Northeast Oregon Hatchery Program Grande Ronde - Imnaha Spring Chinook Hatchery Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Abstract

The Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon native to the Grande Ronde and Imnaha Rivers of Northeast Oregon are listed as threatened and are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Adequate, contemporary hatchery facilities are needed in mitigation and recovery of these fish stocks. Currently, the Lookingglass Hatchery in the Grande Ronde subbasin and the Imnaha Satellite Facility in the Imnaha subbasin are the only two existing permanent hatchery facilities for spring chinook in Northeast Oregon. Both of these facilities were built in the early 1980's. These facilities do not provide adequate space, the best available technical and scientific advancements, or suitable rearing and migration conditions to provide for the conservation and recovery of ESA-listed species. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and local fishery and hatchery managers recognize that modernization and augmentation of hatchery facilities is needed to increase the success of mitigation efforts and to halt the decline of spring/summer chinook runs. Agency decision-makers and local fishery and hatchery co-managers will consider the following purposes (i.e. objectives) in evaluating alternative ways to meet the conservation and recovery needs described above: (1) Provide adequate, contemporary hatchery facilities in the Grande Ronde and Imnaha subbasins to help in the conservation and recovery of ESA-listed spring/summer chinook salmon native to the Grande Ronde and Imnaha Rivers, and thus further the implementation of the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan's (LSRCP) hatchery fish production program. (2) Coordinate the operation at the existing Lookingglass Hatchery and related LSRCP hatchery facilities with the Fish and Wildlife Program of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC or Council), thereby aiding Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) efforts to mitigate and recover anadromous fish affected by the Federal Columbia River Power System. (3) Aid in BPA's fulfillment of mitigation and recovery goals outlined in the Biological Opinion from NOAA Fisheries (formerly known as the National Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS]) on operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (NMFS 2000a). (4) Achieve economic efficiencies by integrating management of fish production programs and facilities. (5) Be consistent with the requirements of pertinent federal laws, regulations and executive orders, and other relevant plans and programs. (6) Support the Nez Perce Tribe's (NPT) goal to restore anadromous fish populations and enhance the Tribe's opportunities to exercise treaty fishing rights.