U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA Fisheries in the Columbia River Basin

Barry A. ThomRegional AdministratorWest Coast Region

Legislative Council on River GovernanceAugust 20, 2019

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 2

Presentation Overview

1. West Coast Region Overview

2. Columbia Basin Partnership

3. Killer Whales & Salmon

4. Sea Lions & Salmon

5. Columbia River System Operations

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 3

Conserve living marine resources

for the benefit

of current and future generations.

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Ocean fisheries (commercial, recreational)

● Magnuson-Stevens Act

● Pacific Salmon Treaty, Inter-American

Tropical Tuna Commission, Pacific Halibut

Commission, Pacific Whiting Agreement

● Tribal fishing rights: U.S. v WA, U.S. v OR

Protected Species

● Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal

Protection Act, Federal Power Act

● Stranding network

Grants

● Mitchell Act, Pacific Coastal Salmon

Recovery Fund

West Coast Region

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What challenges do we face?

• Recovering ESA-listed species

• Water management

• Inland / river habitat for anadromous fish (salmon, steelhead, eulachon, sturgeon)

• Changing ocean conditions, climate, drought

Page 6 U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Presentation Overview

1. West Coast Region Overview

2. Columbia Basin Partnership

3. Killer Whales & Salmon

4. Sea Lions & Salmon

5. Columbia River System Operations

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 7

What is the Columbia Basin Partnership?

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 8

Columbia Basin Partnership Vision

A healthy Columbia River Basin ecosystem with thriving

salmon and steelhead that are indicators of clean and

abundant water, reliable and clean energy, a robust regional

economy, and vibrant cultural and spiritual traditions, all

interdependent and existing in harmony.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 9

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 10

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 11

Presentation Overview

1. West Coast Region Overview

2. Columbia Basin Partnership

3. Killer Whales & Salmon

4. Sea Lions & Salmon

5. Columbia River System Operations

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 12

What is the current status of Southern Resident Killer Whales?

2018 tragic events

captivated the public

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What is guiding our approach?

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 14

Killer Whales and Prey

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 15

Presentation Overview

1. West Coast Region Overview

2. Columbia Basin Partnership

3. Killer Whales & Salmon

4. Sea Lions & Salmon

5. Columbia River System Operations

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 16

Sea lion & salmon interactions

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 17

What are the current options for managing sea lions?

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 18

Presentation Overview

1. West Coast Region Overview

2. Columbia Basin Partnership

3. Killer Whales & Salmon

4. Sea Lions & Salmon

5. Columbia River System Operations

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 19

2019 Columbia River System OperationsBiological Opinion

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries ServicePage 20

Thank You