81_FR_2199 81 FR 2189 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

81 FR 2189 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 10 (January 15, 2016)

Page Range2189-2196
FR Document2016-00747

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Permit 1440-2R to the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP); Permit 13675-2R to the Fishery Foundation of California (FFC); Permit 13791-2R to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Stockton Fish and Wildlife Office (SFWO); Permit 14516-2R to Dr. Jerry Smith, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at San Jose State University; Permit 15215 to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Fisheries Branch, Fish Health Laboratory; Permit 16274 to the Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC); Permit 17063 to the United States Forest Service (USFS), Redwood Sciences Laboratory; Permit 17077-2R to Dr. Peter Moyle, with the University of California at Davis, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology; Permit 17219 and Permit 19320 to the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Fisheries Ecology Division; Permit 17272 to the USFWS, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office Fisheries Program (AFWO); Permit 17351 to the Green Diamond Resource Company (GDRC); Permit 17396 to the USFWS, Anadromous Fish Restoration Program (AFRP); Permit 17867 to the Humboldt Redwood Company (HRC); Permit 17877 to the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR); Permit 17916 to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arcata Field Office; Permit 18012 to the CDFW, Bay Delta Region; Permit 18712 to H.T. Harvey & Associates; Permit 18937 to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, California Sea Grant College Program (CSGCP); Permit 19121 to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), California Water Survey; and Permit 19400 to ICF consulting.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 10 (Friday, January 15, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2189-2196]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00747]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE396


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance seven new scientific research permits, and fourteen 
renewal scientific research permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Permit 1440-2R to 
the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP); Permit 13675-2R to the 
Fishery Foundation of California (FFC); Permit 13791-2R to the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Stockton Fish and Wildlife 
Office (SFWO); Permit 14516-2R to Dr. Jerry Smith, Associate Professor 
in the Department of Biological Sciences at San Jose State University; 
Permit 15215 to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), 
Fisheries Branch, Fish Health Laboratory; Permit 16274 to the Mendocino 
Redwood Company (MRC); Permit 17063 to the United States Forest Service 
(USFS), Redwood Sciences Laboratory; Permit 17077-2R to Dr. Peter 
Moyle, with the University of California at Davis, Department of 
Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology; Permit 17219 and Permit 19320 
to the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Fisheries 
Ecology Division; Permit 17272 to the USFWS, Arcata Fish and Wildlife 
Office Fisheries Program (AFWO); Permit 17351 to the Green Diamond 
Resource Company (GDRC); Permit 17396 to the USFWS, Anadromous Fish 
Restoration Program (AFRP); Permit 17867 to the Humboldt Redwood 
Company (HRC); Permit 17877 to the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR); Permit 
17916 to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arcata Field Office; 
Permit 18012 to the CDFW, Bay Delta Region; Permit 18712 to H.T. Harvey 
& Associates; Permit 18937 to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 
University of California, San Diego, California Sea Grant College 
Program (CSGCP); Permit 19121 to the United States Geological Survey 
(USGS), California Water Survey; and Permit 19400 to ICF consulting.

ADDRESSES: The approved application for each permit is available on the 
Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS), https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov Web site by searching the permit number within the 
Search Database page. The applications, issued permits and supporting 
documents are also available upon written request or by appointment: 
Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa 
Rosa, CA 95404 ph: (707) 575-6080, fax: (707) 578-3435).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Abrams, Santa Rosa, CA (ph.: 707-
575-6080), Fax: 707-578-3435, email: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The issuance of permits and permit 
modifications, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on a finding that such permits/
modifications: (1) Are applied for in good faith; (2) would not operate 
to the disadvantage of the listed species which are the subject of the 
permits; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set 
forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to take listed species is 
subject to conditions set forth in the permits. Permits and 
modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject to the ESA 
and NMFS regulations (50 CFR parts 222-226) governing listed fish and 
wildlife permits.

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened Snake River 
spring/summer-run (SR spr/sum); threatened Lower Columbia River 
(LCR);threatened California Coastal (CC); threatened Central Valley 
spring-run (CVSR); endangered Sacramento River winter-run (SRWR).
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast (SONCC); endangered Central California Coast (CCC).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened Northern California (NC); 
threatened CCC; threatened California Central Valley (CCV); threatened 
South-Central California Coast (S-CCC); endangered Southern California 
(SC).
    North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medisrostris): Threatened 
southern distinct population segment (sDPS).
    Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus): threatened sDPS.

Permits Issued

Permit 1440-2R

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (1440-2R) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 1440-2R was issued to IEP on December 
23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 1440-2R authorizes IEP to take CVSR Chinook salmon, SRWR 
Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, CCC steelhead and sDPS green sturgeon 
while conducting 11 surveys in the San Francisco Bay-Delta region. The 
studies examine the abundance, and temporal and spatial distribution of 
various life stages of pelagic fishes of management concern, including 
listed species, and their food (e.g., zooplankton) resources, along 
with environmental conditions. These IEP studies are intended to 
monitor/inform the effectiveness of water operations, aquatic habitat 
restoration, and fish management practices, thereby providing a benefit 
to listed fish. The 11 studies included are: (1) Adult Striped Bass, a 
striped bass population study; (2) Fall Midwater Trawl, which monitors 
the relative abundance of native and introduced fish species; (3) 
Sturgeon Tagging, a white sturgeon tagging program; (4) Summer Townet, 
which targets delta smelt and young-of-the-year striped bass; (5) 
Estuarine and Marine Fish, a San Francisco Bay trawl study; (6) 20mm 
Survey, a study to monitor juvenile delta smelt distribution and 
relative abundance; (7) Yolo Bypass, a research effort to understand 
fish and invertebrate use of the Yolo Bypass seasonal floodplain; (8) 
Upper Estuary Zooplankton, which targets multiple zooplankters; (9) 
Spring Kodiak Trawl, which determines the relative abundance and 
distribution of spawning delta smelt; (10) Suisun Marsh Survey, 
monitoring to determine the effects of the Suisun Marsh Salinity 
Control Gates operation on fish, including listed salmonids; and (11) 
Smelt Larva Survey, which provides distribution data for

[[Page 2190]]

longfin smelt larvae in the Delta. Listed fish may be captured by fyke 
net, gill net, midwater trawl, trammel net, hoop net, otter trawl, 
larval fish net, zooplankton net, Kodiak trawl net, rotary screw trap, 
and beach seine. The majority of captured fishes will be identified to 
species, enumerated, measured for standard length, and released. 
Juvenile SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon will be identified using the 
Delta Model Length-at-Date-of-Capture Table. Listed species will be 
processed first and released. A subsample of wild juvenile SRWR and 
CVSR Chinook salmon sized captures will be tissue sampled for genetic 
analysis, and a subsample of hatchery juvenile SRWR and CVSR Chinook 
salmon sized captures will be sacrificed (i.e., intentional directed 
mortality) in order to collect coded wire tag data for management 
purposes and for stock confirmation. To reduce handling mortality, 
investigators will conduct water to water transfers, use fish-friendly 
nets, avoid handling when possible, and will not release fish from a 
vessel under way.

Permit 13675-2R

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (13675-2R) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 13675-2R was issued to the FFC on 
December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 13675-2R authorizes the FFC annually take juvenile-CVSR 
Chinook salmon, SRWR Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, and sDPS green 
sturgeon while conducting research designed to monitor the use of the 
Fremont Landing Conservation Bank (FLCB) and the Bullock Bend 
Mitigation Bank (BBMB) at the confluence of the Sacramento and Feather 
rivers in California's Central Valley. The banks are restored areas 
that provides mitigation for impacts on listed salmonid species in the 
Central Valley. The monitoring will evaluate the use of the FLCB and 
the BBMB by listed fish, provide data directly related to success 
criteria described in the conservation/mitigation bank management plan, 
and benefit listed fish by informing adaptive management strategies 
being conducted at the FLCB and the BBMB. The researchers will use 
beach seines and fyke nets to capture listed fish. Once captured, all 
listed fish will be identified by species and released. A subsample 
will be measured for fork length. No anesthesia will be used, and no 
additional handling procedures would take place. Captured fish will 
remain completely wetted at all times to minimize stress. Any fish 
exhibiting signs of physiological stress would be immediately released. 
The researchers are not proposing to kill any of the fish they capture, 
but some may die as an unintended result of the research.

Permit 13791-2R

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (13791-2R) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 13791-2R was issued to the USFWS SFWO on 
December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 13791-2R authorizes the USFWS SFWO to annually take juvenile 
and smolt CVSR Chinook salmon, SRWR Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, and 
juvenile and larval sDPS green sturgeon while conducting seven research 
studies. The purpose of the studies is to evaluate/monitor the: (1) 
Abundance, temporal and spatial distribution, and survival of salmonids 
and other fishes in the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and the 
San Francisco Estuary (SFE); (2) occurrence and habitat use of fishes, 
especially early life history stages, within the Liberty Island and 
Cache Slough Complex, (3) relative gear efficiencies for all IEP fish 
survey nets, and also the distribution of delta smelt; (4) littoral 
habitat use of juvenile Chinook salmon within the Delta; (5) the effect 
of projected water operations on delta smelt; (6) length at date race 
criteria of SRWR Chinook salmon sized juvenile Chinook salmon; and (7) 
SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon floodplain usage in the Yolo bypass. These 
studies will result in capture/handle/release take, tissue sampling, 
and/or intentional directed mortality. Intentional directed mortality 
will apply to only juvenile hatchery adipose clipped salmonids and 
larval green sturgeon. Capture methods will include Kodiak trawl, 
midwater trawl, beach seine, zooplankton net, larval net, gill net, 
fyke net, purse seine, and boat electrofishing. All listed fish except 
adipose fin clipped SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon will be immediately 
collected from the sampling gears, placed in containers filled with 
river water collected at the location being sampled, processed, held in 
a recovery container filled with aerated river water, and subsequently 
released at the sampled location. A fin tissue sample will be collected 
from a subset of natural origin SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon for stock 
determination. The purpose of intentional mortality of hatchery origin 
(adipose clipped) SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon will be to collect coded 
wire tags (CWT), and up ten green sturgeon larvae will be killed during 
larval fish collections in order to identify the contents of the larval 
trawl net, which can only be achieved in the lab. The data provided by 
these studies will provide natural resource managers real-time 
biological and population data on fishes to evaluate the effect of 
water operations and fish management practices within the SFE, thereby 
benefiting listed fish.

Permit 14516-2R

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (14516-2R) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 14516-2R was issued to Dr. Jerry Smith 
on December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 14516-2R authorizes Dr. Jerry Smith, Associate Professor in 
the Department of Biological Sciences at San Jose State University to 
annually take multiple life stages of CCC coho salmon and CCC steelhead 
while conducting two studies: (1) Stream and lagoon surveys in Gazos 
Creek, Waddell Creek, and Scott Creek; and (2) lagoon surveys in 
Pescadero Creek Lagoon and San Gregorio Lagoon. The purpose of the 
studies is to: (1) Provide an annual index of relative abundance for 
juvenile listed salmonids, provide data on lagoon and upstream habitat 
utilization and growth, and provide an assessment of trends and year to 
year response to variations in habitat conditions; and (2) determine 
juvenile listed salmonid abundance and growth, and provide adult life 
history information in the lagoons. Capture methods will include 
backpack electrofishing, and beach seine. Captured salmonids will be 
measured, and a subset of juvenile captures and all adults will have 
scale samples taken, before being released at the capture location. A 
subsample of juvenile steelhead will also be marked via caudal fin clip 
to perform a mark-recapture analysis. Scale and fin tissue samples will 
be taken from adult fish carcasses. Captured live fish will be held in 
flow-through live cars, covered with a towel to provide shade and cover 
to calm fish. Adult fish will be processed and released first. In 
lagoons, live cars will be kept in deeper water with cooler 
temperatures and less turbidity to prevent warming above ambient 
temperatures or a decrease in dissolved oxygen. The researchers are not 
proposing to kill any of the fish they capture, but a small number may 
die as an unintended result of the activities.

Permit 15215

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit (15215)

[[Page 2191]]

was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). 
Permit 15215 was issued to CDFW on December 23, 2015 and expires on 
December 31, 2020.
    Permit 15215 authorizes the CDFW, Fisheries Branch, Fish Health 
Laboratory to take endangered SRWR Chinook salmon, CCC coho salmon and 
SC steelhead for a period of five years. The purpose of the research is 
to investigate wild fish kills/disease outbreaks that could occur in 
California that involve federally listed endangered species. The 
research will benefit the listed species by providing fisheries 
managers with the necessary information to help alleviate future 
outbreaks of fish disease through proper management of fishery and 
water resources. The research will only be conducted in the event of 
elevated and unexplained endangered species mortality or the presence 
of clinically diseased animals. Given such a triggering event, 
endangered fish will be collected in any of the state waters of 
California in which a disease outbreak/fish die-off occurred. Adult and 
juvenile endangered fish will be collected by hand or dip-net, as only 
dead and/or moribund fish, or fish displaying clinical signs of 
disease, will be collected. Moribund or clinically diseased fish will 
be euthanized (i.e., intentional directed mortality). Trained CDFW 
pathologists and veterinarians will assess moribund or diseased fish 
prior to euthanasia, and only fish that will likely die regardless of 
the actions proposed by CDFW will be euthanized. Necropsies will be 
performed on dead and euthanized captured fish either in the laboratory 
or in the field, fish will be examined for signs of parasitic and 
bacterial infections, and fin and/or internal tissues will be collected 
for virology, histopathology, immunological testing and/or DNA testing.

