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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Revision of Critical Habitat for Bull Trout
Draft economic analysis also
released, with public meetings and hearings scheduled
January 13, 2010 10-03
Contact: Joan Jewett, 503-231-6211
January 13, 2010 10-03
Contact: Joan Jewett, 503-231-6211
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to
revise its 2005
designation of critical habitat for the bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus
), a threatened species protected under the Endangered Species Act.
In total, the Service proposes to designate approximately 22,679 miles of
streams and 533,426 acres of lakes and reservoirs in Idaho, Oregon,
Washington, Montana and Nevada as critical habitat for the wide-ranging
fish. The proposal includes 985 miles of marine shoreline in Washington.
If finalized, the proposal would increase the amount of stream miles
designated as bull trout critical habitat in the five states by 18,851
miles and the amount of lakes and reservoirs designated as critical
habitat by 390,208 acres. This includes approximately 166 miles of
critical habitat proposed in the Jarbidge River basin, where no critical
habitat was designated in 2005. No change is proposed in the 985 miles of
marine shoreline in Washington that were designated in 2005.
“This proposed revision is the result of extensive review of our earlier
bull trout critical habitat proposals and 2005 designation, public
comments and new information,” said Robyn Thorson, director of the
Service’s Pacific Region. “We voluntarily embarked on this re-examination
to ensure that the best science was used to identify the features and
areas essential to the conservation of the species.”
Bull trout depend on cold, clear water and are excellent indicators of
water quality. Protecting and restoring their habitat contributes not only
to the recovery of the species but to the water quality of rivers and
lakes throughout their range, Thorson said.
Once plentiful, bull trout are now found in less than half their historic
range. They were listed in 1999 as threatened throughout their range in
the coterminous United States.
A draft economic analysis, also released today, estimates the potential
incremental cost of the proposed revised critical habitat at approximately
$5 to $7 million a year over the next 20 years. Many of the potential
costs are associated with additional consultation requirements for federal
agencies. However, most agencies already are managing their lands and
waters to a significant conservation standard due to existing critical
habitat designations for salmon and other species and the presence of bull
trout in 96 percent of the proposed critical habitat revision. This
proposed designation is not expected to add significant additional
conservation requirements.
Other potential incremental costs stem from possible fish passage
improvements at dams, estimated at $2.1 million to $2.5 million a year
spread among more than 70 federal and non-federal dams. Again, many of
these improvements already are occurring for salmon. No significant impact
to regional energy production is predicted.
Additional potential expenses, approximately $400,000 to $1.65 million a
year, are associated with changes to forest management, such as removal of
culverts and efforts to reduce sediment.
Comments on the proposed critical habitat revision and the draft economic
analysis will be accepted until March 15, 2010.
The proposal, developed by a team of federal scientists, is intended to
provide sufficient habitat to allow for genetic and life-history
diversity, ensure bull trout are well distributed across representative
habitats, ensure sufficient connectivity among populations and allow for
the ability to address threats facing the species.
“We intend to prioritize conservation actions in those habitats most
important to the bull trout’s protection and recovery,” Regional Director
Thorson said. “We encourage the public’s participation in helping us do
this.”
The proposal identifies 32 critical habitat units and 99 sub-units on
3,500 water body segments across the five states. These areas are
clustered into six recovery units where recovery efforts will be focused.
By state, the proposed designation covers approximately (rounded to
nearest whole number):
• Idaho: 9,671 stream miles and 197,915 acres of lakes or reservoirs•
Oregon: 3,100 stream miles and 29,139 acres of lakes or reservoirs•
Washington: 5,233 stream miles, 82,610 acres of lakes or reservoirs and
985 miles of marine shoreline• Montana: 3,094 stream miles and 223,762
acres of lakes or reservoirs• Nevada: 85 stream miles
In some areas, the critical habitat proposal spans shared border
designations along the Columbia or Snake rivers. These are:
designation of critical habitat for the bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus
), a threatened species protected under the Endangered Species Act.
In total, the Service proposes to designate approximately 22,679 miles of
streams and 533,426 acres of lakes and reservoirs in Idaho, Oregon,
Washington, Montana and Nevada as critical habitat for the wide-ranging
fish. The proposal includes 985 miles of marine shoreline in Washington.
If finalized, the proposal would increase the amount of stream miles
designated as bull trout critical habitat in the five states by 18,851
miles and the amount of lakes and reservoirs designated as critical
habitat by 390,208 acres. This includes approximately 166 miles of
critical habitat proposed in the Jarbidge River basin, where no critical
habitat was designated in 2005. No change is proposed in the 985 miles of
marine shoreline in Washington that were designated in 2005.
