Designation of Critical Habitat for Snake River Sockeye Salmon, Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon, and Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon

NMFS is designating critical habitat for the Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Snake River fall chinook salmon pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The designated habitat for Snake River sockeye salmon consists of river reaches of the Columbia, Snake, and Salmon Rivers, Alturas Lake Creek, Valley Creek, and Stanley, Redfish, Yellow Belly, Pettit, and Alturas Lakes (including their inlet and outlet creeks). The designated habitat for Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon consists of river reaches of the Columbia, Snake, and Salmon Rivers, and all tributaries of the Snake and Salmon rivers (except the Clearwater River) presently or historically accessible to Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (except reaches above impassable natural falls and Hells Canyon Dam). The designated habitat for Snake River fall chinook salmon consists of river reaches of the Columbia, Snake, and Salmon Rivers, and all tributaries of the Snake and Salmon Rivers presently or historically accessible to Snake River fall chinook salmon (except reaches above impassable natural falls, and Dworshak and Hells Canyon Dams).

The critical habitat designation identifies those physical and biological features of the habitat that are essential to the conservation of the species and that may require special management consideration or protection. The economic and other impacts resulting from this critical habitat designation, over and above those arising from the listing of the species under the ESA, are expected to be minimal. The designation of critical habitat provides explicit notice to Federal agencies and the public that these areas and features are vital to the conservation of the species. In addition, the designation assists Federal agencies in carrying out their responsibility to ensure that agency actions will not result in destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.