Permit 16274

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (16274) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 16274 was issued to the MRC on December 
23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 16274 authorizes the MRC to take CC Chinook salmon, SONCC 
coho salmon, CCC coho salmon, NC steelhead, and CCC steelhead while 
conducting research and monitoring to assess juvenile and adult 
populations of salmonids and their distribution in streams within MRC's 
property. Research will be conducted in several watersheds within 
Mendocino and northern Sonoma counties. The data gathered will benefit 
listed fish by informing a better understanding of salmonid 
distribution, abundance, and habitat utilization in these areas. 
Juvenile salmonids will be captured by backpack electrofishing, 
anesthetized, weighed, measured to fork length, and released. A 
subsample of juvenile salmonids will be fin clipped to mark and to 
collect tissue samples for genetic analysis. Live adults and/or 
juveniles will be observed via snorkel surveys and spawning surveys. 
Carcasses will be measured and then marked to ensure duplicate 
measurements were not made. Outmigrant trapping will be conducted using 
a rotary screw trap or weir/pipe trap; captured outmigrants will be 
anesthetized, measured, and released. A subsample of outmigrants will 
be marked (dye, elastomer, or fin clip) or Passive Integrated 
Transponder (PIT) tagged. All anesthetized fish will be allowed to 
recover in a bucket containing aerated natal water prior to being 
released back into the stream from which they were taken. The 
researchers are not proposing to kill any of the fish they capture, but 
a small number may die as an unintended result of the activities.

Permit 17063

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (17063) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 17063 was issued to the USFS, Redwood 
Sciences Laboratory on December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 
2020.
    Permit 170963 authorizes the USFS, Redwood Sciences Laboratory to 
perform eight studies that together will take CC Chinook salmon, SONCC 
coho salmon, CCC coho salmon, NC steelhead, CC steelhead, and SC 
steelhead. The purposes of the eight studies are: (1) To investigate 
the invasion history of non-listed speckled dace in the Van Duzen River 
and the Eel River, (2) to investigate the invasion history of non-
listed California roach in the Van Duzen River and the Eel River, (3) 
to develop an Individual Based Modeling (IBM) approach to predict the 
effects of management practices on salmonid population in Northern 
California, (4) to link abiotic factors (e.g., distance to spawning 
ground) to the expression of an anadromous or resident life history for 
O. mykiss in the Eel River, (5) to link the distribution and movement 
of watershed products (e.g., wood, sediment, and water) in tributaries 
and mainstem channels to fish diversity and abundance in Northern 
California rivers, (6) to provide managers with insights into the 
status and relatedness of Sacramento sucker populations in northern 
California, (7) to document the speckled dace invasion of the Mad 
River, and (8) to provide managers with a tool to predict the effects 
of management decisions on Santa Ana suckers in the Santa Ana River. 
Listed adult and juvenile salmonids will be observed via snorkel 
surveys. Listed juvenile salmonids will be captured via backpack and/or 
boat electrofishing for all eight studies, and also via beach seine 
and/or fyke net for Study 6 (i.e., Sacramento sucker relatedness and 
distribution). For most studies, listed salmonids that are captured 
will be anesthetized, measured and/or weighed, and released. Captured 
fishes will be held in multiple live cars to prevent overcrowding and 
to maintain acceptable water quality conditions. In addition to 
capturing, handling and releasing fish, Study 4 (i.e. factors affecting 
the expression of an anadromous versus resident life history in O. 
mykiss) will also include intentional directed mortality for otolith 
microchemical analyses. A maximum of four O. mykiss will be sacrificed 
from each of seventy sample streams distributed throughout the Eel 
River, which will include both anadromous (listed as threatened) and 
resident (non-listed) life history forms.

Permit 17077-2R

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (17077-2R) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 17077-2R was issued to Dr. Peter Moyle 
on December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 17077-2R authorizes Dr. Peter Moyle, with the University of 
California at Davis, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation 
Biology, to take listed species while conducting research designed to 
develop a better understanding of how physical habitat, flow and other 
factors interact to maintain assemblages of native and non-native 
aquatic species in the upper SFE. This study will provide knowledge 
about food web and habitat support for native fishes, including listed 
anadromous fish, which are suspected of utilizing such habitats during 
development. While listed fish are not the target species for this 
study, the study will benefit listed fish by improving management 
decisions regarding creating additional habitat, and helping to 
anticipate the effects of drought and climate change on food and 
habitat availability. Sampling will be conducted in three distinct 
regions of the SFE: (1) The Cache-Lindsey complex, (2) the Sherman Lake 
complex

[[Page 2192]]

and (3) Suisun Marsh, and will take juvenile and adult CVSR Chinook 
salmon, SRWR Chinook Salmon, CCV steelhead, and sDPS green sturgeon. 
Capture methods will be similar for each of these regions, and will 
include otter trawling, beach seining and boat electrofishing, however 
electrofishing will be suspended immediately upon encountering a listed 
species. All sampled fish will be placed in a bucket with ambient water 
and an aerator, examined for responsiveness and returned to the water 
as soon as possible with a minimum of handling, after identification 
and length estimates were made. Juvenile SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon 
will be identified using published size-at-date criteria. Only adult 
green sturgeon captures will receive additional processing beyond 
identification and measuring for length. Adult green sturgeon will be 
scanned for the presence of a PIT tag, and a soft pelvic fin tissue 
sample will be collected. The researchers are not proposing to kill any 
of the fish they capture, but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of the activities.

Permit 17219

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (17219) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 17219 was issued to the NMFS SWFSC, 
Fisheries Ecology Division on December 23, 2015 and expires on December 
31, 2020.
    Permit 17219 authorizes the NMFS SWFSC, Fisheries Ecology Division 
to conduct research throughout California that will include take of 
SRWR Chinook salmon, CVSR Chinook salmon, SONCC coho salmon, CCC coho 
salmon, NC steelhead, CCC steelhead, CCV steelhead, S-CCC steelhead, SC 
steelhead, and juvenile sDPS green sturgeon. The research will benefit 
listed fish by supporting conservation and management of listed 
anadromous salmonids and green sturgeon in California by directly 
addressing information needs identified by NMFS and other agencies. FED 
studies address priority topics identified in NMFS technical recovery 
team reports, NMFS recovery plans, joint programs such as the 
California Coastal Monitoring Program developed by NMFS and CDFW, and 
state programs such as the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program. 
Research objectives of specific studies include: (1) Estimating 
population abundance and dynamics; (2) evaluating factors affecting 
growth, survival, and life-history; (3) assessing life-stage specific 
habitat use and movement; (4) collecting data necessary to construct 
various types of models (e.g., population, life-cycle, bioenergetics, 
and habitat-use models); (5) determining genetic structure of 
populations; (6) evaluating the effects of activities such as water 
management and habitat restoration on populations; and (7) developing 
improved sampling and monitoring methods.
    Research and take will involve various life stages (juvenile, 
smolt, adult, and carcass). Listed fish will be observed during 
spawning surveys, and captured by electrofishing, beach seine, rotary 
screw trap, and/or hook-and-line. The majority of captured fish will be 
anesthetized, measured to fork length, and released. A subsample of 
captured fish will be further sampled by collection of scales, fin 
clips, gill clips or stomach contents; and/or marking or tagging 
including fin tissue clips, PIT tags, elastomer tags, acoustic tags, or 
radio tags. Species care after capture will include use of aerated 
buckets or live cars for holding and recovery, and minimization of 
handling time. The majority of fish captured will be released alive at 
their point of capture following recovery from handling. However, in 
limited cases some fish will be: (1) Retained in enclosures in streams 
for short-term growth and survival experiments and then released, or 
(2) euthanized for analysis of otoliths and/or parasitological/
pathological studies of parasites and diseases of wild juvenile 
steelhead.

Permit 17272

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (17272) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 17272 was issued to the USFWS AFWO on 
December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 17272 authorizes the USFWS AFWO to take multiple life stages 
of hatchery and wild SONCC coho salmon via monitoring and research 
activities in Northwest California. The purposes of the five studies 
included are to monitor: (1) Chinook salmon fry production and disease 
incidence in the Klamath River below Iron Gate dam, (2) Chinook salmon 
escapement in the mainstem Klamath River below the Shasta River 
confluence, (3) Chinook salmon escapement in the mainstem Klamath River 
from Iron Gate dam to the Shasta River confluence, (4) coho salmon 
escapement between Iron Gate Dam and the Indian Creek confluence, and 
(5) long-term salmonid disease incidence in the lower Klamath River. 
Trained AFWO crews will conduct redd surveys, on foot and from rafts, 
which could observe/harass spawning SONCC coho salmon. Crews will spend 
minimal time around redds and avoid walking on redds. Trained AFWO 
crews will also capture juvenile SONCC coho salmon using rotary-screw 
traps, frame nets, and beach seines. Juvenile coho salmon will be held 
in aerated holding buckets filled with fresh river water then 
anesthetized, measured for fork length, weighed, and released back into 
the river. There will be some intentional mortality of hatchery 
juvenile coho salmon for disease analysis. Aside from these hatchery 
fish, the researchers are not proposing to kill any of the fish they 
capture, but a small number may die as an unintended result of the 
activities. The studies will benefit listed coho salmon by informing 
the AFWO goal to develop conservation strategies for aquatic resources 
and to evaluate the success of aquatic habitat restoration efforts that 
will lead to the recovery and conservation of fish populations and 
fisheries in northern California.

Permit 17351

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (17351) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 17351 was issued to the GDRC on December 
23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 17351 authorizes the GDRC to take listed salmonids while 
conducting research and monitoring under an existing Aquatic Habitat 
Conservation Plan (AHCP). The AHCP, which was approved in 2007 and is 
valid until 2057, identifies potential threats to three listed fish 
species that may result from GDRC's timber harvest activities and 
describes minimization and mitigation measures and effectiveness 
monitoring to address potential threats. The requested take limits will 
allow for implementation of monitoring and research activities in 
several northern California watersheds including the Winchuk River, 
Smith River, Lower Klamath basin tributaries, Mad River, Little River, 
several Humboldt Bay tributaries, and Eel River. The three species 
identified which will be taken as a direct result of this monitoring 
are CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho salmon, and NC steelhead. Research 
and take will involve various life stages (fry, juvenile, smolt, adult, 
and carcass). Trained GDRC crews will observe listed salmonids during 
snorkel surveys and spawning surveys. Crews will avoid walking in 
suitable spawning habitats (e.g., riffle crests). Listed salmonids will 
be captured by various capture methods including backpack 
electrofishing, kick net sampling, rotary screw trapping, v-notch weir 
outmigrant trapping, and

[[Page 2193]]

minnow trapping. Most captured fish will be measured and released. A 
subsample of captured fish will be anesthetized, then marked via dorsal 
fin clip, fin tissue sampled, scale sampled, and/or PIT tagged. 
Anesthetized individuals will be allowed to recover in mesh containers 
placed in the stream channel prior to release. Data collected will be 
used to document long-term population trends and better understand the 
potential impacts on the covered species and their habitats that may 
result from AHCP covered activities. The researchers are not proposing 
to kill any of the fish they capture, but a small number may die as an 
unintended result of the activities.

