Environmental Assessment of the Issuance of an Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(A) Enhancement Permit to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the Operation of the Fall Creek Coho Salmon Hatchery Program

Action is the issuance of the 10(a)(1)(A) permit. The Fall Creek Hatchery (FCH) Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) is a fairly standard HGMP, and it is a continuation of an existing HGMP for Iron Gate Hatchery (IGH). FCH, about 7 miles upstream of IGH, will replace IGH when Iron Gate Dam is removed at the end of 2023/beginning of 2024. The HGMP is just for ESA listed coho salmon, and the production target of 75,000 coho salmon will remain the same at FCH that it was at IGH.

The FCH will be a revitalization of an existing facility and construction activities and any Section 106 concerns are covered under the dam removal consultation, so the NEPA only needs to cover the production of coho salmon at FCH and any associated impacts.