“This proposed revision is the result of extensive review of our earlier
bull trout critical habitat proposals and 2005 designation, public
comments and new information,” said Robyn Thorson, director of the
Service’s Pacific Region. “We voluntarily embarked on this re-examination
to ensure that the best science was used to identify the features and
areas essential to the conservation of the species.”
Bull trout depend on cold, clear water and are excellent indicators of
water quality. Protecting and restoring their habitat contributes not only
to the recovery of the species but to the water quality of rivers and
lakes throughout their range, Thorson said.
Once plentiful, bull trout are now found in less than half their historic
range. They were listed in 1999 as threatened throughout their range in
the coterminous United States.
A draft economic analysis, also released today, estimates the potential
incremental cost of the proposed revised critical habitat at approximately
$5 to $7 million a year over the next 20 years. Many of the potential
costs are associated with additional consultation requirements for federal
agencies. However, most agencies already are managing their lands and
waters to a significant conservation standard due to existing critical
habitat designations for salmon and other species and the presence of bull
trout in 96 percent of the proposed critical habitat revision. This
proposed designation is not expected to add significant additional
conservation requirements.
Other potential incremental costs stem from possible fish passage
improvements at dams, estimated at $2.1 million to $2.5 million a year
spread among more than 70 federal and non-federal dams. Again, many of
these improvements already are occurring for salmon. No significant impact
to regional energy production is predicted.
Additional potential expenses, approximately $400,000 to $1.65 million a
year, are associated with changes to forest management, such as removal of
culverts and efforts to reduce sediment.
Comments on the proposed critical habitat revision and the draft economic
analysis will be accepted until March 15, 2010.
The proposal, developed by a team of federal scientists, is intended to
provide sufficient habitat to allow for genetic and life-history
diversity, ensure bull trout are well distributed across representative
habitats, ensure sufficient connectivity among populations and allow for
the ability to address threats facing the species.
“We intend to prioritize conservation actions in those habitats most
important to the bull trout’s protection and recovery,” Regional Director
Thorson said. “We encourage the public’s participation in helping us do
this.”
The proposal identifies 32 critical habitat units and 99 sub-units on
3,500 water body segments across the five states. These areas are
clustered into six recovery units where recovery efforts will be focused.
By state, the proposed designation covers approximately (rounded to
nearest whole number):
• Idaho: 9,671 stream miles and 197,915 acres of lakes or reservoirs•
Oregon: 3,100 stream miles and 29,139 acres of lakes or reservoirs•
Washington: 5,233 stream miles, 82,610 acres of lakes or reservoirs and
985 miles of marine shoreline• Montana: 3,094 stream miles and 223,762
acres of lakes or reservoirs• Nevada: 85 stream miles
In some areas, the critical habitat proposal spans shared border
designations along the Columbia or Snake rivers. These are:
• Oregon/Idaho (Snake River): 170 stream miles• Washington/Idaho (Snake
River): 37 stream miles• Washington/Oregon (Columbia River): 304 stream
miles
Critical habitat for bull trout applies only to waterways. However, the
proposal recognizes that associated flood plains, shorelines, riparian
zones and upland habitat are important to critical habitat areas and that
activities in these areas may affect bull trout critical habitat.
Approximately 58 percent of the proposed critical habitat water bodies
occur on federal land, 36 percent are on private land and 2 percent each
are on state and tribal lands. One percent or less occurs on land that is
a mix of federal/private ownership or federal/state ownership.
Under the Endangered Species Act, critical habitat identifies geographic
areas that contain features essential for the conservation of a listed
species. Critical habitat designations provide extra regulatory protection
that may require special management considerations and the habitats are
then prioritized for recovery actions.The designation of critical habitat
does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve,
preserve or other conservation area. It does not allow government or
public access to non-federal lands. A critical habitat designation does
not impose restrictions on non-federal lands unless federal funds, permits
or activities are involved. However, designating critical habitat on
federal or non-federal lands informs landowners and the public of the
specific areas that are important to the recovery of the species.
State-by-state descriptions of the critical habitat units, maps,
photographs, general biological information and other materials relating
to today’s announcement may be found at
http://www.fws.gov/pacific/bulltrout. In addition, a Justification
Document, also on the website, has been prepared to explain the Service’s
rationale for why each critical habitat unit is essential for the
conservation of the bull trout.