Permit 17396

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit (17396) was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2015 
(80 FR 45197). Permit 17396 was issued to the USFWS AFRP on December 
23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 17396 authorizes the USFWS AFRP to take listed fish while 
conducting research designed to: (1) Provide data necessary to evaluate 
the effectiveness of AFRP restoration projects, including appraisal of 
spawning gravel augmentation, in-channel and floodplain habitat 
enhancement actions, and water allocation/flow regime alteration 
actions; and (2) provide reconnaissance-level population and biological 
data on contemporary anadromous fish population patterns within the 
Central Valley of California, in order to prioritize and select future 
restoration projects to benefit anadromous salmonids. All AFRP 
restoration monitoring projects will serve to benefit anadromous 
salmonids by providing data on restoration project effectiveness, and 
providing valuable information relating to adaptive management 
procedures. Take of listed species including various life stages of 
CVSR Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, and sDPS green sturgeon will result 
from activities in the following five projects: (1) Bobcat flat 
restoration effectiveness monitoring in the lower Tuolumne River; (2) 
adult sturgeon acoustic telemetry in the lower San Joaquin basin; (3) 
San Joaquin River sturgeon spawning habitat assessment; (4) steelhead 
sampling and acoustic tracking in the lower Stanislaus, Tuolumne and 
Merced Rivers; and (5) fish reconnaissance in the San Joaquin River 
system. Observe/harass take will result from snorkel surveys. Capture 
methods will include beach seine, trammel nets, gill nets, fyke nets, 
hook-and-line, egg mats, benthic d-nets, and boat and backpack 
electrofishing. The majority of captured listed fish will be handled 
and released; a subsample of captures will be anesthetized, scale 
sampled, fin clipped (to mark and to collect fin tissue for genetic 
analysis), acoustic tagged, and/or subject to intentional directed 
mortality. Green sturgeon eggs (n = 100) and larvae (n = 5) will be 
intentionally sacrificed, which will be necessary to provide voucher 
tissue specimens, and will benefit the species by providing critical 
information on green sturgeon spawning habitat. To minimize 
physiological stress, all sturgeon will be held in a net pen submerged 
in river or with flowing water through their gills while waiting to be 
handled. All listed salmonids will be immediately collected from the 
sampling gears, placed in five gallon buckets filled with fresh river 
water from the location being sampled, processed, held in another 
container filled with fresh river water for recovery, and subsequently 
released in the sampled location. The new information on these species 
generated by these projects will help prioritize future restoration 
projects, thus benefiting listed species.

Permit 17867

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (17867) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 17867 was issued to the HRC on December 
23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 17867 authorizes the HRC to take juvenile and adult CC 
Chinook salmon, SONCC coho salmon and NC steelhead while conducting 
research and monitoring that satisfies two objectives: (1) To comply 
with CDFW's Restorable Class I policy by sampling reaches through 
snorkel and electrofishing methods to identify Class I habitat within 
proposed timber harvest plans, and (2) to monitor fish occupancy trends 
at the reach, sub basin, watershed and HRC property level over time by 
repeated snorkel surveys at index and randomly selected reaches. Adult 
and juvenile salmonids will be observed during snorkel surveys, and 
juvenile salmonids will be captured by backpack electrofishing. Snorkel 
surveys will be the preferred method of detecting presence/absence of 
fish species. Captured fish will be identified, and transported 
upstream of the project area. All captured specimens will be kept in 
aerated buckets, observed closely, and not released until fully 
recovered. The monitoring will help to achieve HRC's fisheries 
program's general goal, which is to determine the occurrence, 
distribution, population and habitat conditions of anadromous fishes on 
HRC lands as well as to monitor, protect, restore and enhance the 
anadromous fishery resources in watersheds owned by HRC. The 
researchers are not proposing to kill any of the fish they capture, but 
a small number may die as an unintended result of the activities.

Permit 17877

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (17877) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 17877 was issued to the BOR on December 
23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 17877 authorizes the BOR to take juvenile, smolt, adult and 
carcasses of SONCC coho salmon via: (1) Observation/harassment by way 
of snorkel surveys, hand netting that specifically targets other 
species, and spawning surveys; and (2) capture by rotary screw trap, 
boat electrofishing, hook-and-line, beach seine, fyke net, or minnow 
trapping. The BOR applied for this permit as a contingent of the 
Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP), an inter-agency partnership 
of the BOR, USFWS, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Yurok Tribe, CDFW, Trinity 
County, USFS, NMFS, and the California Department of Water Resources. 
The TRRP benefits listed species by conducting large-scale channel 
restoration and habitat restoration activities in the Trinity River 
mainstem and watershed as a means of restoring declining fishery 
resources. The following six specific studies are included: (1) Trinity 
River juvenile salmonid outmigrant monitoring, (2) juvenile Chinook 
salmon density monitoring, (3) Trinity River Chinook salmon redd and 
carcass survey, (4) Trinity River invasive brown trout predation on 
coho investigation, (5) Trinity River juvenile coho salmon ecology 
study, and (6) watershed rehabilitation/research. Fin tissue samples 
will be collected from carcasses. The majority of captured juvenile 
coho salmon will be anesthetized, measured to fork length and released, 
but a subsample will also be PIT tagged. Tagged fish will be held in 
recovery pens post tagging to monitor and enhance post-tagging health. 
The researchers are not proposing to kill any of the fish they capture, 
but a small number may die as an unintended result of the activities.

Permit 17916

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal

[[Page 2194]]

(17916) was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 
45197). Permit 17916 was issued to the BLM on December 23, 2015 and 
expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 17916 authorizes the BLM to monitor the effects of current 
management actions related to the Northwest Forest Plan's Aquatic 
Conservation Strategy on anadromous salmonids and their habitats. In 
order to monitor land management actions and implement the Northwest 
Forest Plan in northern California, BLM needs to obtain updated 
information on fish distribution and habitat. Sampling will occur in 
various watersheds, including the Mattole River, Eel River, Lost Coast 
region tributaries to the Pacific Ocean, and Humboldt Bay tributaries. 
Take of CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho salmon, and NC steelhead will 
result from this monitoring and research. The preponderance of 
requested take will result from spawning surveys, snorkel surveys, and 
presence/absence surveys from the bank, all of which will result in 
observe/harass take of juvenile and/or adult salmonids. Capture methods 
that will take juvenile salmonids include backpack electrofishing and 
beach seine. A small number of salmonid fry may also be captured during 
kick net activities intended to sample invertebrates. Electrofishing 
will be used only when stream conditions prohibit less invasive 
sampling methods. Personnel handling fish will have wet hands and 
experience in fish handling. After length measurements were complete, 
fish will be placed in a bucket of freshwater for longer than 30 
minutes to allow for recovery prior to being released. Recovering fish 
will be kept in cool, shaded, aerated water and will not be 
overcrowded. This research will benefit listed fish by informing 
adaptive management strategies intended to aid in the recovery of at-
risk anadromous salmonids. The researchers are not proposing to kill 
any of the fish they capture, but a small number may die as an 
unintended result of the activities.

Permit 18012

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit renewal (18012) was published in the Federal Register on July 
29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 18012 was issued to the CDFW, Bay Delta 
Region (Region III) on December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 
2020.
    Permit 18012 authorizes the CDFW, Bay Delta Region to take listed 
species while conducting two research projects, the Watershed 
Restoration Project (WRP) and the Fisheries Management Project (FMP), 
designed to assess and restore the productivity of CC Chinook salmon, 
CCC coho salmon, NC steelhead, CCC steelhead, and S-CCC steelhead in 
Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey 
counties in north central California. Program staff will accomplish 
this goal by conducting habitat and salmonid surveys to determine 
potential limiting factors and stock status in order to identify the 
specific measures and actions needed to protect and increase production 
of listed salmonids. The authorized studies include: (1) Juvenile 
salmonid occurrence, distribution and habitat monitoring; (2) adult 
salmonid occurrence, passage, and distribution; (3) spawning ground 
surveys; (4) life cycle station monitoring; and (5) juvenile steelhead 
lagoon beach seining. Listed fish will be observed/harassed during 
snorkel surveys, spawning surveys, carcass surveys, and by the use of 
electronic counting stations (i.e., DIDSON camera, Vaki Riverwatcher 
and/or video weir). Listed salmonids will be captured using backpack 
electrofishing, beach seining, rotary screw traps, fyke/pipe traps, and 
potentially adults may be captured using a resistance board weir. The 
majority of juvenile captures will be handled (measured for fork length 
and weighed), and released. A subset of juvenile salmonid captures will 
be anesthetized, fin tissue sampled to collect tissue for genetic 
analysis, scale sampled, marked with an upper caudal fin clip, and/or 
PIT tagged. Only healthy fish with no signs of stress or injury will be 
subjected to marking or tagging. All fish will be allowed to recover 
fully and will be observed carefully for injury prior to release. 
Captured adult salmonids will be handled (i.e., identified, measured, 
weighed, and scale and tissue samples taken), tagged (bi-colored Floy 
tags and/or opercular-hole-punched) and released upstream of the weir. 
All fish handled will be held in clean and decontaminated containers 
that are supplied with cool, aerated water and will be released back 
into the stream reach from which they were collected after recovery. 
Implementation of these activities under the WRP and the FMP will 
benefit listed species by informing recommendations on proposed habitat 
restoration projects and by determining the impacts of various 
management actions. The researchers are not proposing to kill any of 
the fish they capture, but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of the activities.

Permit 18712

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit (18712) was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2015 
(80 FR 45197). Permit 18712 was issued to H.T. Harvey & Associates on 
December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 18712 authorizes H.T. Harvey & Associates to take juvenile 
and smolt CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho salmon, CCC coho salmon, NC 
steelhead, and adult sDPS eulachon while completing a project that is 
intended to meet three Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring goals set 
by the MPA Monitoring Enterprise. The three monitoring goals are: (1) 
To assess trends in the condition of ecosystems inside and outside of 
MPA's, (2) to evaluate the effects of specific MPA design criteria such 
as MPA size and distance between MPAs, and (3) to evaluate the effect 
of visitors on MPAs. The project will contribute to the goals of the 
monitoring enterprise by describing the baseline biological community 
in four northern California estuaries: (1) Mad River Estuary in 
Humboldt County, (2) South Humboldt Bay State Marine Recreational 
Management Area in Humboldt County, (3) Ten Mile Estuary State Marine 
Conservation Area (SMCA) in Mendocino County, and (4) Big River Estuary 
SMCA in Mendocino County. Beach seines and fyke nets will be used to 
capture fish whereby take (i.e., capture/handle/release) of listed 
salmonids will occur. Handling will consist of identifying and 
measuring fish to fork length. To ensure that handled fish will 
experience minimal adverse effects as a result of the sampling process, 
fish will be allowed to recover briefly either in live wells or in 
shaded, aerated buckets. The researchers are not proposing to kill any 
of the fish they capture, but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of the activities.

Permit 18937

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit (18937) was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2015 
(80 FR 45197). Permit 18937 was issued to the Scripps Institution of 
Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CSGCP on December 
23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 18937 authorizes the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 
University of California, San Diego, CSGCP to annually take listed CC 
Chinook salmon, CCC coho salmon, and CCC steelhead while monitoring the 
status

[[Page 2195]]

and trends of listed salmonids in the Russian River watershed. The 
CSGCP will collect data to estimate population metrics such as 
abundance, survival, growth, and spatial distribution of multiple life 
stages of salmonids, and relate them to different recovery actions 
including hatchery releases, habitat enhancement projects, and stream 
flow improvement projects. Data collection will be designed to meet 
four specific study objectives: (1) Evaluation of the Russian River 
Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program, (2) implementation of the 
California Coastal Salmonid Monitoring Plan, (3) comparing juvenile 
coho salmon oversummer survival with stream flow, and (4) evaluation of 
habitat enhancement projects. The four studies will provide resource 
agencies with valuable information that will help guide future 
decisions regarding recovery actions. Fish populations will be 
monitored in many tributaries of the Russian River watershed and 
several methods that could observe/harass and/or capture fish will be 
employed, including: Snorkel surveys, spawning surveys, redd surveys, 
downstream migrant trapping (pipe/funnel trap), minnow trapping, 
operation of PIT tag detection systems (i.e., PIT tag arrays and PIT 
tag wand surveys), and backpack electrofishing. Handling of live fish 
captured in traps or during electrofishing surveys will include 
anesthetization, measuring for fork length, scanning for CWT and PIT 
tags, fin tissue sampling, scale sampling, PIT tagging, and/or gastric 
lavage. Adult salmonid carcasses encountered during spawning surveys 
will be scanned for PIT tags, measured, fin clipped, scale sampled, and 
otoliths will be extracted. All live fish will be released back into 
the stream following recovery in aerated buckets of cold water. 
Specific measures that will be taken to reduce the risk of injury or 
mortality to fish include minimizing the time that fish are handled, 
placing potential predators in separate holding buckets, running 
aerators in buckets, avoiding overcrowding in buckets, changing water 
in the anesthesia bucket frequently, placing a thermometer in holding 
buckets and replacing water frequently if the temperatures are rising, 
wetting measuring boards and weigh pans, processing listed species 
first, checking traps at least once per day and more frequently in high 
flow or windy conditions, and placing flow deflectors inside the trap 
box to provide refugia for fish. The researchers are not proposing to 
kill any of the fish they capture, but a small number may die as an 
unintended result of the activities.

