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11
Recommendations
BASINWIDE ISSUES
Scope of ESA Actions
Recovery of enciangerecT suckers ancT threatened coho salmon in the
I(lamath basin cannot be achieved by actions that are exclusively or primar-
ily focused on operation of USBR's I(lamath Project. While continuing
consultation between the listing agencies ancT USBR is important, cTistribu-
tion of the listecT species well beyond the boundaries of the I(lamath Project
ancT the impairment of these species through lancT- ancT water-management
practices that are not uncler control of USBR require that the agencies use
their authority uncler the ESA much more broacTly than they have in the
past.
Recommendation 1. The scope of ESA actions by NMFS ancT USFWS shouicT
be expanclecT in several ways, as follows (Chapters 6, 8, 91.
· NMFS ancT USFWS shouicT inventory all governmental, tribal, ancT
private actions that are causing unauthorized take of enciangerecT suckers
ancT threatened coho salmon in the I(lamath basin ancT seek either to autho-
rize this take with appropriate mitigative measures or to eliminate it.
· NMFS ancT USFWS shouicT consult not only with USBR, but also
with other fecleral agencies (e.g., U.S. Forest Service) uncler Section 7(a)~11;
the fecleral agencies collectively shouicT show a will to fulfill the interagency
agreements that were macle in 1994.
344
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345
· NMFS anti USFWS shouicI use their full authority to control the
actions of fecleral agencies that impair habitat on feclerally managed lancis,
not only within but also beyond the I(lamath Project.
· Within 2 yr, NMFS shouicI prepare ancI promulgate a recovery plan
for coho salmon, anti USFWS shouicI clo the same for shortnose anti Lost
River suckers. The new recovery plans shouicI facilitate consultations uncler
ESA Sections 7(a)~1), 7(a)~2), anti lO(a)~1) across the entire geographic
ranges of the listecI species.
· NMFS anti USFWS shouicI more aggressively pursue opportunities
for non-regulatory stimulation of recovery actions through the creation of
demonstration projects, technical guidance, anti extension activities that
are intenclecI to encourage anti maximize the effectiveness of non-govern-
mental recovery efforts.
Planning ant! External Review
For all three of the listecI fish species, monitoring, research, ancI reme-
cliation have been hanclicappecI by lack of effective central planning, by
insufficient external review, anti by poor connections between research anti
remecliation (Chapters 6, 8, 101.
Recommendation 2. Planning anti organization of research anti monitoring
for listecI species shouicI be implementecI as follows.
· Research anti monitoring programs for enciangerecI suckers shouicI
be guiclecI by a master plan for collection of information in clirect support of
the recovery plan; the same shouicI be true of coho salmon.
· A recovery team for suckers anti a second recovery team for coho
salmon shouicI administer research anti monitoring on the listecI species.
The recovery team shouicI use an aciaptive management framework that
serves as a clirect link between research anti remecliation by testing the
effectiveness anti feasibility of specific remecliation strategies.
· Research anti monitoring shouicI be reviewed comprehensively by an
external pane! of experts every 3 yr.
· Scientists participating in research shouicI be requirecI to publish key
findings in peer-reviewecI journals or in synthesis volumes subjected to
external review; administrators shouicI allow researchers sufficient time to
clo this important aspect of their work.
· Separately or jointly for the upper anti lower basins, a broacIly basecI,
diverse committee of cooperators shouicI be establishecI for the purpose of
pursuing ecosystem-basecI environmental improvements throughout the
basin for the benefit of all fish species as a means of preventing future
listings while also preserving economically beneficial uses of water that are
compatible with high environmental quality. Where possible, existing fecI-
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FISHES IN THE KLAMATH RIVER BASIN
eral ancI state legislation shouicI be used as a framework for organization of
this effort.
ENDANGERED LOST RIVER AND SHORTNOSE SUCKERS
Needs for New Information
The enciangerecI suckers have been extensively stucliecI, particularly in
Upper Klamath Lake, in ways that have proven very useful to the diagnosis
of causes for clecline in the abundance of suckers. Research anti monitoring
programs will continue to be valuable in revealing mechanisms that cause
clecline of the listecI species, in cleveloping a scientific basis for recovery
actions, anti in evaluating trial remecliation measures through aciaptive
management. Research that is focused on gaps in knowlecige or on mecha-
nisms that appear to be particularly important to the recovery of the suck-
ers will be most useful in support of the recovery effort.
Recommendation 3. Research anti monitoring on the enciangerecI suckers
shouicI be continued. Topics for research shouicI be acljustecI annually to
reflect recent findings anti to aciciress questions for which lack of knowlecige
is a handicap to the clevelopment or implementation of the recovery plan.
Gaps in knowlecige that require research in the near future are as follows
(Chapters 5, 61.
· Efforts shouicI be expanclecI to estimate annually the abundance or
relative abundance of all life stages of the two enciangerecI sucker species in
Upper Klamath Lake.
· At intervals of 3 yr, biotic as well as physical anti chemical surveys
shouicI be concluctecI throughout the geographic range of the enciangerecI
suckers. Suckers shouicI be samplecI for indications of age distribution,
qualitative measures of abundance, anti condition factors. Sampling shouicI
inclucle fish other than suckers on grouncis that the presence of other fish is
an indicator of the spreacI of nonnative species, of changing environmental
conditions, or of changes in abundance of other endemic species that may
be approaching the status at which listing is neeclecI. Habitat conditions anti
water-quality information potentially relevant to the welfare of the suckers
shouicI be recorclecI in a manner that allows comparison across years. The
resulting survey information, along with the more cletailecI information
available from annual monitoring of populations in Upper Klamath Lake,
shouicI be synthesized as an overview of status.
· DetailecI comparisons of the Upper Klamath Lake populations
Which are suppressed anti the Clear Lake anti Gerber Reservoir popula-
tions (which are apparently stable), in combination with studies of the
environmental factors that may affect welfare of the fish, shouicI be con-
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RE COMMENDA TIONS
347
cluctecI as a means of diagnosing specific life-history bottlenecks that are
affecting the Upper I(lamath Lake populations.
· Multifactorial studies uncler conditions as realistic as practicable
shouicI be macle of tolerance anti stress for the listecI suckers relevant to
poor water-quality conditions in Upper I(lamath Lake anti elsewhere.
· Factors affecting spawning success anti larval survival in the William-
son River system shouicI be stucliecI more intensively in support of recovery
efforts that are focused on improvements in physical habitat protection for
spawners anti larvae in rivers.
· An analysis shouicI be concluctecI of the hyciraulic transport of larvae
in Upper I(lamath Lake.
· Relevant to the water quality of Upper I(lamath Lake, more inten-
sive studies shouicI be macle of water-column stability anti mixing, espe-
cially in relation to physiological status of Aphanizomenon anti the occur-
rence of mass mortality; of mechanisms for internal loacling of phosphorus;
of winter oxygen concentrations; anti of the effects of limnohumic acicis on
Aphanizomenon.
· A demographic mocle! of the populations in Upper I(lamath Lake
shouicI be prepared anti used in integrating information on factors that
affect incliviclual life-history stages.
· Studies shouicI be clone on the clegree anti importance of predation
on young fish by nonnative species.
· Aciclitional studies shouicI be clone on the genetic identities of
subpopulations.
Remeclial Actions
Because the suckers currently are not showing evidence of recovery,
new types of actions intenclecI to promote recovery are essential. The main
focus of action in the recent past has been maintenance of specific minimum
water levels in Upper I(lamath Lake. Current evidence suggests that these
manipulations will not be effective in causing restoration of suckers in
Upper I(lamath Lake, despite evidence that higher water levels maximize
certain habitat features that are known to be important to the suckers.
Aciclitional harm to the suckers might result, however, from changes in the
I(lamath Project operations that wouicI allow greater degrees of mean or
maximum cirawclown than those observed in the l990s. USFWS may con-
tinue to investigate the effects of lake level in a more clirectecI way by
collaborating with USER in experiments involving water-level manipula-
tions. Some new types of manipulations not proclucecI by past operating
procedures might be especially informative. In planning experiments USFWS
shouicI consider the possibility that sustained high water levels couicI be
cletrimental to the suckers by increasing the severity of mass mortality
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FISHES IN THE KLAMATH RIVER BASIN
through maintenance of high water-column stability, thus exacerbating
surface oxygen clepletion at times of mixing cluring the late growing season.
Water levels in Clear Lake ancI Gerber Reservoir appear to have been
adequate to sustain stable populations except at extreme cirawclown, the
occurrence of which is a risk to the suckers.
Current evidence indicates that attempts to intercept nutrients from the
watershed will not improve the quality of water of Upper I(lamath Lake,
ancI thus cannot be taken as a likely way to achieve recovery of suckers.
Recovery actions for suckers of Upper I(lamath Lake at present shouicI
emphasize measures that maximize production ancI survival of young fish
on the basis that aciclitional recruitment into the subaclult ancI aclult stages
couicI partially or fully offset mass mortality of aclults. In aciclition, experi-
ments shouicI be clone on artificial oxygenated refugia that may be used by
large fish. Recoverv
planning should assume that, because mass mortality
of aclults will likely continue in Upper I(lamath Lake, significant efforts
shouicI be macle to establish self-sustaining populations elsewhere in the
I(lamath basin.
Recommendation 4. Recovery actions of highest priority based on current
knowlecige of enciangerecI suckers are as follows (Chapter 61:
· Removal of Chiloquin Dam to increase the extent of spawning habi-
tat in the upper Sprague River ancI expand the range of ancI conditions
uncler which larvae enter Upper I(lamath Lake.
· Removal or facilitation of passage at all small blockages, clams,
diversions, ancI tributaries where suckers are or couicI be present.
· Screening of water intakes at Link River Dam.
· Modification of screening ancI intake procedures at the A Canal as
recommenclecI by USFWS (20021.
· Protection of known spawning areas within Upper I(lamath Lake
from disturbance (inclucling hycirologic manipulation, in the case of springs),
. . . .
except: -or restoration activities.
· For river spawning suckers of Upper I(lamath Lake, protection
ancI restoration of riparian conditions, channel geomorphology, ancI
sediment transport; elimination of disturbance at locations where suck-
ers clo spawn or couicI spawn. These actions will require changes in
grazing ancI agricultural practices, lancI management, riparian corridors,
ancI public education.
· Seecling of abanclonecI spawning areas in Upper I(lamath Lake with
new spawners ancI physical improvement of selectecI spawning areas.
· Restoration of wetiancI vegetation in the Williamson River estuary
ancI northern portions of Upper I(lamath Lake.
· Use of oxygenation on a trial basis to provide refugia for large
suckers in Upper I(lamath Lake.
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· Rigorous protection of tributary spawning areas on Clear Lake ancI
Gerber Reservoir, where populations are apparently stable.
· Reintroduction of enciangerecI suckers to Lake of the Woocis after
elimination of its nonnative fish populations.
· Reestablishment of spawning ancI recruitment capability for encian-
gerecI suckers in Tule Lake ancI Lower I(lamath Lake, even if the attempts
require alterations in water management, proviclecI that preliminary studies
indicate feasibility; increased control of sedimentation in Tule Lake.
· All proposed changes in I(lamath Project operations shouicI be re-
viewecI for potential adverse effects on suckers; water level limits for the
near future shouicI be maintained as proposed by USER in 2002 but with
modifications as required by USFWS in its most recent biological opinion
(20021.
THREATENED COHO SALMON
Needs for New Information
While the biology of coho salmon is well known in general, studies of
coho salmon specific to the I(lamath River basin have been few ancI clo not
provide the requisite amount of information to support quantitative assess-
ments of population strength ancI distribution, environmental correlates of
successful spawning ancI rearing, overwintering losses ancI associated habi-
tat deficiencies, water temperatures at critical points in tributary waters,
ancI effects of hatchery-rearecI fish on wilcI coho. Main-stem conditions are
primarily of interest with respect to the spawning run ancI the downstream
migration of smolts. Tributary conditions, which have been much less stucI-
iecI than main-stem conditions, are critical to both spawning ancI rearing;
habitat inclucles but extends beyond the main stems of the large tributaries
ancI into the small tributaries ancI heac~waters that strongly favor spawning
ancI rearing of coho.
Recommendation 5. Needs for new information on coho salmon are as
follows (Chapters 7, 81.
· Annual monitoring of aclults ancI juveniles shouicI be concluctecI at
the mouths of major tributaries ancI the main stem as a means of establish-
ing a record of year-class strength for coho. Every 3 yr, synoptic studies of
the presence ancI status of coho shouicI be macle of coho in the I(lamath
basin. Physical ancI chemical conditions shouicI be clocumentecI in a manner
that allows interannual comparisons. Not only coho but other fish species
present in coho habitats shouicI be samplecI simultaneously on grouncis that
changes in the relative abundance of species are relevant to the welfare of
coho ancI may serve as an early warning of cleclines in the abundance of
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FISHES IN THE KLAMATH RIVER BASIN
other species. Results of synoptic studies, along with the annual monitoring
at tributary mouths, shouicI be synthesized as an overview of population
status at 3-yr intervals.
· DetailecI comparisons shouicI be macle of the success of coho in
specific small tributaries that are chosen so as to represent gradients in
potential stressors. The objective of the stucly shouicI be to identify thresh-
oicis for specific stressors or combinations of stressors ancI thus to establish
more specifically the tolerance threshoicis for coho salmon in the I(lamath
basin.
· The effect on wilcI coho of fish releasecI in quantity from hatcheries
shouicI be cleterminecI by manipulation of hatchery operations according to
aciaptive-management principles. As an initial step, release of hatchery fish
from Iron Gate Hatchery (all species) shouicI be eliminatecI for 3 yr, ancI
indicators of coho response shouicI be clevisecI. Complementary manipula-
tions at the Trinity River Hatchery wouicI be clesirable as well.
· SelectecI small tributaries that have been impaired shouicI be experi-
mentally restored, ancI the success of various restoration strategies shouicI
be cleterminecI.
· Success ot specific livestock-management practices in improv-
ing channel conditions ancI promoting clevelopment of riparian vegetation
shouicI be evaluatecI systematically.
· Relationships between flow ancI temperature at the junctions of
tributaries with the main stem ancI the estuary shouicI be quantified; pos-
sible benefits of coordinating flow management in the Trinity ancI I(lamath
main stem shouicI be stucliecI.
Remecliation
Actions intenclecI to improve environmental conditions for the threat-
enecI coho salmon to ciate primarily have involvecI hycirologic manipulation
of the main stem at Iron Gate Dam. Continual focus on hycirologic concli-
tions in the main stem is an excessively narrow basis for recovery actions or
for a recovery plan in that coho salmon are strongly oriented toward tribu-
taries for all phases of the freshwater phase of their life cycle except migra-
tion at the aclult ancI smolt stages. Changes required by NMFS in the flow
of the main stem inclucle aciclitional water specifically for smolt migration;
it is unknown whether this will be a major benefit to coho, but in the
absence of information to the contrary it is a reasonable requirement. Es-
tablishment of more stringent minimum flows for the other parts of the
year, as compared to the operations cluring the l990s, are of uncertain
benefit to coho salmon, although they may be of substantial benefit to other
species that use the main stem more extensively. In apportioning responsi-
bility to USER for providing minimum flows according to its proportional
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RE COMMENDA TIONS
351
use of water, NMFS is recognizing in a realistic way the neecI for all con-
sumptive uses to be factored into any minimum-flow regime.
