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Recovery of Salmon & Steelhead in California and Southern Oregon |
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California Coastal Chinook Salmon ESU (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
FINAL-2007 Recovery Outline for the ESU of CC Chinook Salmon 07/16/07
Overview: California Coast Chinook Salmon ESU is the southernmost portion of the species North American range. Chinook display diverse life histories, especially in timing of return migration; hence their runs are classified by season, such as spring or fall. Juveniles also have different migration patterns, with some migrating to the ocean shortly after emerging from their spawning beds and others spending a year or more in streams before migrating to the ocean. Chinook face threats similar to steelhead within the Recovery Domain. Most of these threats are associated with habitat loss and water quality and quantity challenges. (For more information see NW Regional Office) Date Listed: September 16, 1999 (64 FR 50394) and reaffirmed June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37160) Legal Status: Threatened |
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The California Coastal (CC) Chinook salmon ESU includes all naturally spawned populations of Chinook salmon from rivers and streams south of the Klamath River (exclusive) to the Russian River (inclusive). Seven artificial propagation programs are considered part of the ESU: the Humboldt Fish Action Council (Freshwater Creek), Yager Creek, Redwood Creek, Hollow Tree, Van Arsdale Fish Station, Mattole Salmon Group, and Mad River Hatchery fall-run Chinook hatchery programs. Information on abundance and productivity trends for the naturally spawning component of the CC Chinook salmon ESU is extremely limited. A status review conducted by the Biological Review Team (BRT) in 2005 concluded that CC Chinook salmon continue to exhibit depressed population sizes relative to historical abundances (Good et al. 2005). A reduction of geographic distribution was also noted, particularly for spring-run Chinook salmon (which may no longer be extant anywhere in the range of this ESU) and from basins in the southern portion of the ESU. Analyses of the few time series of data available for this ESU showed mixed trends. Positive trends seemed apparent at Freshwater Creek and Mad River while trends from the Eel River were generally negative. Recent strong return numbers to the Russian River have been documented, but the genetic relatedness of these fish to others in the ESU is uncertain. The lack of data and resultant uncertainty associated with estimates of abundance contributes substantially to assessments of risk facing the CC Chinook salmon ESU. Artificial propagation of Chinook salmon from the seven hatcheries included in the CC Chinook salmon ESU remains at low levels (Good et al. 2005). It is unknown if these hatcheries are a benefit or detriment to the naturally spawning portion of the ESU. |
No recovery plan has been completed for this DPS. The Recovery Outline will be completed by December 2006. Current progress includes development of a recovery plan template, recovery plan chapters and an assessment of threats applying The Nature Conservancy protocols. A draft recovery plan is expected in June 2007 with a final plan to be completed in December 2007.
Literature Cited 55 FR 24296. 1990. Endangered and threatened species; listing and recovery priority guidelines. Federal Register, 55: 24296-24298. 64 FR 50394. 1999. Endangered and threatened species: Threatened status for two Chinook salmon evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) in California. Federal Register, 64: 50934-50415. 70 FR 37160. 2005. Endangered and threatened species: final listing determinations for 16 ESUs of West Coast Salmon, and final 4(d) protective regulations for threatened salmonid ESUs. Federal Register, 70: 37160-37204. Good, T. P., R. S. Waples & P. B. Adams. 2005. Updated status of federally listed ESUs of West Coast salmon and steelhead. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-NWFSC-66. 598 pp. |
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Additional and highlighted threats include the following:
The following limiting factors, and their level of threat to this DPS, were identified in the 2006 Pacific Coastal Salmonid Restoration Fund Report to Congress:
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A Priority Number of 3 was assigned to the CC Chinook salmon ESU in accordance with the Recovery Priority Guidelines (55 FR 24296, Section B) and indicates the priority of the species for recovery plan development and implementation. Ranking for the CC Chinook salmon ESU is based on a high degree of threat, a low-moderate recovery potential, and anticipated conflict with development projects or other economic activity. The high degree of threat is based on: 1) evidence that suggests populations have been extirpated in the southern part of the ESU, or are extremely low in abundance, and 2) loss of the spring-run Chinook salmon life history form. A low-moderate potential for recovery is possible for CC Chinook based on the extremely limited availability of data and the moderate likelihood that freshwater impacts can be substantially controlled or reduced through habitat protection, implementation of best management practices and focused restoration. Imminent land use changes and encroaching urbanization into rural areas are anticipated to conflict with the conservation needs of CC Chinook.
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Priority Recovery Actions Needed: Several priority recovery actions are needed for the California Coast Chinook Salmon ESU, including the following:
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05/22/2008 |
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