Permit 19121

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit (19121) was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2015 
(80 FR 45197). Permit 19121 was issued to the USGS, California Water 
Survey on December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 19121 authorizes the USGS, California Water Survey take of 
listed species associated with completing two main objectives: (1) To 
examine research applications of the SmeltCam that have been developed 
and coordinated with the IEP, and (2) to provide fisheries science 
support for the BOR's compliance with Biological Opinions. The studies 
are intended to: (1) Provide new quantitative data addressing the 
potential benefits of habitat restoration to the SFE and Delta 
ecosystem and its native fish populations, and (2) determine the 
vertical and lateral distribution of delta smelt, and the continued 
evaluation and application of SmeltCam technology for studies of delta 
smelt and other fishes. The results of these studies are expected to 
provide net benefits to listed species by improving our understanding 
of their ecology and habitat use, and by informing the development of 
new research tools that can guide management decisions and habitat 
restoration actions. Sampling will be conducted in Suisun Bay, and will 
take multiple life stages of CVSR Chinook salmon, SRWR Chinook salmon, 
CCV steelhead, and sDPS green sturgeon. Capture methods will include 
beach seine, fyke trap, larval net, otter trawl, midwater trawl, boat 
electrofishing, set line, and gill net. All sampling will follow 
methods and protocols designed to minimize take of listed species while 
conducting research and monitoring. For example, sampling gear such as 
gill nets will be watched closely to monitor the status of any fishes 
entangled in the net. Set times will be short (approximately one hour), 
and nets will be set in habitats that listed fish are unlikely to 
inhabit. Listed salmonids captured in the course of sampling will be 
identified, carefully measured for length and released. Green sturgeon 
will be anesthetized using MS-222, scanned for a presence of a PIT tag, 
PIT tagged if no PIT tag is present, tissue sampled, and allowed to 
recover prior to release. All fishes collected in any sampling gear 
will be handled as gently as possible to facilitate safe release back 
to the water. The researchers are not proposing to kill any of the fish 
they capture, but a small number may die as an unintended result of the 
activities.

Permit 19320

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit (19320) was published in the Federal Register on April 8, 2015 
(80 FR 18820). Permit 19320 was issued to the NMFS SWFSC, Fisheries 
Ecology Division on December 1, 2015 and expires on October 29, 2020.
    Permit 19320 authorizes the NMFS SWFSC, Fisheries Ecology Division 
to annually take sub-adult and juvenile listed salmon and steelhead for 
a period of five years. The permit will authorize research designed to 
(1) determine the inter-annual and seasonal variability in growth, 
feeding, and energy status among juvenile salmonids in the coastal 
ocean off northern and central California; (2) determine migration 
paths and spatial distribution among genetically distinct salmonid 
stocks during their early ocean residence; (3) characterize the 
biological and physical oceanographic features associated with juvenile 
salmon ocean habitat from the shore to the continental shelf break; (4) 
identify potential links between coastal geography, oceanographic 
features, and salmon distribution patterns; and (5) identify and test 
ecological indices for salmon survival. This research will benefit 
listed fish by informing comprehensive lifecycle models that 
incorporate both freshwater and marine conditions and recognize the 
relationship between the two habitats; it will also identify and 
predict sources of salmon mortality at sea and thereby help managers 
develop indices of salmonid survival in the marine environment.
    Listed fish will be captured primarily via surface trawling, 
however midwater trawling and beach seining will be used occasionally. 
Sub-adult salmonids (i.e., fish larger than 250 mm) that survive 
capture will have fin tissue and scale samples taken, and then be 
released. Any subadult salmonids that do not survive capture, and all 
juvenile salmonids (i.e., fish larger than 80 mm but less than 250 mm) 
will be lethally sampled (i.e., intentional directed mortality) in 
order to collect (1) otoliths for age and growth studies; (2) coded 
wire tags for origin and age of hatchery fish; (3) muscle tissue for 
stable isotopes and/or lipid assays; (4) stomachs and contents for diet 
studies; and (5) other tissues including the heart, liver, intestines, 
pyloric caeca, and kidney for special studies upon request.

Permit 19400

    A notice of receipt of an application for scientific research 
permit (19400) was published in the Federal Register

[[Page 2196]]

on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit 19400 was issued to ICF 
consulting on December 23, 2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.
    Permit 19400 authorizes ICF consulting to take juvenile CVSR 
Chinook salmon and SRWR Chinook salmon while conducting a study to 
investigate if longfin smelt in San Pablo Bay shift their vertical 
distribution under different environmental and biological conditions. 
Although this study principally targets longfin smelt, ESA listed 
Chinook salmon will be encountered during sampling. ICF will collect 
data that will be useful to local researchers on captured and/or 
photographed listed Chinook salmon, including abundance, length, and 
potentially tissue samples. Fish will be sampled using a midwater 
trawl, however the majority of tows will be conducted with only a video 
device (i.e., SmeltCam) acting as the codend. Therefore, the majority 
of take will be observe/harass. The fish camera image program will be 
able to determine the length, and thereby an estimate of the race/run/
listing status, of salmon that pass through the net. In order to verify 
the results of the SmeltCam, some tows will be conducted with both the 
video device and a traditional codend. Physically captured juvenile 
salmonids will be placed in a bucket with aerated water, handled (i.e., 
measured to fork length and possibly fin tissue sampled for genetic 
analysis), and released. The researchers are not proposing to kill any 
of the fish they capture.

    Dated: January 12, 2016.
Perry F. Gayaldo,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00747 Filed 1-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices                                            2189

                                                  issued a FONSI in accordance with                       USFWS, Anadromous Fish Restoration                     Coast (SONCC); endangered Central
                                                  NEPA and NOAA Administrative Order                      Program (AFRP); Permit 17867 to the                    California Coast (CCC).
                                                  216–6. NMFS’ EA and FONSI for this                      Humboldt Redwood Company (HRC);                          Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened
                                                  activity are available upon request (see                Permit 17877 to the Bureau of                          Northern California (NC); threatened
                                                  ADDRESSES).                                             Reclamation (BOR); Permit 17916 to the                 CCC; threatened California Central
                                                                                                          Bureau of Land Management (BLM),                       Valley (CCV); threatened South-Central
                                                  Authorization
                                                                                                          Arcata Field Office; Permit 18012 to the               California Coast (S–CCC); endangered
                                                    NMFS has issued an Incidental                         CDFW, Bay Delta Region; Permit 18712                   Southern California (SC).
                                                  Harassment Authorization to Lamont-                     to H.T. Harvey & Associates; Permit                      North American green sturgeon
                                                  Doherty for the take of marine                          18937 to the Scripps Institution of                    (Acipenser medisrostris): Threatened
                                                  mammals, incidental to conducting a                     Oceanography, University of California,                southern distinct population segment
                                                  marine seismic survey in the South                      San Diego, California Sea Grant College                (sDPS).
                                                  Atlantic Ocean January through March                    Program (CSGCP); Permit 19121 to the                     Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus):
                                                  2016.                                                   United States Geological Survey                        threatened sDPS.
                                                    Dated: January 11, 2016.                              (USGS), California Water Survey; and                   Permits Issued
                                                  Perry F. Gayaldo,                                       Permit 19400 to ICF consulting.
                                                  Deputy Director, Office of Protected                    ADDRESSES: The approved application                    Permit 1440–2R
                                                  Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.           for each permit is available on the                       A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–00660 Filed 1–14–16; 8:45 am]             Applications and Permits for Protected                 for scientific research permit renewal
                                                  BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                  Species (APPS), https://                               (1440–2R) was published in the Federal
                                                                                                          apps.nmfs.noaa.gov Web site by                         Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).
                                                                                                          searching the permit number within the                 Permit 1440–2R was issued to IEP on
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  Search Database page. The applications,                December 23, 2015 and expires on
                                                                                                          issued permits and supporting                          December 31, 2020.
                                                  National Oceanic and Atmospheric                        documents are also available upon                         Permit 1440–2R authorizes IEP to take
                                                  Administration                                          written request or by appointment:                     CVSR Chinook salmon, SRWR Chinook
                                                  RIN 0648–XE396                                          Protected Resources Division, NMFS,                    salmon, CCV steelhead, CCC steelhead
                                                                                                          777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa                     and sDPS green sturgeon while
                                                  Endangered and Threatened Species;                      Rosa, CA 95404 ph: (707) 575–6080, fax:                conducting 11 surveys in the San
                                                  Take of Anadromous Fish                                 (707) 578–3435).                                       Francisco Bay-Delta region. The studies
                                                  AGENCY:   National Marine Fisheries                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff                  examine the abundance, and temporal
                                                  Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                    Abrams, Santa Rosa, CA (ph.: 707–575–                  and spatial distribution of various life
                                                  Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                      6080), Fax: 707–578–3435, email:                       stages of pelagic fishes of management
                                                  Commerce.                                               Jeff.Abrams@noaa.gov).                                 concern, including listed species, and
                                                  ACTION: Issuance seven new scientific                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                         their food (e.g., zooplankton) resources,
                                                  research permits, and fourteen renewal                  issuance of permits and permit                         along with environmental conditions.
                                                  scientific research permits.                            modifications, as required by the                      These IEP studies are intended to
                                                                                                          Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16                     monitor/inform the effectiveness of
                                                  SUMMARY:   Notice is hereby given that                  U.S.C. 1531–1543) (ESA), is based on a                 water operations, aquatic habitat
                                                  NMFS has issued Permit 1440–2R to the                   finding that such permits/modifications:               restoration, and fish management
                                                  Interagency Ecological Program (IEP);                   (1) Are applied for in good faith; (2)                 practices, thereby providing a benefit to
                                                  Permit 13675–2R to the Fishery                          would not operate to the disadvantage                  listed fish. The 11 studies included are:
                                                  Foundation of California (FFC); Permit                  of the listed species which are the                    (1) Adult Striped Bass, a striped bass
                                                  13791–2R to the United States Fish and                  subject of the permits; and (3) are                    population study; (2) Fall Midwater
                                                  Wildlife Service (USFWS), Stockton                      consistent with the purposes and                       Trawl, which monitors the relative
                                                  Fish and Wildlife Office (SFWO); Permit                 policies set forth in section 2 of the                 abundance of native and introduced fish
                                                  14516–2R to Dr. Jerry Smith, Associate                  ESA. Authority to take listed species is               species; (3) Sturgeon Tagging, a white
                                                  Professor in the Department of                          subject to conditions set forth in the                 sturgeon tagging program; (4) Summer
                                                  Biological Sciences at San Jose State                   permits. Permits and modifications are                 Townet, which targets delta smelt and
                                                  University; Permit 15215 to the                         issued in accordance with and are                      young-of-the-year striped bass; (5)
                                                  California Department of Fish and                       subject to the ESA and NMFS                            Estuarine and Marine Fish, a San
                                                  Wildlife (CDFW), Fisheries Branch, Fish                 regulations (50 CFR parts 222–226)                     Francisco Bay trawl study; (6) 20mm
                                                  Health Laboratory; Permit 16274 to the                  governing listed fish and wildlife                     Survey, a study to monitor juvenile
                                                  Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC);                        permits.                                               delta smelt distribution and relative
                                                  Permit 17063 to the United States Forest                                                                       abundance; (7) Yolo Bypass, a research
                                                  Service (USFS), Redwood Sciences                        Species Covered in This Notice                         effort to understand fish and
                                                  Laboratory; Permit 17077–2R to Dr.                        The following listed species are                     invertebrate use of the Yolo Bypass
                                                  Peter Moyle, with the University of                     covered in this notice:                                seasonal floodplain; (8) Upper Estuary
                                                  California at Davis, Department of                        Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus                         Zooplankton, which targets multiple
                                                  Wildlife, Fish and Conservation                         tshawytscha): Threatened Snake River                   zooplankters; (9) Spring Kodiak Trawl,
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  Biology; Permit 17219 and Permit 19320                  spring/summer-run (SR spr/sum);                        which determines the relative
                                                  to the NMFS Southwest Fisheries                         threatened Lower Columbia River                        abundance and distribution of spawning
                                                  Science Center (SWFSC), Fisheries                       (LCR);threatened California Coastal                    delta smelt; (10) Suisun Marsh Survey,
                                                  Ecology Division; Permit 17272 to the                   (CC); threatened Central Valley spring-                monitoring to determine the effects of
                                                  USFWS, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office                  run (CVSR); endangered Sacramento                      the Suisun Marsh Salinity Control Gates
                                                  Fisheries Program (AFWO); Permit                        River winter-run (SRWR).                               operation on fish, including listed
                                                  17351 to the Green Diamond Resource                       Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened                 salmonids; and (11) Smelt Larva Survey,
                                                  Company (GDRC); Permit 17396 to the                     Southern Oregon/Northern California                    which provides distribution data for


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                                                  2190                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices

                                                  longfin smelt larvae in the Delta. Listed               exhibiting signs of physiological stress               sturgeon larvae will be killed during
                                                  fish may be captured by fyke net, gill                  would be immediately released. The                     larval fish collections in order to
                                                  net, midwater trawl, trammel net, hoop                  researchers are not proposing to kill any              identify the contents of the larval trawl
                                                  net, otter trawl, larval fish net,                      of the fish they capture, but some may                 net, which can only be achieved in the
                                                  zooplankton net, Kodiak trawl net,                      die as an unintended result of the                     lab. The data provided by these studies
                                                  rotary screw trap, and beach seine. The                 research.                                              will provide natural resource managers
                                                  majority of captured fishes will be                                                                            real-time biological and population data
                                                                                                          Permit 13791–2R
                                                  identified to species, enumerated,                                                                             on fishes to evaluate the effect of water
                                                  measured for standard length, and                          A notice of receipt of an application               operations and fish management
                                                  released. Juvenile SRWR and CVSR                        for scientific research permit renewal                 practices within the SFE, thereby
                                                  Chinook salmon will be identified using                 (13791–2R) was published in the                        benefiting listed fish.
                                                  the Delta Model Length-at-Date-of-                      Federal Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR
                                                                                                          45197). Permit 13791–2R was issued to                  Permit 14516–2R
                                                  Capture Table. Listed species will be
                                                  processed first and released. A                         the USFWS SFWO on December 23,                            A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  subsample of wild juvenile SRWR and                     2015 and expires on December 31, 2020.                 for scientific research permit renewal
                                                  CVSR Chinook salmon sized captures                         Permit 13791–2R authorizes the                      (14516–2R) was published in the
                                                  will be tissue sampled for genetic                      USFWS SFWO to annually take juvenile                   Federal Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR
                                                  analysis, and a subsample of hatchery                   and smolt CVSR Chinook salmon,                         45197). Permit 14516–2R was issued to
                                                  juvenile SRWR and CVSR Chinook                          SRWR Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead,                    Dr. Jerry Smith on December 23, 2015
                                                  salmon sized captures will be sacrificed                and juvenile and larval sDPS green                     and expires on December 31, 2020.
                                                  (i.e., intentional directed mortality) in               sturgeon while conducting seven                           Permit 14516–2R authorizes Dr. Jerry
                                                  order to collect coded wire tag data for                research studies. The purpose of the                   Smith, Associate Professor in the
                                                  management purposes and for stock                       studies is to evaluate/monitor the: (1)                Department of Biological Sciences at
                                                  confirmation. To reduce handling                        Abundance, temporal and spatial                        San Jose State University to annually
                                                  mortality, investigators will conduct                   distribution, and survival of salmonids                take multiple life stages of CCC coho
                                                  water to water transfers, use fish-                     and other fishes in the lower                          salmon and CCC steelhead while
                                                  friendly nets, avoid handling when                      Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and                  conducting two studies: (1) Stream and
                                                  possible, and will not release fish from                the San Francisco Estuary (SFE); (2)                   lagoon surveys in Gazos Creek, Waddell
                                                  a vessel under way.                                     occurrence and habitat use of fishes,                  Creek, and Scott Creek; and (2) lagoon
                                                                                                          especially early life history stages,                  surveys in Pescadero Creek Lagoon and
                                                  Permit 13675–2R                                         within the Liberty Island and Cache                    San Gregorio Lagoon. The purpose of
                                                     A notice of receipt of an application                Slough Complex, (3) relative gear                      the studies is to: (1) Provide an annual
                                                  for scientific research permit renewal                  efficiencies for all IEP fish survey nets,             index of relative abundance for juvenile
                                                  (13675–2R) was published in the                         and also the distribution of delta smelt;              listed salmonids, provide data on lagoon
                                                  Federal Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR                (4) littoral habitat use of juvenile                   and upstream habitat utilization and
                                                  45197). Permit 13675–2R was issued to                   Chinook salmon within the Delta; (5)                   growth, and provide an assessment of
                                                  the FFC on December 23, 2015 and                        the effect of projected water operations               trends and year to year response to
                                                  expires on December 31, 2020.                           on delta smelt; (6) length at date race                variations in habitat conditions; and (2)
                                                     Permit 13675–2R authorizes the FFC                   criteria of SRWR Chinook salmon sized                  determine juvenile listed salmonid
                                                  annually take juvenile-CVSR Chinook                     juvenile Chinook salmon; and (7) SRWR                  abundance and growth, and provide
                                                  salmon, SRWR Chinook salmon, CCV                        and CVSR Chinook salmon floodplain                     adult life history information in the
                                                  steelhead, and sDPS green sturgeon                      usage in the Yolo bypass. These studies                lagoons. Capture methods will include
                                                  while conducting research designed to                   will result in capture/handle/release                  backpack electrofishing, and beach
                                                  monitor the use of the Fremont Landing                  take, tissue sampling, and/or intentional              seine. Captured salmonids will be
                                                  Conservation Bank (FLCB) and the                        directed mortality. Intentional directed               measured, and a subset of juvenile
                                                  Bullock Bend Mitigation Bank (BBMB)                     mortality will apply to only juvenile                  captures and all adults will have scale
                                                  at the confluence of the Sacramento and                 hatchery adipose clipped salmonids and                 samples taken, before being released at
                                                  Feather rivers in California’s Central                  larval green sturgeon. Capture methods                 the capture location. A subsample of
                                                  Valley. The banks are restored areas that               will include Kodiak trawl, midwater                    juvenile steelhead will also be marked
                                                  provides mitigation for impacts on                      trawl, beach seine, zooplankton net,                   via caudal fin clip to perform a mark-
                                                  listed salmonid species in the Central                  larval net, gill net, fyke net, purse seine,           recapture analysis. Scale and fin tissue
                                                  Valley. The monitoring will evaluate the                and boat electrofishing. All listed fish               samples will be taken from adult fish
                                                  use of the FLCB and the BBMB by listed                  except adipose fin clipped SRWR and                    carcasses. Captured live fish will be
                                                  fish, provide data directly related to                  CVSR Chinook salmon will be                            held in flow-through live cars, covered
                                                  success criteria described in the                       immediately collected from the                         with a towel to provide shade and cover
                                                  conservation/mitigation bank                            sampling gears, placed in containers                   to calm fish. Adult fish will be
                                                  management plan, and benefit listed                     filled with river water collected at the               processed and released first. In lagoons,
                                                  fish by informing adaptive management                   location being sampled, processed, held                live cars will be kept in deeper water
                                                  strategies being conducted at the FLCB                  in a recovery container filled with                    with cooler temperatures and less
                                                  and the BBMB. The researchers will use                  aerated river water, and subsequently                  turbidity to prevent warming above
                                                  beach seines and fyke nets to capture                   released at the sampled location. A fin                ambient temperatures or a decrease in
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                                                  listed fish. Once captured, all listed fish             tissue sample will be collected from a                 dissolved oxygen. The researchers are
                                                  will be identified by species and                       subset of natural origin SRWR and                      not proposing to kill any of the fish they
                                                  released. A subsample will be measured                  CVSR Chinook salmon for stock                          capture, but a small number may die as
                                                  for fork length. No anesthesia will be                  determination. The purpose of                          an unintended result of the activities.
                                                  used, and no additional handling                        intentional mortality of hatchery origin
                                                  procedures would take place. Captured                   (adipose clipped) SRWR and CVSR                        Permit 15215
                                                  fish will remain completely wetted at all               Chinook salmon will be to collect coded                  A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  times to minimize stress. Any fish                      wire tags (CWT), and up ten green                      for scientific research permit (15215)


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices                                             2191

                                                  was published in the Federal Register                   gathered will benefit listed fish by                   and relatedness of Sacramento sucker
                                                  on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit                  informing a better understanding of                    populations in northern California, (7)
                                                  15215 was issued to CDFW on                             salmonid distribution, abundance, and                  to document the speckled dace invasion
                                                  December 23, 2015 and expires on                        habitat utilization in these areas.                    of the Mad River, and (8) to provide
                                                  December 31, 2020.                                      Juvenile salmonids will be captured by                 managers with a tool to predict the
                                                     Permit 15215 authorizes the CDFW,                    backpack electrofishing, anesthetized,                 effects of management decisions on
                                                  Fisheries Branch, Fish Health                           weighed, measured to fork length, and                  Santa Ana suckers in the Santa Ana
                                                  Laboratory to take endangered SRWR                      released. A subsample of juvenile                      River. Listed adult and juvenile
                                                  Chinook salmon, CCC coho salmon and                     salmonids will be fin clipped to mark                  salmonids will be observed via snorkel
                                                  SC steelhead for a period of five years.                and to collect tissue samples for genetic              surveys. Listed juvenile salmonids will
                                                  The purpose of the research is to                       analysis. Live adults and/or juveniles                 be captured via backpack and/or boat
                                                  investigate wild fish kills/disease                     will be observed via snorkel surveys and               electrofishing for all eight studies, and
                                                  outbreaks that could occur in California                spawning surveys. Carcasses will be                    also via beach seine and/or fyke net for
                                                  that involve federally listed endangered                measured and then marked to ensure                     Study 6 (i.e., Sacramento sucker
                                                  species. The research will benefit the                  duplicate measurements were not made.                  relatedness and distribution). For most
                                                  listed species by providing fisheries                   Outmigrant trapping will be conducted                  studies, listed salmonids that are
                                                  managers with the necessary                             using a rotary screw trap or weir/pipe                 captured will be anesthetized, measured
                                                  information to help alleviate future                    trap; captured outmigrants will be                     and/or weighed, and released. Captured
                                                  outbreaks of fish disease through proper                anesthetized, measured, and released. A                fishes will be held in multiple live cars
                                                  management of fishery and water                         subsample of outmigrants will be                       to prevent overcrowding and to
                                                  resources. The research will only be                    marked (dye, elastomer, or fin clip) or                maintain acceptable water quality
                                                  conducted in the event of elevated and                  Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT)                   conditions. In addition to capturing,
                                                  unexplained endangered species                          tagged. All anesthetized fish will be                  handling and releasing fish, Study 4 (i.e.
                                                  mortality or the presence of clinically                 allowed to recover in a bucket                         factors affecting the expression of an
                                                  diseased animals. Given such a                          containing aerated natal water prior to                anadromous versus resident life history
                                                  triggering event, endangered fish will be               being released back into the stream from               in O. mykiss) will also include
                                                  collected in any of the state waters of                 which they were taken. The researchers                 intentional directed mortality for otolith
                                                  California in which a disease outbreak/                 are not proposing to kill any of the fish              microchemical analyses. A maximum of
                                                  fish die-off occurred. Adult and juvenile               they capture, but a small number may                   four O. mykiss will be sacrificed from
                                                  endangered fish will be collected by                    die as an unintended result of the                     each of seventy sample streams
                                                  hand or dip-net, as only dead and/or                    activities.                                            distributed throughout the Eel River,
                                                  moribund fish, or fish displaying                                                                              which will include both anadromous
                                                  clinical signs of disease, will be                      Permit 17063
                                                                                                                                                                 (listed as threatened) and resident (non-
                                                  collected. Moribund or clinically                          A notice of receipt of an application               listed) life history forms.
                                                  diseased fish will be euthanized (i.e.,                 for scientific research permit renewal
                                                  intentional directed mortality). Trained                (17063) was published in the Federal                   Permit 17077–2R
                                                  CDFW pathologists and veterinarians                     Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).                  A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  will assess moribund or diseased fish                   Permit 17063 was issued to the USFS,                   for scientific research permit renewal
                                                  prior to euthanasia, and only fish that                 Redwood Sciences Laboratory on                         (17077–2R) was published in the
                                                  will likely die regardless of the actions               December 23, 2015 and expires on                       Federal Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR
                                                  proposed by CDFW will be euthanized.                    December 31, 2020.                                     45197). Permit 17077–2R was issued to
                                                  Necropsies will be performed on dead                       Permit 170963 authorizes the USFS,                  Dr. Peter Moyle on December 23, 2015
                                                  and euthanized captured fish either in                  Redwood Sciences Laboratory to                         and expires on December 31, 2020.
                                                  the laboratory or in the field, fish will               perform eight studies that together will                  Permit 17077–2R authorizes Dr. Peter
                                                  be examined for signs of parasitic and                  take CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho                     Moyle, with the University of California
                                                  bacterial infections, and fin and/or                    salmon, CCC coho salmon, NC                            at Davis, Department of Wildlife, Fish
                                                  internal tissues will be collected for                  steelhead, CC steelhead, and SC                        and Conservation Biology, to take listed
                                                  virology, histopathology, immunological                 steelhead. The purposes of the eight                   species while conducting research
                                                  testing and/or DNA testing.                             studies are: (1) To investigate the                    designed to develop a better
                                                                                                          invasion history of non-listed speckled                understanding of how physical habitat,
                                                  Permit 16274                                            dace in the Van Duzen River and the Eel                flow and other factors interact to
                                                     A notice of receipt of an application                River, (2) to investigate the invasion                 maintain assemblages of native and non-
                                                  for scientific research permit renewal                  history of non-listed California roach in              native aquatic species in the upper SFE.
                                                  (16274) was published in the Federal                    the Van Duzen River and the Eel River,                 This study will provide knowledge
                                                  Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).                (3) to develop an Individual Based                     about food web and habitat support for
                                                  Permit 16274 was issued to the MRC on                   Modeling (IBM) approach to predict the                 native fishes, including listed
                                                  December 23, 2015 and expires on                        effects of management practices on                     anadromous fish, which are suspected
                                                  December 31, 2020.                                      salmonid population in Northern                        of utilizing such habitats during
                                                     Permit 16274 authorizes the MRC to                   California, (4) to link abiotic factors                development. While listed fish are not
                                                  take CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho                      (e.g., distance to spawning ground) to                 the target species for this study, the
                                                  salmon, CCC coho salmon, NC                             the expression of an anadromous or                     study will benefit listed fish by
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                                                  steelhead, and CCC steelhead while                      resident life history for O. mykiss in the             improving management decisions
                                                  conducting research and monitoring to                   Eel River, (5) to link the distribution and            regarding creating additional habitat,
                                                  assess juvenile and adult populations of                movement of watershed products (e.g.,                  and helping to anticipate the effects of
                                                  salmonids and their distribution in                     wood, sediment, and water) in                          drought and climate change on food and
                                                  streams within MRC’s property.                          tributaries and mainstem channels to                   habitat availability. Sampling will be
                                                  Research will be conducted in several                   fish diversity and abundance in                        conducted in three distinct regions of
                                                  watersheds within Mendocino and                         Northern California rivers, (6) to provide             the SFE: (1) The Cache-Lindsey
                                                  northern Sonoma counties. The data                      managers with insights into the status                 complex, (2) the Sherman Lake complex


