National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division Southwest Region Federal Recovery Planning for California’s Salmon and Steelhead Populations North Bay Watershed Association December 1, 2006

10 Species of Salmon and Steelhead Listed as Federally Threatened or Endangered in California 5 Steelhead Populations 3 Chinook Populations 2 Coho Populations

Salmon & Steelhead: Anadromous Salmonids A species that migrates from salt water into freshwater to spawn

National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Region Salmon & Steelhead: Life History

Recovering a Species on a Path Towards Extinction

Recovering a Species on a Path Towards Extinction: The Road Map What Does Recovery Look Like? Recovery is “…the process by which listed species and their ecosystems are restored and their future safeguarded to the point that protections under the ESA are no longer needed.” NMFS October 2004 Interim Threatened and Endangered Recovery Planning Guidance

Recovering a Species on a Path Towards Extinction: The Road Map What Guides the Recovery Process? 1.Endangered Species Act 2.Case Law 3.Policies Photograph: Chris Berry Coho salmon smolt in San Vicente Creek, Santa Cruz County, June 2006

Recovering a Species on a Path Towards Extinction: The Road Map What Guides the Recovery Process? ESA §4(f) Recovery plans must contain: 1.Description of such site-specific management actions as may be necessary to achieve the plan’s goal for the conservation and survival of the species; 2.Objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in the determination that the species be removed from the list; and 3.Estimates of the time required and the cost to carry out those measures needed to achieve the plan’s goal and the intermediate steps toward that goal.

Recovering a Species on an Extinction Path: The Road Map and Case Law Management actions must be site specific wherever feasible Management actions must be site specific wherever feasible Actions and criteria must link to identified threats including changes in threats since listing and be organized by the 5 listing factors of Federal Register Notice listing the species Actions and criteria must link to identified threats including changes in threats since listing and be organized by the 5 listing factors of Federal Register Notice listing the species Criteria must measure whether threats have been abated and address delisting not just downlisting. Criteria must measure whether threats have been abated and address delisting not just downlisting. Fund for Animals v. Babbitt (1995) Fund for Animals v. Babbitt (1995) SWCBD v. Babbitt (1999) SWCBD v. Babbitt (1999) Defenders of Wildlife v. Babbit (2001) Defenders of Wildlife v. Babbit (2001) Southwest Center for Biological Diversity v. Babbit (1999) Southwest Center for Biological Diversity v. Babbit (1999) Cannot promise to “develop criteria later” or use “future research” as means to not address threats Cannot promise to “develop criteria later” or use “future research” as means to not address threats

Recovering a Species on an Extinction Path: The Road Map and Policy A Few Examples: House Resources Committee Report on Recovery Plan Development (2006) House Resources Committee Report on Recovery Plan Development (2006) NMFS Endangered and Threatened Species Interim Recovery Planning Guidance (October 2004) NMFS Endangered and Threatened Species Interim Recovery Planning Guidance (October 2004) USFWS/NMFS Interagency Cooperative Policy for Peer Review in Endangered Species Activities (1994) USFWS/NMFS Interagency Cooperative Policy for Peer Review in Endangered Species Activities (1994) Interagency Cooperative Policy on Information Standards under the ESA (1994) Interagency Cooperative Policy on Information Standards under the ESA (1994) Interagency Cooperative Policy on Recovery Plan Implementation under the ESA (1994) Interagency Cooperative Policy on Recovery Plan Implementation under the ESA (1994)

Recovering a Species on a Path Towards Extinction: The Road Map Primary Functions of Recovery Plans and Achieving Recovery : Describe biology and threats pertinent to endangerment and recovery Describe biology and threats pertinent to endangerment and recovery Outline and justify a scientifically sound strategy Outline and justify a scientifically sound strategy Identify and prioritize necessary actions Identify and prioritize necessary actions Identify goals & criteria to measure success Identify goals & criteria to measure success Outline monitoring activities and action implementation overtime Outline monitoring activities and action implementation overtime Recovery plans serve secondary functions: Public outreach tool outlining why a species is endangered Public outreach tool outlining why a species is endangered Clear and transparent rationale for recovery actions for cooperators Clear and transparent rationale for recovery actions for cooperators Tool used for funding actions with clear priorities Tool used for funding actions with clear priorities Recovery Plans are not regulatory documents. They are guidance documents. Federal agencies have the greatest obligation to ensure their actions are meeting recovery planning goals. Recovery Plans are not regulatory documents. They are guidance documents. Federal agencies have the greatest obligation to ensure their actions are meeting recovery planning goals.

Recovering a Species on an Extinction Path: The Road Map and Case Law Recovery plans must explicitly identify all threats to a species and track (through objective measurable criteria) how each threat (through site-specific management actions) will be reduced or eliminated.

Recovering a Species on an Extinction Path: What, When, Who and How Taking the Bull by the Horns

Recovering a Species on an Extinction Path: When Are Plans To Be Completed? Draft Plans Due June 2007 Final Plans Due December 2007 Who’s Working on the Plans? NOAA/NMFS Protected Resources Division (Lead) Habitat Conservation Division (Experts/Specialists) Sustainable Fisheries Division (Marine Experts) NOAA Restoration Center (Restoration Specialists) Science Center (Scientists)

Recovering a Species on an Extinction Path: Consulting Others on Plan Development California Department of Fish and Game Water Quality Control Board United States Fish and Wildlife Service Counties and Cities Water Agencies Watershed Groups Environmental Groups Fishermen THE PUBLIC! Great Grandmother of Charlotte Ambrose (1954)

