Can subbasin plans advance the objectives of the Endangered Species Act?
Yes. Our regional and field office personnel are working to ensure our ESA responsibilities (such as listing/delisting decisions, critical habitat designations, recovery planning, 4(d) rules, HCP planning, and section 7 consultations) are complementary with subbasin planning. We plan to integrate the objectives of the Council’s subbasin planning process into our ESA obligations, in cooperation with NOAA Fisheries. This will promote implementation of subbasin plans and provide clear direction regarding the levels of resource protection necessary to achieve consistency with the ESA. We are currently working with Council staff to ensure effective coordination between subbasin planning and our ESA responsibilities. We appreciate the Council’s efforts to work closely with us on these issues. Threatened and endangered plants and animals are present throughout the Columbia Basin and it is likely that each subbasin has at least one listed plant or animal present. We can provide a list of those
