action area, the essential habitat types
of SONCC coho salmon ESU designated critical habitat are: (1) Juvenile summer and winter
rearing areas; (2) juvenile migration corridors; (3) adult migration corridors; and (4) spawning
areas. Areas for growth and development to adulthood are not covered in this critical habitat
section because these areas are restricted to the marine environment for coho salmon, which is
not in the action area. Within the essential habitat types, essential features of coho salmon
critical habitat include adequate; (1) substrate, (2) water quality, (3) water quantity, (4) water
temperature, (5) water velocity, (6) cover/shelter, (7) food, (8) riparian vegetation, (9) space, and
(10) safe passage conditions (64 FR 24049; May 5, 1999).
Juvenile summer and winter rearing areas should contain adequate substrate, water quality, water
quantity, water temperature, water velocity, cover/shelter, food, riparian vegetation, and space.
These essential features are necessary to provide sufficient growth and reasonable likelihood of
survival to smoltification. Juvenile migration corridors need to have sufficient water quality,
water quantity, water temperature, water velocity, and safe passage conditions in order for coho
salmon juveniles and smolts to emigrate to estuaries and the ocean, or to redistribute into nonnatal
rearing zones. Adequate juvenile migration corridors need to be maintained throughout the
year because smolts emigrate to estuaries and the ocean from the early spring through the late
summer, while juveniles may redistribute themselves at any time in response to fall freshets or
while seeking better habitat and rearing conditions. Adult migration corridors should provide
satisfactory water quality, water quantity, water temperature, water velocity, cover/shelter and
safe passage conditions in order for adults to reach spawning areas. Adults generally migrate in
the fall or winter months to spawning areas. Spawning areas for the SONCC coho salmon ESU
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