2018 Biological Assessment - The Effects of the Proposed Action to Operate the Klamath Project from April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2029 on Federally-Listed Threatened and Endangered Species

This Biological Assessment (BA) has been prepared pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, (16 United States Code [U.S.C.] § 1531 et seq.), to evaluate the potential effects of the continued operation of the Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Klamath Project (Project) on species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. The Project is located in south-central Oregon and northeastern California and contains approximately 230,000 acres of irrigable land. Reclamation stores, diverts, and conveys waters of the Klamath and Lost Rivers to meet authorized Project purposes and contractual obligations in compliance with state and federal laws and carries out the activities necessary to maintain the Project and ensure its proper long-term functioning and operation.

Federally-listed species that occur within the Action Area and are considered as part of this consultation are the endangered Lost River sucker (Deltistes luxatus), endangered shortnose sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris), threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), threatened Southern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris), endangered Southern Resident DPS killer whale (Orcinus orca), and threatened DPS of Pacific eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus).