COLUMBIA RIVER FISH MITIGATION
Endangered Species Act Listings
Since 1991, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has listed thirteen "Evolutionarily Significant Units," or ESUs, of Columbia River Basin salmon and steelhead as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
When a federal agency's operations may affect species listed under the Endangered Species Act, that agency must consult with the listing agency on those operations. The listing agency then issues a Biological Opinion on the effect of the proposed operations. If the Biological Opinion finds that proposed agency actions would jeopardize the continued existence of the listed species, recommended measures to avoid jeopardy are proposed in a "reasonable and prudent alternative."
The Corps currently operates its dams in accordance with Biological Opinions from the National Marine Fisheries Service for salmon and steelhead, and from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for other Columbia River Basin species listed under the Endangered Species Act.