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                                                  2192                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices

                                                  and (3) Suisun Marsh, and will take                     various types of models (e.g.,                         salmon. Crews will spend minimal time
                                                  juvenile and adult CVSR Chinook                         population, life-cycle, bioenergetics,                 around redds and avoid walking on
                                                  salmon, SRWR Chinook Salmon, CCV                        and habitat-use models); (5) determining               redds. Trained AFWO crews will also
                                                  steelhead, and sDPS green sturgeon.                     genetic structure of populations; (6)                  capture juvenile SONCC coho salmon
                                                  Capture methods will be similar for                     evaluating the effects of activities such              using rotary-screw traps, frame nets, and
                                                  each of these regions, and will include                 as water management and habitat                        beach seines. Juvenile coho salmon will
                                                  otter trawling, beach seining and boat                  restoration on populations; and (7)                    be held in aerated holding buckets filled
                                                  electrofishing, however electrofishing                  developing improved sampling and                       with fresh river water then anesthetized,
                                                  will be suspended immediately upon                      monitoring methods.                                    measured for fork length, weighed, and
                                                  encountering a listed species. All                         Research and take will involve                      released back into the river. There will
                                                  sampled fish will be placed in a bucket                 various life stages (juvenile, smolt,                  be some intentional mortality of
                                                  with ambient water and an aerator,                      adult, and carcass). Listed fish will be               hatchery juvenile coho salmon for
                                                  examined for responsiveness and                         observed during spawning surveys, and                  disease analysis. Aside from these
                                                  returned to the water as soon as possible               captured by electrofishing, beach seine,               hatchery fish, the researchers are not
                                                  with a minimum of handling, after                       rotary screw trap, and/or hook-and-line.               proposing to kill any of the fish they
                                                  identification and length estimates were                The majority of captured fish will be                  capture, but a small number may die as
                                                  made. Juvenile SRWR and CVSR                            anesthetized, measured to fork length,                 an unintended result of the activities.
                                                  Chinook salmon will be identified using                 and released. A subsample of captured                  The studies will benefit listed coho
                                                  published size-at-date criteria. Only                   fish will be further sampled by                        salmon by informing the AFWO goal to
                                                  adult green sturgeon captures will                      collection of scales, fin clips, gill clips            develop conservation strategies for
                                                  receive additional processing beyond                    or stomach contents; and/or marking or                 aquatic resources and to evaluate the
                                                  identification and measuring for length.                tagging including fin tissue clips, PIT                success of aquatic habitat restoration
                                                  Adult green sturgeon will be scanned                    tags, elastomer tags, acoustic tags, or                efforts that will lead to the recovery and
                                                  for the presence of a PIT tag, and a soft               radio tags. Species care after capture                 conservation of fish populations and
                                                  pelvic fin tissue sample will be                        will include use of aerated buckets or                 fisheries in northern California.
                                                  collected. The researchers are not                      live cars for holding and recovery, and
                                                                                                          minimization of handling time. The                     Permit 17351
                                                  proposing to kill any of the fish they
                                                  capture, but a small number may die as                  majority of fish captured will be                         A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  an unintended result of the activities.                 released alive at their point of capture               for scientific research permit renewal
                                                                                                          following recovery from handling.                      (17351) was published in the Federal
                                                  Permit 17219                                            However, in limited cases some fish will               Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).
                                                     A notice of receipt of an application                be: (1) Retained in enclosures in streams              Permit 17351 was issued to the GDRC
                                                  for scientific research permit renewal                  for short-term growth and survival                     on December 23, 2015 and expires on
                                                  (17219) was published in the Federal                    experiments and then released, or (2)                  December 31, 2020.
                                                  Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).                euthanized for analysis of otoliths and/                  Permit 17351 authorizes the GDRC to
                                                  Permit 17219 was issued to the NMFS                     or parasitological/pathological studies                take listed salmonids while conducting
                                                  SWFSC, Fisheries Ecology Division on                    of parasites and diseases of wild                      research and monitoring under an
                                                  December 23, 2015 and expires on                        juvenile steelhead.                                    existing Aquatic Habitat Conservation
                                                  December 31, 2020.                                                                                             Plan (AHCP). The AHCP, which was
                                                     Permit 17219 authorizes the NMFS                     Permit 17272                                           approved in 2007 and is valid until
                                                  SWFSC, Fisheries Ecology Division to                      A notice of receipt of an application                2057, identifies potential threats to three
                                                  conduct research throughout California                  for scientific research permit renewal                 listed fish species that may result from
                                                  that will include take of SRWR Chinook                  (17272) was published in the Federal                   GDRC’s timber harvest activities and
                                                  salmon, CVSR Chinook salmon, SONCC                      Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).               describes minimization and mitigation
                                                  coho salmon, CCC coho salmon, NC                        Permit 17272 was issued to the USFWS                   measures and effectiveness monitoring
                                                  steelhead, CCC steelhead, CCV                           AFWO on December 23, 2015 and                          to address potential threats. The
                                                  steelhead, S–CCC steelhead, SC                          expires on December 31, 2020.                          requested take limits will allow for
                                                  steelhead, and juvenile sDPS green                        Permit 17272 authorizes the USFWS                    implementation of monitoring and
                                                  sturgeon. The research will benefit                     AFWO to take multiple life stages of                   research activities in several northern
                                                  listed fish by supporting conservation                  hatchery and wild SONCC coho salmon                    California watersheds including the
                                                  and management of listed anadromous                     via monitoring and research activities in              Winchuk River, Smith River, Lower
                                                  salmonids and green sturgeon in                         Northwest California. The purposes of                  Klamath basin tributaries, Mad River,
                                                  California by directly addressing                       the five studies included are to monitor:              Little River, several Humboldt Bay
                                                  information needs identified by NMFS                    (1) Chinook salmon fry production and                  tributaries, and Eel River. The three
                                                  and other agencies. FED studies address                 disease incidence in the Klamath River                 species identified which will be taken
                                                  priority topics identified in NMFS                      below Iron Gate dam, (2) Chinook                       as a direct result of this monitoring are
                                                  technical recovery team reports, NMFS                   salmon escapement in the mainstem                      CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho
                                                  recovery plans, joint programs such as                  Klamath River below the Shasta River                   salmon, and NC steelhead. Research and
                                                  the California Coastal Monitoring                       confluence, (3) Chinook salmon                         take will involve various life stages (fry,
                                                  Program developed by NMFS and                           escapement in the mainstem Klamath                     juvenile, smolt, adult, and carcass).
                                                  CDFW, and state programs such as the                    River from Iron Gate dam to the Shasta                 Trained GDRC crews will observe listed
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                                                  Fisheries Restoration Grant Program.                    River confluence, (4) coho salmon                      salmonids during snorkel surveys and
                                                  Research objectives of specific studies                 escapement between Iron Gate Dam and                   spawning surveys. Crews will avoid
                                                  include: (1) Estimating population                      the Indian Creek confluence, and (5)                   walking in suitable spawning habitats
                                                  abundance and dynamics; (2) evaluating                  long-term salmonid disease incidence in                (e.g., riffle crests). Listed salmonids will
                                                  factors affecting growth, survival, and                 the lower Klamath River. Trained                       be captured by various capture methods
                                                  life-history; (3) assessing life-stage                  AFWO crews will conduct redd surveys,                  including backpack electrofishing, kick
                                                  specific habitat use and movement; (4)                  on foot and from rafts, which could                    net sampling, rotary screw trapping, v-
                                                  collecting data necessary to construct                  observe/harass spawning SONCC coho                     notch weir outmigrant trapping, and


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices                                             2193

