Reducing the Impact on At-Risk Salmon and Steelhead by California Sea Lions At Willamette Falls

On October 6, 2017, NMFS received an application under section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) from the state of Oregon requesting authorization to intentionally take, by lethal methods, individually identifiable California sea lions in the Willamette River that are having a significant negative impact on the recovery of Upper Willamette River (UWR) steelhead and UWR Chinook salmon. Both of these salmonid fishery stocks are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 (19 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).