Scientific Evaluation of Biological Opinions on Endangered and Threatened Fishes in the Klamath River Basin Interim Report (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Factors contributing to the decline in abundance of the endangered suckers and threatened coho in the Klamath River Basin are diverse and, in some cases, incompletely documented. Factors thought to have contributed to the decline of the endangered suckers include degradation of spawning habitat, deterioration in the quality of water in Upper Klamath Lake, overexploitation by commercial and noncommercial fishing (now regulated)
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After the listing of suckers in ~ 988 and coho in ~ 997, the USBR was required to assess the potential impairment ofthese fishes in the Klamath River Basin by operations ofthe Klamath Project. In the assessments, completed in 2001, the USBR concluded that operations of the project would be harmful to the welfare of the listed species without specific constraints on water levels in the lakes to protect the endangered suckers and on flows in the Klamath River main stem to protect the threatened coho salmon.
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During November and early December 200 i, the committee studied written documentation, heard briefings from experts, and received oral and written testimony from the public, and used this information as the basis for its interim report. THE COMMITTEE'S PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The NRC committee concludes that all components of the biological opinion issued by the USFWS on the endangered suckers have substantial scientific support except for the recommendations concerning minimum water levels for Upper Klamath Lake.
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The committee concludes that the USBR proposals also are unjustified, however, because they would leave open the possibility that water levels in Upper Klamath Lake and minimum flows in the Klamath River main stem could be lower than those occurring over the past 10 years for specific kinds of climatic conditions. Thus, the committee finds no substantial scientific evidence supporting changes in the operating practices that have produced the observed levels in
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The committee will make a more comprehensive and detailed assessment of the environmental requirements of the endangered suckers and threatened coho in the Klamath River Basin over the next year, during which time it will develop final conclusions. Observed main-stem flows over the past 10
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