HGMPs for five hatchery programs in the Lake Washington, Puget Sound, jointly submitted by University of Washington, WDFW, and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to NMFS for review and approval under 4(d) limit 6 of the ESA. NMFS has authorized many hatchery programs in Puget Sound and on the West Coast, and has developed a consistent approach in analysis for these programs. Thus, effects are not highly uncertain and do not involve unique or unknown risks. The hatchery programs are the University of Washington Aquatic Research Facility Hatchery - Chinook salmon, University of Washington Aquatic Research Facility Hatchery coho, Issaquah Fall Chinook salmon Hatchery Program, Issaquah coho Hatchery Program, and Cedar River Sockeye Hatchery.
There are several ESA-listed species and their critical habitat that are expected to be affected by the proposed programs; Puget Sound Chinook salmon, Puget Sound steelhead, Hood Canal Summer Chum, Lake Ozette Sockeye, Eulachon, Green Sturgeon, Bocaccio, Yelloweye, and bull trout. Impacts on marine mammals are also anticipated because the program is changing prey abundance for marine mammals (especially SRKW and Pinnipeds) in Puget Sound. There are likely no unique characteristics of the geographic area and the action does not involve any new major construction or demolition. There will not be impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems such as deep coral ecosystems. The proposed hatchery releases may have a minor beneficial or adverse effect by being prey for or preying upon other species, including other fish species (i.e., listed rockfish), and piscivorous birds. In addition, returning hatchery-origin adults can provide marine-derived nutrients to the riparian habitat. While hatchery programs can be controversial, it is unlikely that the programs in this bundle will be because they are culturing species SRKW depend upon for prey, and are to support tribal and recreational fisheries.