Endangered and Threatened Species: Proposed Endangered Status for Two Chinook Salmon ESUs and Proposed Threatened Status for Five Chinook Salmon ESUs; Proposed Redefinition, Threatened Status, and Revision of Critical Habitat for One Chinook Salmon ESU; Proposed Designation of Chinook Salmon Critical Habitat in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho

NMFS completed a comprehensive status review of west coast chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, or O. tshawytscha) populations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California in response to petitions filed to list chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Based on this review, NMFS identified a total of 15 Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of chinook salmon within this range, including two Snake River ESUs already listed under the ESA, one previously identified ESU (mid-Columbia River summer/fall run) for which no listing was proposed, and one population (Sacramento River winter run) that was listed as a ``distinct population segment'' prior to the formulation of the NMFS ESU policy. With respect to the 12 ESUs that are the subject of this proposed rule, NMFS has concluded that two ESUs are at risk of extinction and five ESUs are at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future. NMFS also concluded that one currently listed ESU should be redefined to include additional chinook salmon populations and that this redefined ESU is at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future. NMFS also concluded that four ESUs are not at risk of extinction nor at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future. Finally, NMFS also renamed the previously identified Mid-Columbia River summer/fall-run ESU as the Upper Columbia River summer/fall-run ESU. NMFS is now issuing a proposed rule to list two ESUs as endangered, five ESUs as threatened, and to redefine one currently listed ESU to include additional chinook populations, under the ESA. The endangered chinook salmon are located in California (Central Valley spring-run ESU) and Washington (Upper Columbia River spring-run ESU). The threatened chinook salmon are dispersed throughout California, Oregon, and Washington. They include the California Central Valley fall-run ESU, the Southern Oregon and California Coastal ESU, the Puget Sound ESU, the Lower Columbia River ESU, and the Upper Willamette River ESU. NMFS also proposes to redefine the Snake River fall-run chinook salmon ESU to include fall chinook salmon populations in the Deschutes River, and proposes to list this redefined ESU as a threatened species. This proposal does not affect the current definition and threatened status of the listed Snake River fall chinook salmon ESU. In each ESU identified as threatened or endangered, only naturally spawned, non-introduced chinook salmon are proposed for listing. Prior to the final listing determinations, NMFS will examine the relationship between hatchery and natural populations of chinook salmon in these ESUs and assess whether any hatchery populations are essential for the recovery of the natural populations and thus will be listed. NMFS is proposing to designate critical habitat for the chinook salmon ESUs newly proposed for listing within this notice, and for the Snake River fall-run ESU, proposing to revise its existing critical habitat. At this time, proposed critical habitat for these ESUs is the species' current freshwater and estuarine range, certain marine areas, and includes all waterways, substrate, and adjacent riparian zones below longstanding, impassible, natural barriers. NMFS is requesting public comments on the issues pertaining to this proposed rule. NMFS is also requesting suggestions and comments on integrated local/state/tribal/Federal conservation measures that will achieve the purposes of the ESA to recover the health of chinook salmon populations and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Should the proposed listing be made final, NMFS will adopt protective regulations and a recovery plan under the ESA.