Environmental Assessment to Analyze Impacts of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Consideration of the Skagit River Steelhead Fishery Resource Management Plan under Limit 6 of the 4(d) Rule of the Endangered Species Act (ESA)

The Skagit River Steelhead Fishery Resource Management Plan (Skagit RMP) is a plan for fishery management activities for natural origin Skagit River steelhead in the Skagit River watershed. The proposed fishery’s co-managers: the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, Swinomish Tribe, Upper Skagit Tribe, Skagit River Cooperative, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) submitted the plan to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for a 4(d) authorization under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). NMFS must make a determination under Limit 6 of the 4(d) rule whether the Skagit RMP does or does not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of ESA-listed Puget Sound steelhead.

4(d) authorization must be completed by the 2018 fishery season; January 2018 is the current timeline for authorization.