December, 1997 On October 31, 1996, the NMFS published a final
notice listing coho salmon as threatened in the Central
California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) and
on August 10, 1997 published a final notice listing
steelhead as threatened in the CCCESU. By December, 1997,
the SCWA, Corps and NMFS had signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) under Section 7 (a)(2) of the Federal
Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to the operation and
maintenance of Coyote Valley and Warm Springs Dams on the
Russian River. The purpose of the MOU is to establish a
framework for the consultation and conference required by
the ESA with respect to the Corps, SCWA and the Mendocino
County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation
Improvement District activities which may directly or
indirectly affect Coho or Salmon in the Russian
River. In addition to the operation of the dams, the WSTSP is
another activity subject to Section 7 consultation (FEIR
6.3-17). As of the release of the FEIR on the WSTSP in
October, 1998, the required Biological Assessment had not
even begun. The estimated date of completion would be by
late 1999. The distribution of the assessment will include
public comment. Because the determination by NMFS would not begin until
the end of 1999, the cumulative impacts of the WSTSP Section
7 process were not included in the FEIR.
Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA)
Corps Of Engineers (Corps)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)