A series of public informational meetings is scheduled to enable people to
learn more about the critical habitat proposal and to submit written
comments. The following meetings are planned:
• February 2, 2010, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Bend, Oregon: Hollingshead
Barn, 1235 NE Jones Road
• February 3, 2010, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Chiloquin, Oregon: Chiloquin
Community Center, 140 S.1st Street
• February 4, 2010, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: LaGrande, Oregon: Blue
Mountain Conference Center, 404 12th Street
• February 11, 2010, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Post Falls, Idaho: Red Lion
Templins Inn, 414 East 1st Avenue
• February 16, 2010, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Missoula, Montana: Montana Fish,
Wildlife and Parks Headquarters, 3201 Spurgin Road
• February 17, 2010, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Elko, Nevada: Elko Convention
Center, Gold Room, 700 Moren Way
• February 23, 2010, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Wenatchee, Washington:
Wenatchee-Okanogon National Forest Headquarters, 215 Melody Lane
• February 25, 2010, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Boise, Idaho: Boise Centre on the
Grove, 850 W. Front Street.
On February 25, 2010, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Service will also hold a
public hearing in Boise, Idaho, at the Boise Centre on the Grove,
following the public meeting. Oral testimony will be accepted during the
public hearing. Anyone wishing to make oral comments for the record at the
public hearing is encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement
at the public hearing.
Requests for additional public hearings must be received by March 1, 2010.
Send requests to: Idaho State Supervisor, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office,
1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho 83709.
Bull trout are a cold-water fish of relatively pristine
stream and lake habitats in western
North America. They are grouped with the char, within the salmonid family
of fish. They have the most specific habitat requirements of salmonids,
including the "Four C's": cold, clean, complex and connected habitat. Bull
trout require the coldest water temperature; they require the cleanest
stream substrates for spawning and rearing; they need complex habitats,
including streams with riffles and deep pools, undercut banks and lots of
large logs; as well as a connection between river, lake and ocean habitats
to headwater streams for annual spawning and feeding migrations.
Historically, bull trout were found in about 60 percent of the Columbia
River Basin. They now occur in less than half of their historic range.
Populations remain in portions of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and
Nevada. In the Klamath River Basin, bull trout occur in 21 percent of
their historic range.
North America. They are grouped with the char, within the salmonid family
of fish. They have the most specific habitat requirements of salmonids,
including the "Four C's": cold, clean, complex and connected habitat. Bull
trout require the coldest water temperature; they require the cleanest
stream substrates for spawning and rearing; they need complex habitats,
including streams with riffles and deep pools, undercut banks and lots of
large logs; as well as a connection between river, lake and ocean habitats
to headwater streams for annual spawning and feeding migrations.
Historically, bull trout were found in about 60 percent of the Columbia
River Basin. They now occur in less than half of their historic range.
Populations remain in portions of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and
Nevada. In the Klamath River Basin, bull trout occur in 21 percent of
their historic range.
The bull trout is primarily threatened by habitat degradation and
fragmentation, blockage of migratory corridors, poor water quality, the
effects of climate change and past fisheries management practices,
including the introduction of non-native species such as brown, lake and
brook trout.
In September 2005, the Service published a final rule designating critical
habitat for bull trout. That rule was challenged in the U.S. District
Court for the District of Oregon and in March 2009, the Service requested
a voluntary remand of the rule from the court to address irregularities in
the rule-making process and outcome, as identified in a 2008 Investigative
Report by the Department of the Interior Inspector General. That report
found a former Department of the Interior political appointee had
interfered with the final 2005 designation by directing that large areas
be excluded from what had been proposed. In July 2009, the Court granted
the Service’s request and directed the agency to complete a proposed
revision by December 31, 2009, with a final designation due by September
30, 2010. The 2005 designation will remain in effect until a revised
designation is final.
Written comments on the proposed critical habitat revision and on the
draft economic analysis can be submitted by one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
In the box that reads “Enter Keyword or ID,” enter the docket number for this
proposed rule, which is FWS-R1-ES-2009-0085. Check the box
that reads
“Open for Comment/Submission,” and then click the Search
button. You
should then see an icon that reads “Submit a Comment.” Please ensure that
you have found the correct rulemaking before submitting your comment.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: RIN
1018-AW88; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
• Hand deliver written comments at a public informational meeting.
We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally
means that we will post any personal information you provide.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others
to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader
and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our
scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources,
dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more
information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov
should then see an icon that reads “Submit a Comment.” Please ensure that
you have found the correct rulemaking before submitting your comment.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: RIN
1018-AW88; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
• Hand deliver written comments at a public informational meeting.
We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally
means that we will post any personal information you provide.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others
to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader
and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our
scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources,
dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more
information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov
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NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml