Species Status:

The Central California Coast coho salmon ESU (CCC coho) includes all naturally spawned populations from Punta Gorda in northern California to the South (including the San Lorenzo River in central California), as well as populations in tributaries to San Francisco Bay (excluding the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system).  Four artificial propagation programs are considered part of this ESU[1].  The artificially propagated stocks were found to be no more than moderately divergent genetically from the natural populations.

Information on the abundance and productivity trends for the naturally spawning component of the CCC coho ESU is extremely limited.  No long-term time series of spawner abundance exist for individual river systems.  Data are particularly lacking for many river basins in the southern two-thirds of the ESU, where naturally spawning populations are considered to be at the greatest risk.  Analyses of juvenile coho presence-absence information, juvenile density surveys, and irregular adult counts for the South Fork Noyo River indicate low abundance and long-term downward trends.  The extirpation or near extirpation of natural coho salmon populations in several major river basins and across most of the southern historical range of the ESU represents a significant risk to ESU spatial structure and diversity.  Trend data for this ESU show a continuing decline in abundance

Recovery Plan Status:

Recovery Outline completed and signed by Regional Headquarters October 2005.  No recovery plan has been completed for this ESU.  Current progress includes development of a recovery plan template, recovery plan chapters and an assessment of threats applying The Nature Conservancy protocols.  A draft recovery plan is expected in June 2007 with a final plan to be completed in December 2007. 

Literature Cited

55 FR 24296. 1990. Endangered and threatened species; listing and recovery priority guidelines. Federal Register, 55: 24296-24298.

61 FR 56138. 1996. Endangered and threatened species: Threatened status for Central California Coast coho salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit. Federal Register, 61: 56138-56149.

70 FR 37160. 2005. Endangered and threatened species: final listing determinations for 16 ESUs of West Coast Salmon, and final 4(d) protective regulations for threatened salmonid ESUs. Federal Register, 70: 37160-37204.

Good, T. P., R. S. Waples & P. B. Adams. 2005. Updated status of federally listed ESUs of West Coast salmon and steelhead. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-NWFSC-66. 598 pp.

Threats and Impacts:

• Agricultural operations

• Artificial barriers

• Canal and pipeline crossings

• Conditions severing surface/subsurface hydrologic connection of stream channel and wetlands

• Dams

• Erosion-control structures

• Flood-control structures

• Pits from gravel mining

• Road crossings (e.g., bridges, culverts, and low-water fords)

• Forestry operations

• Gravel extraction

• Illegal harvest

• Streambed alteration

• Substandard fish screens on diversions

• Suction dredging

• Unscreened water diversions

• Urbanization

• Water demand exceeding availability

• Water pollution

Additional and highlighted threats include the following:

• Potential genetic modification in hatchery stocks resulting from domestication selection

• Incidental mortality from catch-and-release hooking

• Climatic variation leading to drought, flooding, and variable ocean conditions

• Predation

The following limiting factors, and their level of threat to this DPS, were identified in the 2006 Pacific Coastal Salmonid Restoration Fund Report to Congress:

Degraded Habitat-Estuarine and Nearshore Marine:  High Threat

Degraded Habitat-Floodplain Connectivity and Function:  Moderate to High Threat

Degraded Habitat-Channel Structure and Complexity:  Moderate Threat

Degraded Habitat-Riparian Areas and LWD Recruitment:  Moderate Threat

Degraded Habitat-Stream Substrate:  Moderate to High Threat

Degraded Habitat-Stream Flow:  Moderate Threat

Degraded Habitat-Water Quality:  High Threat

Degraded Habitat-Fish Passage:  Moderate to High Threat

Hatchery-related Adverse Effects:  Moderate Threat

Harvest-related Adverse Effects:  High Threat

Predation/Competition/ Disease:  High Threat

Recovery Priority Number:          1

A priority number of “1” was assigned to the CCC steelhead DPS in accordance with the Recovery Priority Guidelines  Endangered and threatened species; listing and recovery priority guidelines and indicates the priority of the species for recovery plan development and implementation.  Ranking for CCC coho salmon was based on a high degree of threat, a high recovery potential and an anticipated conflict with economic activity.  The Biological Review Team agreed in 2004 that natural populations of coho salmon in the CCC ESU are in danger of extinction.  This determination was based on the following factors:  1) substantially low abundance of coho salmon from historical levels (e.g., more than 50% of coho streams no longer have spawning runs), 2) long-term trends clearly downward, 3) degraded habitats, 4) threats to genetic integrity due to hatchery plantings, and 5) recent droughts and change in ocean productivity.  It is believed a high potential for recovery is possible for CCC coho salmon because of the likelihood that freshwater impacts can be substantially controlled or reduced through habitat protection, implementation of best management practices, and focused restoration.  Over 80 percent of the range of CCC coho lies under private ownership.  Forestry is the predominant land use; however, high levels of forest conversion to agriculture and urbanization are currently under way.  Imminent land use changes are anticipated to conflict with the conservation needs of CCC coho salmon.

Priority Recovery Actions Needed:

Several priority recovery actions are needed for the Central California Coast coho salmon ESU, including the following:

• Research and monitor distribution, status, and trends of coho.
• Promote operations of current recovery hatcheries and develop Hatchery and Genetics Management Plans (HGMPs) to minimize negative influences of hatcheries.
• Improve freshwater habitat quantity and quality.
• Protect and restore habitat complexity and connectivity from the upper watershed to the ocean.
• Conduct focused freshwater habitat restoration in anadromous salmonid streams (e.g., erosion control, bank stabilization, riparian protection and restoration, and reintroduction of large woody debris).
• Balance water supply and allocation with fisheries needs through a water rights program, designate fully appropriated watersheds, develop passive diversion devices or offstream storage, eliminate illegal water diversions, and improve criteria for water drafting and dam operations.
• Improve agricultural and forestry practices, in particular, riparian protections, road construction, and road maintenance.
• Improve county and city planning, regulations (e.g., riparian and grading ordinances), and county road maintenance programs.
• Remove/upgrade high-priority man-made fish passage barriers (e.g., watercourse crossings and non-hydropower dams). 
• Implement screening of all water diversion structures.
• Replace existing, outdated septic systems and improve wastewater management.
• Identify and treat point and non-point source pollution of streams from wastewater, agricultural practices, and urban environments.
• Modify channel and flood control maintenance and eliminate artificial breeching of sandbars for improvements in channel and estuarine habitats.

Conservation Actions:

• Continue working with State Board of Forestry regarding non-federal timber operations.
• Preliminary scoping underway between State and NMFS regarding California State Forestry Habitat Conservation Plan.
• Implement the Fish Friendly Farming program, a multi-agency, third-party certification and technical assistance program for wine grape growers practicing best management practices (BMPs) for salmon – Over 10,000 acres of private property have been inspected and certified through this program.
• Collaborated proactively with counties on General Plan Updates, Grading Ordinances, and Riparian Ordinances.
• Encourage FishNet 4C, a muti-county group, dedicating resources to county restoration activities focused on salmon and steelhead restoration.
• Continue recovery hatchery coho salmon captive brookstock activities at Warm Springs Dam.
• Improved section 7 consultations.

02/20/2008