Shoshone-Bannock Tribes - Idaho Power

Responses to CommentsIdaho Power CompanyRESPONSE TO COMMENT SBT1-101A description of habitat use and suitability criteria is presented for all life stages of whitesturgeon in Technical Report E.3.1-6, Chapter 2. An evaluation of feasibility of potential passageoptions for white sturgeon is described in Technical Report E.3.1-6, Chapter 4.RESPONSE TO COMMENT SBT1-102It is unclear about which statement the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes refer. IPC could not find anysentence saying “we have no idea what is going on with the sturgeon.” The license application,section E.3.1.1.3.3.2. provides a description of the population’s current status in OxbowReservoir and factors affecting recruitment, including spawner limitations, poor water quality,and sturgeon export.RESPONSE TO COMMENT SBT1-103Stock assessments conducted between 1972 and 2000 have indicated positive and consistentrecruitment trends, with juveniles dominating the population. The population currently supportsboth catch-and-release sport (including incidental angling mortality) and tribal harvest fisheries.Overall, the sturgeon population below Hells Canyon Dam exhibits what could be considered ahealthy population structure, based on a stock structure dominated by juveniles, a wide range ofsize classes, and stages of maturity from immature juveniles to reproducing adults.RESPONSE TO COMMENT SBT1-104This comment is unclear. IPC believes that Technical Report E.3.1-6, Chapter 1 has adequatelydescribed the current status of white sturgeon in the Hells Canyon–Lower Granite reach.RESPONSE TO COMMENT SBT1-105The “pools” referred to are habitat classifications downstream of Hells Canyon Dam. Thesepools are not manmade. IPC’s modeling effort is adequate and clearly identifies the issues in theHells Canyon–Lower Granite reach.RESPONSE TO COMMENT SBT1-106IPC’s native salmonid plan is designed to increase the numbers of redband and bull trout directlyand indirectly through various measures. IPC’s proposed protection, mitigation, andenhancement (PM&E) measures adequately and appropriately address the protection,maintenance, and enhancement of redband and bull trout populations associated with the HCC.IPC’s native salmonid plan is intended to mitigate and enhance native populations of residentsalmonids by implementing measures to maintain and enhance redband and bull troutpopulations associated with the HCC. Specific sites and measures will be identified through theHCC Native Salmonid Technical Advisory Committee.Page 64Hells Canyon Complex