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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 16, 2021 / Notices with the adequacy of Californias forest practice rules to provide protection for SONCC coho salmon. Specifically, NMFS recommended the addition of the following standards to Californias forest practice rules: 1 Provide Class IIS
standard streams with the same protections afforded Class IIL large streams, 2 include provisions to ensure hydrologic disconnection between logging roads and streams, and 3
include provisions to avoid hauling logs on hydrologically connected streams during winter periods. Furthermore, NMFS concluded that the effects of past and present timber harvest activities in California continue to be an ongoing threat to the SONCC coho salmon ESU.
Based on information provided by the Petitioner, as well as information readily available in our files, we find that a reasonable person would conclude that the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms may pose a threat to the continued existence of SONCC spring-run Chinook salmon.
Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting Its Continued Existence
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Hatcheries The Petitioner asserts that the Cole M.
Rivers Hatchery threatens the future viability of spring-run Chinook salmon in the Rogue River. The Petitioner asserts that operation of the Cole M.
Rivers Hatchery poses a risk to natural origin spring-run Chinook salmon due to multiple factors including competition, predation, disease, and interbreeding. The Petitioner asserts that the release of an average of 1.6 million spring-run Chinook salmon annually from the Cole M. Rivers Hatchery results in increased competition between naturally produced spring-run Chinook salmon and the more abundant artificially produced salmonids. As previously mentioned the Petitioner asserts that hatchery produced coho salmon and steelhead prey upon natural origin spring-run Chinook salmon fry.
The Petitioner further notes that the hatchery is a known source of disease in Chinook salmon. Amandi et al. 1982
found that spring-run Chinook salmon in the Cole M. Rivers Hatchery were found to be infected with F. columnaris and that pathogen concentrations in the outflow from the hatchery were greater than concentrations from the other water bodies sampled. ODFW 2019
reported that it is unknown if the infected salmon were infected with F.
columnaris before entering the hatchery or if the salmon contracted F.
columnaris after entering the hatchery.

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Climate Change and Ocean Conditions The Petitioner also asserts that ongoing threats of poor ocean conditions and climate change are likely to threaten the continued existence of SONCC spring-run Chinook salmon. As described in NMFS Oregon Coast Chinook salmon status reviews NMFS, 2011; Stout et al., 2012, variability in ocean conditions in the Pacific Northwest is a concern for the persistence of coastal Oregon Chinook salmon. The Petitioner also cites NMFS
2011 and Stout et al. 2012 in support of assertions that predicted effects of climate change are expected to negatively affect coastal Oregon salmonids through many different factors. The Petitioner cites the Oregon Coastal Management Plan ODFW, 2014
in support of his assertion that regional changes in climate and weather patterns will negatively impact SONCC coastal aquatic ecosystems and salmonids. The Petitioner cites Reiman and Isaaks 2010 to support his assertion that variable weather and warming events will become more frequent in the Pacific Northwest and continue to threaten SONCC Chinook salmon.
Based on information provided by the Petitioner, as well as information readily available in our files, we find that a reasonable person would conclude that hatcheries and climate change may pose threats to the continued existence of SONCC springrun Chinook salmon.
Petition Finding After reviewing the information contained in the petition, as well as information readily available in our files, we conclude the petition presents substantial scientific information indicating that the petitioned action to delineate the SONCC spring-run Chinook salmon ESU and list it as threatened or endangered under the ESA may be warranted. Therefore, in accordance with section 4b3A of the ESA and NMFS implementing regulations 50 CFR 424.14h2, we will commence a status review to determine whether the spring-run populations of SONCC Chinook salmon constitute an ESU, and, if so, whether that SONCC spring-run Chinook salmon ESU is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, or likely to become so within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. After the conclusion of the status review, we will make a finding as to whether listing the SONCC spring-run Chinook salmon ESU as endangered or threatened is
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warranted as required by section 4b3B of the ESA.
Information Solicited To ensure that our status review is informed by the best available scientific and commercial data, we are opening a 60-day public comment period to solicit information on spring-run Chinook salmon in the SONCC Chinook salmon ESU. We request information from the public, concerned governmental agencies, Native American tribes, the scientific community, agricultural and forestry groups, conservation groups, fishing groups, industry, or any other interested parties concerning the current and/or historical status of spring-run Chinook salmon in the SONCC Chinook salmon ESU. Specifically, we request information regarding: 1 Species abundance; 2 species productivity; 3
species distribution or population spatial structure; 4 patterns of phenotypic, genotypic, and life history diversity; 5 habitat conditions and associated limiting factors and threats;
6 ongoing or planned efforts to protect and restore the species and their habitats; 7 information on the adequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms, whether protections are being implemented, and whether they are proving effective in conserving the species; 8 data concerning the status and trends of identified limiting factors or threats; 9 information on targeted harvest commercial and recreational and bycatch of the species; 10 other new information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes; and 11
information concerning the impacts of environmental variability and climate change on survival, recruitment, distribution, and/or extinction risk.
We request that all information be accompanied by: 1 Supporting documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of pertinent publications; and 2 the submitters name, address, and any association, institution, or business that the person represents.
References A complete list of all references cited herein is available upon request See FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq..

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