                                                  minnow trapping. Most captured fish                     and-line, egg mats, benthic d-nets, and                is to determine the occurrence,
                                                  will be measured and released. A                        boat and backpack electrofishing. The                  distribution, population and habitat
                                                  subsample of captured fish will be                      majority of captured listed fish will be               conditions of anadromous fishes on
                                                  anesthetized, then marked via dorsal fin                handled and released; a subsample of                   HRC lands as well as to monitor,
                                                  clip, fin tissue sampled, scale sampled,                captures will be anesthetized, scale                   protect, restore and enhance the
                                                  and/or PIT tagged. Anesthetized                         sampled, fin clipped (to mark and to                   anadromous fishery resources in
                                                  individuals will be allowed to recover                  collect fin tissue for genetic analysis),              watersheds owned by HRC. The
                                                  in mesh containers placed in the stream                 acoustic tagged, and/or subject to                     researchers are not proposing to kill any
                                                  channel prior to release. Data collected                intentional directed mortality. Green                  of the fish they capture, but a small
                                                  will be used to document long-term                      sturgeon eggs (n = 100) and larvae (n =                number may die as an unintended result
                                                  population trends and better understand                 5) will be intentionally sacrificed,                   of the activities.
                                                  the potential impacts on the covered                    which will be necessary to provide
                                                                                                                                                                 Permit 17877
                                                  species and their habitats that may                     voucher tissue specimens, and will
                                                  result from AHCP covered activities.                    benefit the species by providing critical                 A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  The researchers are not proposing to kill               information on green sturgeon spawning                 for scientific research permit renewal
                                                  any of the fish they capture, but a small               habitat. To minimize physiological                     (17877) was published in the Federal
                                                  number may die as an unintended result                  stress, all sturgeon will be held in a net             Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).
                                                  of the activities.                                      pen submerged in river or with flowing                 Permit 17877 was issued to the BOR on
                                                                                                          water through their gills while waiting                December 23, 2015 and expires on
                                                  Permit 17396                                                                                                   December 31, 2020.
                                                                                                          to be handled. All listed salmonids will
                                                     A notice of receipt of an application                be immediately collected from the                         Permit 17877 authorizes the BOR to
                                                  for scientific research permit (17396)                  sampling gears, placed in five gallon                  take juvenile, smolt, adult and carcasses
                                                  was published in the Federal Register                   buckets filled with fresh river water                  of SONCC coho salmon via: (1)
                                                  on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit                  from the location being sampled,                       Observation/harassment by way of
                                                  17396 was issued to the USFWS AFRP                      processed, held in another container                   snorkel surveys, hand netting that
                                                  on December 23, 2015 and expires on                     filled with fresh river water for                      specifically targets other species, and
                                                  December 31, 2020.                                      recovery, and subsequently released in                 spawning surveys; and (2) capture by
                                                     Permit 17396 authorizes the USFWS                    the sampled location. The new                          rotary screw trap, boat electrofishing,
                                                  AFRP to take listed fish while                          information on these species generated                 hook-and-line, beach seine, fyke net, or
                                                  conducting research designed to: (1)                    by these projects will help prioritize                 minnow trapping. The BOR applied for
                                                  Provide data necessary to evaluate the                  future restoration projects, thus                      this permit as a contingent of the Trinity
                                                  effectiveness of AFRP restoration                       benefiting listed species.                             River Restoration Program (TRRP), an
                                                  projects, including appraisal of                                                                               inter-agency partnership of the BOR,
                                                  spawning gravel augmentation, in-                       Permit 17867                                           USFWS, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Yurok
                                                  channel and floodplain habitat                             A notice of receipt of an application               Tribe, CDFW, Trinity County, USFS,
                                                  enhancement actions, and water                          for scientific research permit renewal                 NMFS, and the California Department of
                                                  allocation/flow regime alteration                       (17867) was published in the Federal                   Water Resources. The TRRP benefits
                                                  actions; and (2) provide reconnaissance-                Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).               listed species by conducting large-scale
                                                  level population and biological data on                 Permit 17867 was issued to the HRC on                  channel restoration and habitat
                                                  contemporary anadromous fish                            December 23, 2015 and expires on                       restoration activities in the Trinity River
                                                  population patterns within the Central                  December 31, 2020.                                     mainstem and watershed as a means of
                                                  Valley of California, in order to                          Permit 17867 authorizes the HRC to                  restoring declining fishery resources.
                                                  prioritize and select future restoration                take juvenile and adult CC Chinook                     The following six specific studies are
                                                  projects to benefit anadromous                          salmon, SONCC coho salmon and NC                       included: (1) Trinity River juvenile
                                                  salmonids. All AFRP restoration                         steelhead while conducting research                    salmonid outmigrant monitoring, (2)
                                                  monitoring projects will serve to benefit               and monitoring that satisfies two                      juvenile Chinook salmon density
                                                  anadromous salmonids by providing                       objectives: (1) To comply with CDFW’s                  monitoring, (3) Trinity River Chinook
                                                  data on restoration project effectiveness,              Restorable Class I policy by sampling                  salmon redd and carcass survey, (4)
                                                  and providing valuable information                      reaches through snorkel and                            Trinity River invasive brown trout
                                                  relating to adaptive management                         electrofishing methods to identify Class               predation on coho investigation, (5)
                                                  procedures. Take of listed species                      I habitat within proposed timber harvest               Trinity River juvenile coho salmon
                                                  including various life stages of CVSR                   plans, and (2) to monitor fish occupancy               ecology study, and (6) watershed
                                                  Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, and                      trends at the reach, sub basin, watershed              rehabilitation/research. Fin tissue
                                                  sDPS green sturgeon will result from                    and HRC property level over time by                    samples will be collected from
                                                  activities in the following five projects:              repeated snorkel surveys at index and                  carcasses. The majority of captured
                                                  (1) Bobcat flat restoration effectiveness               randomly selected reaches. Adult and                   juvenile coho salmon will be
                                                  monitoring in the lower Tuolumne                        juvenile salmonids will be observed                    anesthetized, measured to fork length
                                                  River; (2) adult sturgeon acoustic                      during snorkel surveys, and juvenile                   and released, but a subsample will also
                                                  telemetry in the lower San Joaquin                      salmonids will be captured by backpack                 be PIT tagged. Tagged fish will be held
                                                  basin; (3) San Joaquin River sturgeon                   electrofishing. Snorkel surveys will be                in recovery pens post tagging to monitor
                                                  spawning habitat assessment; (4)                        the preferred method of detecting                      and enhance post-tagging health. The
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                                                  steelhead sampling and acoustic                         presence/absence of fish species.                      researchers are not proposing to kill any
                                                  tracking in the lower Stanislaus,                       Captured fish will be identified, and                  of the fish they capture, but a small
                                                  Tuolumne and Merced Rivers; and (5)                     transported upstream of the project area.              number may die as an unintended result
                                                  fish reconnaissance in the San Joaquin                  All captured specimens will be kept in                 of the activities.
                                                  River system. Observe/harass take will                  aerated buckets, observed closely, and
                                                  result from snorkel surveys. Capture                    not released until fully recovered. The                Permit 17916
                                                  methods will include beach seine,                       monitoring will help to achieve HRC’s                    A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  trammel nets, gill nets, fyke nets, hook-               fisheries program’s general goal, which                for scientific research permit renewal


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                                                  2194                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices

                                                  (17916) was published in the Federal                    Project (FMP), designed to assess and                  Permit 18712
                                                  Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).                restore the productivity of CC Chinook                    A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  Permit 17916 was issued to the BLM on                   salmon, CCC coho salmon, NC                            for scientific research permit (18712)
                                                  December 23, 2015 and expires on                        steelhead, CCC steelhead, and S–CCC                    was published in the Federal Register
                                                  December 31, 2020.                                      steelhead in Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa,                  on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit
                                                     Permit 17916 authorizes the BLM to                   Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and                       18712 was issued to H.T. Harvey &
                                                  monitor the effects of current                          Monterey counties in north central                     Associates on December 23, 2015 and
                                                  management actions related to the                       California. Program staff will                         expires on December 31, 2020.
                                                  Northwest Forest Plan’s Aquatic                         accomplish this goal by conducting                        Permit 18712 authorizes H.T. Harvey
                                                  Conservation Strategy on anadromous                     habitat and salmonid surveys to                        & Associates to take juvenile and smolt
                                                  salmonids and their habitats. In order to               determine potential limiting factors and               CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho
                                                  monitor land management actions and                     stock status in order to identify the                  salmon, CCC coho salmon, NC
                                                  implement the Northwest Forest Plan in                  specific measures and actions needed to                steelhead, and adult sDPS eulachon
                                                  northern California, BLM needs to
                                                                                                          protect and increase production of listed              while completing a project that is
                                                  obtain updated information on fish
                                                                                                          salmonids. The authorized studies                      intended to meet three Marine Protected
                                                  distribution and habitat. Sampling will
                                                                                                          include: (1) Juvenile salmonid                         Area (MPA) monitoring goals set by the
                                                  occur in various watersheds, including
                                                  the Mattole River, Eel River, Lost Coast                occurrence, distribution and habitat                   MPA Monitoring Enterprise. The three
                                                  region tributaries to the Pacific Ocean,                monitoring; (2) adult salmonid                         monitoring goals are: (1) To assess
                                                  and Humboldt Bay tributaries. Take of                   occurrence, passage, and distribution;                 trends in the condition of ecosystems
                                                  CC Chinook salmon, SONCC coho                           (3) spawning ground surveys; (4) life                  inside and outside of MPA’s, (2) to
                                                  salmon, and NC steelhead will result                    cycle station monitoring; and (5)                      evaluate the effects of specific MPA
                                                  from this monitoring and research. The                  juvenile steelhead lagoon beach seining.               design criteria such as MPA size and
                                                  preponderance of requested take will                    Listed fish will be observed/harassed                  distance between MPAs, and (3) to
                                                  result from spawning surveys, snorkel                   during snorkel surveys, spawning                       evaluate the effect of visitors on MPAs.
                                                  surveys, and presence/absence surveys                   surveys, carcass surveys, and by the use               The project will contribute to the goals
                                                  from the bank, all of which will result                 of electronic counting stations (i.e.,                 of the monitoring enterprise by
                                                  in observe/harass take of juvenile and/                 DIDSON camera, Vaki Riverwatcher                       describing the baseline biological
                                                  or adult salmonids. Capture methods                     and/or video weir). Listed salmonids                   community in four northern California
                                                  that will take juvenile salmonids                       will be captured using backpack                        estuaries: (1) Mad River Estuary in
                                                  include backpack electrofishing and                     electrofishing, beach seining, rotary                  Humboldt County, (2) South Humboldt
                                                  beach seine. A small number of                          screw traps, fyke/pipe traps, and                      Bay State Marine Recreational
                                                  salmonid fry may also be captured                       potentially adults may be captured                     Management Area in Humboldt County,
                                                  during kick net activities intended to                  using a resistance board weir. The                     (3) Ten Mile Estuary State Marine
                                                  sample invertebrates. Electrofishing will               majority of juvenile captures will be                  Conservation Area (SMCA) in
                                                  be used only when stream conditions                     handled (measured for fork length and                  Mendocino County, and (4) Big River
                                                  prohibit less invasive sampling                         weighed), and released. A subset of                    Estuary SMCA in Mendocino County.
                                                  methods. Personnel handling fish will                   juvenile salmonid captures will be                     Beach seines and fyke nets will be used
                                                  have wet hands and experience in fish                   anesthetized, fin tissue sampled to                    to capture fish whereby take (i.e.,
                                                  handling. After length measurements                     collect tissue for genetic analysis, scale             capture/handle/release) of listed
                                                  were complete, fish will be placed in a                                                                        salmonids will occur. Handling will
                                                                                                          sampled, marked with an upper caudal
                                                  bucket of freshwater for longer than 30                                                                        consist of identifying and measuring
                                                                                                          fin clip, and/or PIT tagged. Only healthy
                                                  minutes to allow for recovery prior to                                                                         fish to fork length. To ensure that
                                                                                                          fish with no signs of stress or injury will
                                                  being released. Recovering fish will be                                                                        handled fish will experience minimal
                                                                                                          be subjected to marking or tagging. All
                                                  kept in cool, shaded, aerated water and                                                                        adverse effects as a result of the
                                                                                                          fish will be allowed to recover fully and
                                                  will not be overcrowded. This research                                                                         sampling process, fish will be allowed
                                                                                                          will be observed carefully for injury
                                                  will benefit listed fish by informing                                                                          to recover briefly either in live wells or
                                                                                                          prior to release. Captured adult                       in shaded, aerated buckets. The
                                                  adaptive management strategies                          salmonids will be handled (i.e.,
                                                  intended to aid in the recovery of at-risk                                                                     researchers are not proposing to kill any
                                                                                                          identified, measured, weighed, and                     of the fish they capture, but a small
                                                  anadromous salmonids. The researchers
                                                                                                          scale and tissue samples taken), tagged                number may die as an unintended result
                                                  are not proposing to kill any of the fish
                                                                                                          (bi-colored Floy tags and/or opercular-                of the activities.
                                                  they capture, but a small number may
                                                                                                          hole-punched) and released upstream of
                                                  die as an unintended result of the                                                                             Permit 18937
                                                                                                          the weir. All fish handled will be held
                                                  activities.
                                                                                                          in clean and decontaminated containers                   A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  Permit 18012                                            that are supplied with cool, aerated                   for scientific research permit (18937)
                                                    A notice of receipt of an application                 water and will be released back into the               was published in the Federal Register
                                                  for scientific research permit renewal                  stream reach from which they were                      on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit
                                                  (18012) was published in the Federal                    collected after recovery. Implementation               18937 was issued to the Scripps
                                                  Register on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197).                of these activities under the WRP and                  Institution of Oceanography, University
                                                  Permit 18012 was issued to the CDFW,                    the FMP will benefit listed species by                 of California, San Diego, CSGCP on
                                                                                                          informing recommendations on
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                                                  Bay Delta Region (Region III) on                                                                               December 23, 2015 and expires on
                                                  December 23, 2015 and expires on                        proposed habitat restoration projects                  December 31, 2020.
                                                  December 31, 2020.                                      and by determining the impacts of                        Permit 18937 authorizes the Scripps
                                                    Permit 18012 authorizes the CDFW,                     various management actions. The                        Institution of Oceanography, University
                                                  Bay Delta Region to take listed species                 researchers are not proposing to kill any              of California, San Diego, CSGCP to
                                                  while conducting two research projects,                 of the fish they capture, but a small                  annually take listed CC Chinook
                                                  the Watershed Restoration Project                       number may die as an unintended result                 salmon, CCC coho salmon, and CCC
                                                  (WRP) and the Fisheries Management                      of the activities.                                     steelhead while monitoring the status


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices                                              2195

