Deschutes-HCP-EIS-Volume-I-FINAL.pdf

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have received applications for Incidental Take Permits (ITPs) from multiple applicants in Central Oregon in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. The Deschutes Basin Board of Control’s eight member irrigation districts—Arnold, Central Oregon, Lone Pine, North Unit, Ochoco, Swalley, Three Sisters, and Tumalo—and the City of Prineville (collectively, the Applicants) have jointly submitted a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to both FWS and NMFS to address take of species listed as threatened under ESA from their ongoing water management activities. The Applicants are requesting take of the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) from FWS and take of the Middle Columbia River steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and one nonlisted species—sockeye salmon (O. nerka)—from NMFS. FWS, as the federal lead agency, prepared this EIS pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations, as well as internal agency guidance. FWS and NMFS will each make separate decisions on whether to issue ITPs to the Applicants, relying on the criteria for ITPs set forth in ESA and its implementing regulations. Key issues include the assessment of the potential for impacts associated with the different alternatives and the corresponding need to offset these impacts on the covered species.