Recovering a Species on an Extinction Path: So What Are We Doing? Four Recovery Planning Domains in California each with: Recovery Coordinator and Specific Species Team of scientists led by NMFS Science Center working on population/species viability for the Domain species (Technical Recovery Teams) Don Alley: San Lorenzo Coho and Steelhead

Principle Components Required for Federal Recovery Plans: Abundance and Trends Assessment of Threats Conservation Measures Recovery Criteria Population Identification Implementation Schedule Phase I Phase II Biological Viability Criteria

Domain Species: Coho Salmon Central California Coast (E) Chinook Salmon California Coastal (T) Steelhead Northern California (T) Central California Coast (T) Redwood Creek Humboldt County Aptos Creek Santa Cruz County

North Central California Coast Recovery Domain Phase I: Technical Recovery Team Photograph: Don Alley Dr. Brian Spence, NOAA Fisheries Dr. Eric Bjorkstedt, NOAA Fisheries Dr. Carlos Garza, NOAA Fisheries Dr. David Hankin, Humboldt State University Dr. Jerry Smith, San Jose State University David Fuller, Bureau of Land Management Rick Macedo, Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game Weldon Jones, Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game (retired)

North Central California Coast Recovery Domain Phase I: Technical Recovery Team Products ReportsContentsStatus Population Structure Categorization of historical populations Development of diversity strata Available: Population Viability Research & Monitoring Population-level viability criteria ESU-level viability criteria Assessment of current status Basic research/monitoring recommendations In TRT review. External review expected Jan 2007 In progress. Expected in Early 2007

Historical Structure Population Identification Population Independence - Can individual populations persist without influence from other populations; - Independent or dependent Environmental Groupings - aka Diversity Strata

Central California Coast Coho Salmon ESU Lost Coast – Gualala Point Gualala Point – Golden Gate Santa Cruz Mountains Lost Coast – Navarro Point Navarro Point– Gualala Point Jackass Creek Usal Creek Cottaneva Creek Juan Creek Howard Creek DeHaven Creek Wages Creek Abalobadiah Cr. Ten Mile River Mill Creek Pudding Creek Noyo River Hare Creek Jug Handle Creek Caspar Creek Russian Gulch (Me) Big River Little River (Me) Albion River Big Salmon Creek Navarro River Greenwood Creek Elk Creek Mallo Pass Creek Alder Creek Brush Creek Garcia River Point Arena Creek Schooner Gulch Gualala River Coastal San Francisco Bay Russian Gulch (S) Russian River Scotty Creek Salmon Creek (S) Bodega Harbor Americano Creek Stemple Creek Walker Creek Lagunitas Creek Drakes Bay Pine Gulch Redwood Cr. (Ma) Arroyo Corte Madera d. Presidio Corte Madera Creek Miller Creek Novato Creek Petaluma River Sonoma Creek Napa River San Pablo Creek Strawberry Creek San Leandro Creek San Lorenzo Creek Alameda Creek Coyote Creek Guadalupe River Stevens Creek San Francisquito Creek San Mateo Creek Pilarcitos Creek Tunitas Creek San Gregorio Creek Pomponio Creek Arroyo de los Frijoles Pescadero Creek Gazos Creek Whitehouse Creek Cascade Creek Waddell Creek Scott Creek San Vicente Creek Wilder Creek San Lorenzo River Soquel Creek Aptos Creek Diversity Strata – Independent and Dependent

Central California Coast Steelhead Interior SF BayNorth CoastalInterior Austim Creek Salmon Creek Americano Creek Stemple Creek Walker Creek Lagunitas Creek Mark West Creek Dry Creek Maacama Creek Upper Russian Santa Cruz MountainsCoastal SF Bay Pilarcitos Creek San Gregorio Pescadero Waddell Scott Laguna San Lorenzo Soquel Aptos Arroyo Corte Madera d. Presidio Corte Madera Creek Miller Creek Novato Creek Guadalupe River Stevens Creek San Francisquito Creek San Mateo Creek Petaluma River Sonoma Creek Napa River San Pablo Creek San Leandro Creek San Lorenzo Creek Alameda Creek Coyote Creek Diversity Strata – Independent

North Central California Coast Domain: Partnering on Recovery Planning – Phase II

North Central California Coast Domain: Partnering on Recovery Planning – Phase II SCWA Recovery Planning Support - MOA process facilitated funding to NMFS - Funding towards assessment of threats for coho, steelhead, Chinook - Recovery Outlines completed or under development - Excellent working relationship with SCWA - Opportunity to understand limitations/priorities

Work from common objectivesWork from common objectives Build relationshipsBuild relationships Understand issues, opportunities and constraintsUnderstand issues, opportunities and constraints Use process for data development and sharingUse process for data development and sharing Move beyond paradigm of “everything everywhere”Move beyond paradigm of “everything everywhere” Facilitate identification of most important watersheds and highest priority threatsFacilitate identification of most important watersheds and highest priority threats Develop realistic expectations of what we can/cannot realizeDevelop realistic expectations of what we can/cannot realize Real Benefits to NBWA Build realistic expectations into recovery planning actionsBuild realistic expectations into recovery planning actions High priority actions attract funding options (Restoration Center)High priority actions attract funding options (Restoration Center) Actions prevent further listing (e.g., assessing conservation)Actions prevent further listing (e.g., assessing conservation) No single entity can recover our salmon and steelhead…it will take all of us working together.No single entity can recover our salmon and steelhead…it will take all of us working together. Recovering a Species on an Extinction Path: Potential of NBWA Participation

Highest Priority Populations Most Important Threats Most Feasible Restoration Actions Greatest Success for Survival and Recovery

North Central California Coast Domain: Understanding Each Other Working Together towards Common Goals Photographs: Chris Berry