                                                  and trends of listed salmonids in the                   Permit 19121                                           Permit 19320
                                                  Russian River watershed. The CSGCP                         A notice of receipt of an application                  A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  will collect data to estimate population                for scientific research permit (19121)                 for scientific research permit (19320)
                                                  metrics such as abundance, survival,                    was published in the Federal Register                  was published in the Federal Register
                                                  growth, and spatial distribution of                     on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit                 on April 8, 2015 (80 FR 18820). Permit
                                                  multiple life stages of salmonids, and                  19121 was issued to the USGS,                          19320 was issued to the NMFS SWFSC,
                                                  relate them to different recovery actions               California Water Survey on December                    Fisheries Ecology Division on December
                                                  including hatchery releases, habitat                    23, 2015 and expires on December 31,                   1, 2015 and expires on October 29,
                                                  enhancement projects, and stream flow                   2020.                                                  2020.
                                                  improvement projects. Data collection                      Permit 19121 authorizes the USGS,                      Permit 19320 authorizes the NMFS
                                                  will be designed to meet four specific                  California Water Survey take of listed                 SWFSC, Fisheries Ecology Division to
                                                  study objectives: (1) Evaluation of the                 species associated with completing two                 annually take sub-adult and juvenile
                                                  Russian River Coho Salmon Captive                       main objectives: (1) To examine                        listed salmon and steelhead for a period
                                                  Broodstock Program, (2) implementation                  research applications of the SmeltCam                  of five years. The permit will authorize
                                                  of the California Coastal Salmonid                      that have been developed and                           research designed to (1) determine the
                                                  Monitoring Plan, (3) comparing juvenile                 coordinated with the IEP, and (2) to                   inter-annual and seasonal variability in
                                                  coho salmon oversummer survival with                    provide fisheries science support for the              growth, feeding, and energy status
                                                  stream flow, and (4) evaluation of                      BOR’s compliance with Biological                       among juvenile salmonids in the coastal
                                                  habitat enhancement projects. The four                  Opinions. The studies are intended to:                 ocean off northern and central
                                                  studies will provide resource agencies                  (1) Provide new quantitative data                      California; (2) determine migration
                                                  with valuable information that will help                addressing the potential benefits of                   paths and spatial distribution among
                                                  guide future decisions regarding                        habitat restoration to the SFE and Delta               genetically distinct salmonid stocks
                                                  recovery actions. Fish populations will                 ecosystem and its native fish                          during their early ocean residence; (3)
                                                  be monitored in many tributaries of the                 populations, and (2) determine the                     characterize the biological and physical
                                                  Russian River watershed and several                     vertical and lateral distribution of delta             oceanographic features associated with
                                                  methods that could observe/harass and/                  smelt, and the continued evaluation and                juvenile salmon ocean habitat from the
                                                  or capture fish will be employed,                       application of SmeltCam technology for                 shore to the continental shelf break; (4)
                                                  including: Snorkel surveys, spawning                    studies of delta smelt and other fishes.               identify potential links between coastal
                                                  surveys, redd surveys, downstream                       The results of these studies are expected              geography, oceanographic features, and
                                                  migrant trapping (pipe/funnel trap),                    to provide net benefits to listed species              salmon distribution patterns; and (5)
                                                  minnow trapping, operation of PIT tag                   by improving our understanding of their                identify and test ecological indices for
                                                  detection systems (i.e., PIT tag arrays                 ecology and habitat use, and by                        salmon survival. This research will
                                                  and PIT tag wand surveys), and                          informing the development of new                       benefit listed fish by informing
                                                  backpack electrofishing. Handling of                    research tools that can guide                          comprehensive lifecycle models that
                                                  live fish captured in traps or during                   management decisions and habitat                       incorporate both freshwater and marine
                                                  electrofishing surveys will include                     restoration actions. Sampling will be                  conditions and recognize the
                                                  anesthetization, measuring for fork                     conducted in Suisun Bay, and will take                 relationship between the two habitats; it
                                                  length, scanning for CWT and PIT tags,                  multiple life stages of CVSR Chinook                   will also identify and predict sources of
                                                  fin tissue sampling, scale sampling, PIT                salmon, SRWR Chinook salmon, CCV                       salmon mortality at sea and thereby
                                                  tagging, and/or gastric lavage. Adult                   steelhead, and sDPS green sturgeon.                    help managers develop indices of
                                                  salmonid carcasses encountered during                   Capture methods will include beach                     salmonid survival in the marine
                                                  spawning surveys will be scanned for                    seine, fyke trap, larval net, otter trawl,             environment.
                                                  PIT tags, measured, fin clipped, scale                  midwater trawl, boat electrofishing, set                  Listed fish will be captured primarily
                                                  sampled, and otoliths will be extracted.                line, and gill net. All sampling will                  via surface trawling, however midwater
                                                  All live fish will be released back into                follow methods and protocols designed                  trawling and beach seining will be used
                                                  the stream following recovery in aerated                to minimize take of listed species while               occasionally. Sub-adult salmonids (i.e.,
                                                  buckets of cold water. Specific measures                conducting research and monitoring.                    fish larger than 250 mm) that survive
                                                  that will be taken to reduce the risk of                For example, sampling gear such as gill                capture will have fin tissue and scale
                                                  injury or mortality to fish include                     nets will be watched closely to monitor                samples taken, and then be released.
                                                  minimizing the time that fish are                       the status of any fishes entangled in the              Any subadult salmonids that do not
                                                  handled, placing potential predators in                 net. Set times will be short                           survive capture, and all juvenile
                                                  separate holding buckets, running                       (approximately one hour), and nets will                salmonids (i.e., fish larger than 80 mm
                                                  aerators in buckets, avoiding                           be set in habitats that listed fish are                but less than 250 mm) will be lethally
                                                  overcrowding in buckets, changing                       unlikely to inhabit. Listed salmonids                  sampled (i.e., intentional directed
                                                  water in the anesthesia bucket                          captured in the course of sampling will                mortality) in order to collect (1) otoliths
                                                  frequently, placing a thermometer in                    be identified, carefully measured for                  for age and growth studies; (2) coded
                                                  holding buckets and replacing water                     length and released. Green sturgeon will               wire tags for origin and age of hatchery
                                                  frequently if the temperatures are rising,              be anesthetized using MS–222, scanned                  fish; (3) muscle tissue for stable isotopes
                                                  wetting measuring boards and weigh                      for a presence of a PIT tag, PIT tagged                and/or lipid assays; (4) stomachs and
                                                  pans, processing listed species first,                  if no PIT tag is present, tissue sampled,              contents for diet studies; and (5) other
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                                                  checking traps at least once per day and                and allowed to recover prior to release.               tissues including the heart, liver,
                                                  more frequently in high flow or windy                   All fishes collected in any sampling gear              intestines, pyloric caeca, and kidney for
                                                  conditions, and placing flow deflectors                 will be handled as gently as possible to               special studies upon request.
                                                  inside the trap box to provide refugia for              facilitate safe release back to the water.
                                                  fish. The researchers are not proposing                 The researchers are not proposing to kill              Permit 19400
                                                  to kill any of the fish they capture, but               any of the fish they capture, but a small                A notice of receipt of an application
                                                  a small number may die as an                            number may die as an unintended result                 for scientific research permit (19400)
                                                  unintended result of the activities.                    of the activities.                                     was published in the Federal Register


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                                                  2196                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices

                                                  on July 29, 2015 (80 FR 45197). Permit                  (EIS) to Inform Columbia River Basin                   SUMMARY:    Notice is hereby given that
                                                  19400 was issued to ICF consulting on                   Hatchery Operations and the Funding of                 the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science
                                                  December 23, 2015 and expires on                        Mitchell Act Hatchery Programs in                      Center [Responsible Party: William
                                                  December 31, 2020.                                      September 2014 (also known as the                      Karp], 166 Water Street, Woods Hole,
                                                     Permit 19400 authorizes ICF                          Mitchell Act Hatchery EIS). This notice                MA 02543, has applied in due form for
                                                  consulting to take juvenile CVSR                        serves as an update on preparation of                  a permit to take Atlantic sturgeon
                                                  Chinook salmon and SRWR Chinook                         the agency’s record of decision (ROD).                 (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus),
                                                  salmon while conducting a study to                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp’s
                                                  investigate if longfin smelt in San Pablo               James Dixon, (360) 534–9329 or email:                  ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), green
                                                  Bay shift their vertical distribution                   james.dixon@noaa.gov.                                  (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill
                                                  under different environmental and                                                                              (Eretmochelys imbricata) and
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
                                                  biological conditions. Although this                                                                           leatherback (Dermochelys coraicea) sea
                                                  study principally targets longfin smelt,                September 3, 2004 (69 FR 53892), NMFS
                                                                                                                                                                 turtles for purposes of scientific
                                                  ESA listed Chinook salmon will be                       announced its intent to prepare an EIS
                                                                                                                                                                 research.
                                                  encountered during sampling. ICF will                   pursuant to the National Environmental
                                                                                                          Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et                   DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
                                                  collect data that will be useful to local                                                                      comments must be received on or before
                                                  researchers on captured and/or                          seq.) and to conduct public scoping
                                                                                                          related to the allocation and distribution             February 16, 2016.
                                                  photographed listed Chinook salmon,
                                                                                                          of Mitchell Act funds for Columbia                     ADDRESSES: The application and related
                                                  including abundance, length, and
                                                                                                          River hatchery operations.                             documents are available for review by
                                                  potentially tissue samples. Fish will be
                                                  sampled using a midwater trawl,                         Subsequently, in 2009, NMFS                            selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public
                                                  however the majority of tows will be                    announced its decision to expand the                   Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on
                                                  conducted with only a video device                      scope of the EIS to include analysis of                the Applications and Permits for
                                                  (i.e., SmeltCam) acting as the codend.                  the environmental effects of all hatchery              Protected Species (APPS) home page,
                                                  Therefore, the majority of take will be                 programs in the Columbia River Basin,                  https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then
                                                  observe/harass. The fish camera image                   regardless of the hatchery funding                     selecting File No. 17225 from the list of
                                                  program will be able to determine the                   source, in a way that would inform                     available applications.
                                                                                                          future NMFS decisions about                               These documents are also available
                                                  length, and thereby an estimate of the
                                                                                                          Endangered Species Act compliances                     upon written request or by appointment
                                                  race/run/listing status, of salmon that
                                                  pass through the net. In order to verify                for all Columbia River hatchery                        in the Permits and Conservation
                                                  the results of the SmeltCam, some tows                  programs (74 FR 10724, March 12,                       Division, Office of Protected Resources,
                                                  will be conducted with both the video                   2009). A draft EIS was published in                    NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
                                                  device and a traditional codend.                        August 2010 (75 FR 47591, August 6,                    13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
                                                  Physically captured juvenile salmonids                  2010). The final EIS was published in                  (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376.
                                                                                                          September 2014 (79 FR 54707,                              Written comments on this application
                                                  will be placed in a bucket with aerated
                                                                                                          September 12, 2014) with a public                      should be submitted to the Chief,
                                                  water, handled (i.e., measured to fork
                                                                                                          review period through November 12,                     Permits and Conservation Division, at
                                                  length and possibly fin tissue sampled
                                                                                                          2014.                                                  the address listed above. Comments may
                                                  for genetic analysis), and released. The
                                                                                                             NMFS has been preparing its ROD                     also be submitted by facsimile to (301)
                                                  researchers are not proposing to kill any
                                                                                                          through careful consideration of a range               713–0376, or by email to
                                                  of the fish they capture.
                                                                                                          of comments received during public                     NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please
                                                    Dated: January 12, 2016.                                                                                     include the File No. in the subject line
                                                                                                          review of the final EIS. NMFS is also
                                                  Perry F. Gayaldo,                                                                                              of the email comment.
                                                                                                          considering the anticipated effects of its
                                                  Deputy Director, Office of Protected                    preferred policy direction on species                     Those individuals requesting a public
                                                  Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.                                                                  hearing should submit a written request
                                                                                                          listed under the Endangered Species
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–00747 Filed 1–14–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          Act. It is anticipated that the ROD will               to the Chief, Permits and Conservation
                                                  BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                  be published in 2016.                                  Division at the address listed above. The
                                                                                                                                                                 request should set forth the specific
                                                                                                            Dated: January 12, 2016.                             reasons why a hearing on this
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  Perry F.Gayaldo,                                       application would be appropriate.
                                                                                                          Deputy Director, Office of Protected                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  National Oceanic and Atmospheric                        Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.          Malcolm Mohead or Amy Hapeman,
                                                  Administration                                          [FR Doc. 2016–00734 Filed 1–14–16; 8:45 am]            (301) 427–8401.
                                                  RIN 0648–XE394                                          BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                                                                                                                                 subject permit is requested under the
                                                  Endangered and Threatened Species;                                                                             authority of the Endangered Species Act
                                                  Status Update on Preparation of                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                 of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C.
                                                  Record of Decision, Mitchell Act                                                                               1531 et seq.) and the regulations
                                                  Hatcheries Environmental Impact                         National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                                                                          Administration                                         governing the taking, importing, and
                                                  Statement                                                                                                      exporting of endangered and threatened
                                                  AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                      RIN 0648–XE348                                         species (50 CFR parts 222–226).
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                                                  Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                                                                              The applicant requests a five-year
                                                                                                          Endangered Species; File No. 17225                     permit to conduct research on sea
                                                  Atmospheric Administration,
                                                  Commerce.                                               AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                     turtles and Atlantic sturgeon in the U.S.
                                                  ACTION: Notice.                                         Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                   Atlantic exclusive economic zone from
                                                                                                          Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                     Massachusetts to Georgia. The purpose
                                                  SUMMARY:   The National Marine                          Commerce.                                              of the research is to evaluate bycatch
                                                  Fisheries Service (NMFS) released its                                                                          reduction devices for commercial
                                                                                                          ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
                                                  final Environmental Impact Statement                                                                           fishing gear to mitigate sea turtle and


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:31:55
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:31:55
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionIssuance seven new scientific research permits, and fourteen renewal scientific research permits.
ContactJeff Abrams, Santa Rosa, CA (ph.: 707- 575-6080), Fax: 707-578-3435, email: [email protected]).
FR Citation81 FR 2189 
RIN Number0648-XE39

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