Biological Opinions - Bureau of Reclamation

When spring flows increase, dissolved oxygen generally increases, transient habitat is
increased for coho salmon fry and juveniles, and disease prevalence likely decreases
because actinospore densities are expected to decrease;
An adaptive disease management for increasing spring flows when near-real-time
monitoring shows that disease thresholds have been met and EWA surplus volume is
available is likely to minimize disease risks to coho salmon during average and below
average water years;
The minimum daily flows provide a limit to the disease risks posed to coho salmon under
the proposed action;
Compared to POR conditions, improved hydrologic conditions in the mainstem Klamath
River (i.e., higher magnitude and frequency of channel maintenance flows and higher
spring flows) will likely decrease the likelihood of C. shasta infections for coho salmon
fry and juveniles in the mainstem Klamath River between Klamathon Bridge (RM 184)
and Orleans (RM 59) during March to June;
The $500,000 annual restoration funding is likely to result in four to six restoration
projects each year. Approximately 71 percent of the four to six restoration projects
implemented each year are expected to be successful at increasing the quantity and
quality of coho salmon habitat. NMFS expects the suite of restoration activities will
result in long term improvements to the function and role of spawning, rearing, and
migration habitat in the action area.
The proposed action’s adverse effects and the minimization measures of both the Project
operations and habitat restoration components of the proposed action are integrated and
summarized in the table below.
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