Columbia River & Puget Sound-Hatchery and Genetic Managment Support

The salmon resource co-managers in the Pacific Northwest – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and the 25 treaty or federally recognized tribes – operate individual hatchery programs (hereafter, Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans, or “HGMPs”) producing salmon and steelhead. The HGMPs are largely implemented to provide adult fish for harvest in tribal and State fisheries as mitigation for lost natural-origin salmonid production in the region. A substantial number of the HGMPs are also implemented for conservation purposes, to preserve and recover salmon and steelhead populations that are at risk of extirpation.

There are fifteen Endangered Species Act (ESA) -listed “endangered” or “threatened” anadromous salmonid populations under NMFS regulatory purview that may be affected by operation of these co-manager hatchery programs. As such, all of the HGMPs require ESA review and approval by NMFS for operation to ensure their effects (“takes”) do not jeopardize listed salmon and steelhead populations in the region. The NMFS review and determination processes require completion of several effects evaluation and determination documents consistent with ESA and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. The documents provide comprehensive scientific evaluations of listed fish effects associated with proposed hatchery actions, concluding with findings whether the HGMPs are consistent with ESA protective requirements.

Description

NMFS is seeking support to help draft sections of ESA and NEPA documents and to review and edit sections produced by others so that the sections meet regulatory requirements. The cemployee will work with NMFS staff to perform scientific evaluations and writing to complete draft and final versions of NEPA Environmental Assessments (EA), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), ESA 4(d) rule limit 6 evaluation and recommended determination (ERD) documents, ESA Section 10 permits, and ESA section 7 Biological Opinions required for Pacific Northwest region Anadromous Salmon and Steelhead Hatchery Programs affecting listed fish. The employee will assist making revisions to draft versions of the documents prior to their finalization based on internal NMFS review, and review by the co-managers and the general public. The employee will work with NMFS staff in Lacey, WA and Portland, OR.

Tasks

Key tasks include the following:

Draft sections of ESA documents that evaluate the effects of HGMPs and associated fisheries on ESA-listed species under NMFS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdictions.

Draft sections of NEPA documents for both Puget Sound and Columbia River HGMPs.

Respond to comments on the NEPA documents provided during public comment periods.

Address comments received during internal review or by the co-managers on both NEPA and ESA documents.

Work with the NMFS staff to draft and complete NEPA and ESA effects evaluation and determination documents for Snake River/Columbia River region HGMPs, bundled by watershed or type of hatchery program.

Edit draft versions of NEPA sections prepared by others to prepare them for review within the West Coast Region, the hatchery co-managers, and the general public.

Start Date: ASAP

Location: NOAA Office in Lacey, WA; Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; or Boise, ID, and occasionally off-site.

Salary and Benefits: This is a full-time position, overtime is not anticipated. Salary commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits package.