Major tributaries as well as small tributaries must benefit from reme-
cliation if recovery is to occur. Although more cletailecI information wouicI
be clesirable as a basis for remecliation, beginning points for remecliation are
obvious in locations where tributaries have been critically clewaterecI or
warmed to the lethal threshoicI for coho salmon (a problem that couicI be
exacerbated by climate change), or where appropriate substrate has been
eliminatecI anti cover is absent. Thus, there is ample justification for begin-
ning remecliation immecliately. This will require extensive work on private
lancis, anti also the establishment of improved management practices for
mining anti forestry, some of which is uncler the clirect control of other
agencies that are subject to ESA authority through NMFS. Blockage of
coho migration, which occurs in clozens of locations at various scales within
the I(lamath basin, is inconsistent with ESA regulations on take anti must
be clealt with by NMFS.
Recommendation 6. Remecliation measures that can be justified from cur-
rent knowlecige inclucle the following (Chapter 81.
· Reestablishment of coo! summer flows in the Shasta anti Scott rivers
in particular but also in small tributaries that reach the I(lamath main stem
or the Trinity main stem where water has been anthropogenically warmed.
Reestablishment of coo! flows shouicI be pursued through purchase, tracI-
ing, or leasing of grounc~water flows (inclucling springs) for clirect clelivery
to streams; by extensive restoration of woocly riparian vegetation capable
of providing shacle; anti by increase of annual or seasonal low flows.
· Removal or provision for effective passage at all small clams anti
diversions throughout the distribution of the coho salmon, to be completecI
within 3 yr. In aciclition, serious evaluation shouicI be macle of the benefits
to coho salmon from elimination of Dwinnell Dam anti Iron Gate Dam on
grouncis that these structures block substantial amounts of coho habitat
anti, in the case of Dwinnell Dam, clegracle downstream habitat as well.
· Prescription of lancI-use practices for timber management, roacI con-
struction, anti grazing that are sufficiently stringent to prevent physical
clegraciation of tributary habitat for coho, especially in the Scott, Salmon,
anti Trinity river basins as well as small tributaries affected by erosion.
· Facilitation through cooperative efforts or, if necessary, use of ESA
authority to recluce impairment of spawning gravels anti other critical habi-
tat features by livestock, fine sediments clerivecI from agricultural practice,
timber management, or other human activities.
· Changes in hatchery operations to the extent necessary, inclucling
possible closure of hatcheries, for the benefit of coho salmon as cleterminecI
through research by way of aciaptive management of the hatcheries.
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FISHES IN THE KLAMATH RIVER BASIN
COSTS
The costs of remecliation actions are clifficult to estimate without more
cletail on their mocle of implementation by the agencies. Based on general
knowlecige of costs of research anti monitoring at other locations, an ap-
proximate figure for the recommendations on enciangerecI suckers over a 5-
yr period is $15-20 million, inclucling research, monitoring, anti remeclial
actions of minor scope. ExcluclecI are administrative costs anti the costs of
remeclial actions of major scope (e.g., removal of Chiloquin Dam), which
wouicI neecI to be evaluatecI incliviclually for cost. For coho salmon, re-
search, monitoring, anti remeclial projects of small scope over 5 yr is esti-
matecI at $10-15 million. Thus, the total for all three species over 5 yr is
$25-35 million, exclucling major projects such as removal of clams. These
costs are high relative to past expenditures on research anti remecliation in
the basin, but the costs of further deterioration of sucker anti coho popula-
tions, along with crisis management anti disruptions of human activities,
may be far more costly. A hopeful vision is that increased knowlecige,
improved management, anti cohesive community action will promote re-
covery of the fishes. This outcome, which wouicI be of great benefit to the
I(lamath basin, couicI provide a mocle! for the nation.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
research anti
