Biological Opinions - Bureau of Reclamation

Clear Lake, Gerber Reservoir, and Tule Lake Sump 1A is described below under section 13.4,
Klamath Project Hydrology Monitoring.
T&C 1c. Take Corrective Actions to Ensure UKL Elevations are Managed within the Scope of
the Proposed Action
Threshold UKL elevations identified in Effects of the Action on Lost River Sucker and Shortnose
Sucker (section 8) of this BiOp are not intended to serve as management targets. Instead,
thresholds represent the extreme lower limits of elevations that should be observed in UKL
during the term of the proposed action and that were considered and analyzed by this
BiOp. Indeed, the expected outcomes of the proposed action are UKL elevations of the
magnitude and variability displayed in figures 8.1 through 8.12. UKL elevations should rarely
be at these end-of-month thresholds; most of the time, end-of-month elevations should be well
above the thresholds. Therefore, whenever operations cause UKL elevations to trend downwards
towards the thresholds, special scrutiny is required. As the spring-summer season progresses
from March 1 to September 30, and as the fall-winter season progresses from October 1 to
February 28, Reclamation shall monitor UKL elevations (not including those that are within 0.1
ft of flood control limits) to determine if there is a projected or realized progressive decrease in
the elevation above the thresholds identified in section 8.1.3 of this BiOp. If a progressive
decrease in elevations is identified, Reclamation shall determine the causative factors of this
decrease and determine whether these factors are within the scope of the proposed action and the
effects analyzed in this BiOp. If Reclamation determines that there are causative factors that
may be outside the scope of the proposed action and this BiOp, Reclamation shall immediately
consult with USFWS to adaptively manage and take corrective actions.
T&C 1d. Activate the A Canal Pumped-bypass System Annually by August 1
Beginning July 1 each year, Reclamation shall communicate weekly with USFWS via email to
the Field Supervisor, or designee, to determine if it is appropriate to turn on the pump-based
system of the FES; however, Reclamation shall activate the A Canal pumped-bypass system to
run continuously beginning no later than August 1 every year and will continue using the
pumped-bypass system until no additional age-0 suckers are observed in the FES, or until the A
Canal diversions are terminated at the end of the season. Previous monitoring at the FES shows
that age-0 suckers begin appearing in the FES on or around August 1 in most years.
T&C 1e. Optimize Salvage of Listed Suckers in Project Canals
Reclamation shall begin salvage of suckers in Project canals every year at the end of the
irrigation season as soon as conditions allow, beginning in 2013. The purpose of this is to ensure
that as many suckers as practicable are removed from the canals prior to freeze up and to reduce
losses by predators. Reclamation shall work with the USFWS and appropriate irrigation districts
to identify timing and conditions that will maximize the effectiveness of salvage efforts. Salvage
of suckers should only occur when coordination with the USFWS and appropriate irrigation
districts determine that such efforts would be effective given the circumstances present in that
year. The need for salvage in individual Project canals shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis
in coordination with the USFWS and a draft annual salvage plan shall be formally submitted to
USFWS by September 1 of every year for approval. We will work with Reclamation to develop
an acceptable format for the annual plans. This plan shall include the location(s) that will
receive salvaged individuals, as coordinated with the USFWS. Effective salvage operations are
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