Biological Opinions - Bureau of Reclamation

permanent barrier removal worksite. Such diversions would likely be of relatively short duration
with reconnection of the worksite upon completion of the restoration.
NMFS anticipates adverse effects to critical habitat from habitat restoration actions to be minor
and short-term as most projects are anticipated to occur as one time disturbance events within the
summer period when flows are lowest. Short-term adverse effects to rearing habitat will
primarily occur as a result of dewatering the channel and increasing sediment input during
instream activities. Loss of rearing sites can occur through dewatering habitat and the filling of
pools with fine sediment. However, these adverse effects are expected to be temporary, and any
minor disturbance to the restoration site is likely to recover within one additional year (e.g.,
revegetation of disturbed soils or elimination of turbid flows).
11.4.2.3 Beneficial Effects to Coho Salmon Critical Habitat
Reclamation proposes to support restoration actions for the purpose of improving the
conservation value of coho salmon critical habitat. Habitat restoration projects that are funded
by Reclamation will be designed and implemented consistent with the techniques and
minimization measures presented in the CDFW’s Restoration Manual (Flosi et al. 2010) to
maximize the benefits of each project while minimizing effects to salmonids. Most restoration
projects are for the purpose of restoring degraded salmonid habitat and are intended to improve
instream cover, pool habitat, spawning gravels, and flow levels; remove barriers to fish passage;
and reduce or eliminate erosion and sedimentation impacts. Others prevent fish injury or death,
such as diversion screening projects. Although some habitat restoration projects may fail or
cause small losses to the juvenile coho salmon in the project areas during construction, most of
these projects are anticipated to restore salmonid habitat over the long-term.
The CDFW Restoration Manual (Flosi et al. 2010) provides design guidance and construction
techniques that facilitate proper design and construction of restoration projects. Properly
constructed stream restoration projects will increase access, habitat complexity, stability of
channels and streambanks, spawning habitat quality, and instream shade and cover. Since 2004,
the annual percentage of implemented and monitored project features 7 in northern California that
were rated as either good or excellent ranged between 58.5 to 85 percent, with an average of 70.9
percent (Collins 2005; CDFG 2006-2012, CDFW 2013). NMFS assumes restoration projects
implemented under the proposed action will have similar effectiveness rates during the next 10
years because the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program project features evaluated are the same
type of restoration as under this proposed action. Therefore, the proposed restoration should
amount to about 71 percent effectiveness each year.
7 The Fisheries Restoration Grant Program project features evaluated are the same types of
restoration as under this proposed action
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