Environmental Documents: Endangered Species

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed by Congress to conserve species that are in danger of becoming extinct or are threatened with extinction. Reclamation complies with the ESA in the operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of projects and facilities, and on new construction projects, by completing Biological Assessments for actions that may affect those species. ESA compliance is also fully incorporated into the region's National Environmental Policy Act process.

NOAA Fisheries Service oversees the protection and recovery of certain marine-related endangered or threatened species, including salmon and steelhead. For actions that are likely to adversely affect ESA-listed species, NOAA Fisheries presents their determination of how to protect these species in a Biological Opinion issued to Federal agencies. For actions that are not likely to adversely affect ESA-listed species, NOAA Fisheries concurs with the determination in a letter of concurrence issued to Federal agencies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also issues Biological Opinions and letters of concurrence for actions affecting non-marine endangered / threatened species.

Biological Assessments and Opinions

Idaho
Bull Trout
09/2014 Decision Document for Bull Trout Habitat in the Upper Snake River Basin
12/2013 Biological Assessment for Bull Trout Critical Habitat in the Upper Snake River Basin
Deadwood
08/2010 Biological Opinion for the Repairs to Deadwood Dam Access Bridge Project
Lewiston Orchards
07/2017 Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Biological Opinion & Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response Lewiston Orchards Project Water Exchange & Title Transfer
06/2017 Annual Reports for Activities under the Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion, Lewiston Orchards Project
10/2009 Biological Assessment and Opinion for Operation of the Lewiston Orchards Project
Physa Snail
04/2015 Revised Biological Assessment for the Bureau of Reclamation Operations and Maintenance in the Snake River Basin above Brownlee Reservoir on Snake River Physa Snail
09/2014 Biological Assessment for Bureau of Reclamation Operations and Maintenance in the Snake River Basin above Brownlee Reservoir on Snake River Physa Snail
Upper Snake
08/2007 2007 Upper Snake Biological Assessment and Opinions
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
06/2017 Biological Assessment for Bureau of Reclamation Operations and Maintenance in the Snake River Basin Above Brownlee Reservoir on Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Montana
07/2003 Biological Opinion for Bull Trout, Operations and Maintenance of the Big Flat and Frenchtown Irrigation Diversions
07/2002 Biological Assessment for Operations and Maintenance of Big Flat Unit, Missoula Valley Project and Fenchtown Project

Oregon
Deschutes
02/2006 National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion, Incidental Take Statement, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Consultation for Continued Operations and Maintenance of the Deschutes River Basin Projects
08/2005 Amendment to the Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Consultation for Ongoing Operation and Maintenance of the Deschutes River Basin Projects
02/2005 Biological Opinion for the Ongoing Operation & Maintenance of the Deschutes River Basin Projects
05/2004 Consultation on the Bureau of Reclamation's Deschutes Basin Project
03/2004 Supplemental Information to the Biological Assessment on Ongoing Operation and Maintenance of the Deschutes River Basin Projects and Effects on Essential Fish Habitat under the Magnuson-Stevens Act
01/2004 Provision of Supplemental Information to the Biological Assessment on Ongoing Operation and Maintenance of the Deschutes River Basin Projects and Effects on Essential Fish Habitat under the Magnuson-Stevens Act
09/2003 Biological Assessment on Continued Operation & Maintenance of the Deschutes River Basin Projects & Effects on Essential Fish Habitat under the Magnuson-Stevens Act
Rogue
04/2012 Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response for the Future Operation & Maintenance of the Rogue River Basin Project-NOAA
03/2012 Biological Assessment on the Future Operation and Maintenance of the Rogue River Basin Project and Effects on Essential Fish Habitat Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act
10/2009 Biological Assessment on the Future Operation and Maintenance of the Rogue River Basin Project, Talent Division
Tualatin
10/2014 Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion & Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response for the Operation & Maintenance of the Tualatin Project
04/2009 Endangered Species Act Section 7 Informal Consultation for Future Operations & Maintenance of the Tualatin Project, Oregon
03/2009 Biological Assessment for Bureau of Reclamation Future Operations and Maintenance in the Tualatin River Subbasin
Willamette
07/2008 Willamette Project Supplemental Biological Assessment and Opinion

Washington
01/2013 Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Consultation Prepared by National Marine Fisheries Service Regarding Bureau of Reclamation's Odessa Subarea Modified Partial Groundwater Replacement Project on the Columbia River in Adams, Lincoln, Franklin and Grant Counties, Washington
10/2012 Biological Assessment of Effects to Species & Critical Habitat for 13 Anadromous Salmon ESUs, Pacific Eulachon, Green Sturgeon, & Killer Whales in the Columbia Basin from Implementation of the Modified Partial Groundwater Irrigation Replacement Alternative (Alternative 4A)

Columbia/Snake Salmon Recovery Program


Reclamation and US Army Corps of Engineers own and operate the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS), a series of hydropower projects on the Columbia and lower Snake Rivers. The Bonneville Power Administration markets and distributes the power generated from these dams. The FCRPS is operated in compliance with the Endangered Species Act and other Federal laws. Details on FCRPS and the ESA >>

Related Links
Idaho Fish & Wildlife Office Biological Opinions
Tributary Habitat Program
NOAA Fisheries
US Fish and Wildlife Service
http://www.salmonrecovery.gov
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/

Contact

Scott Hoefer
Environmental Protection Specialist
shoefer@usbr.gov
(208) 378-5059

Bureau of Reclamation
Pacific Northwest Region
1150 N. Curtis Road
Boise, Idaho 83706


Last Updated: 6/27/23