Marine Mammal Protection Act Section 120 Pinniped Removal Program: Bonneville Dam Actions and Documents

2022 Actions and Documents

Publications

January

Task Force Meeting Announcement (flier)

Task Force Agenda

MMPA Section 120 Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force Program Evaluation, Bonneville Dam

MMPA Section 120 Benefits Analysis, Bonneville Dam

MMPA Section 120 Program Summary, Bonneville Dam

MMPA Section 120 Hazing Program Summary, Bonneville Dam

Pinniped Monitoring Program at Bonneville Dam, Corps of Engineers

2021 Actions and Documents

Publications

November

Bonneville Dam MMPA Section 120 Management Report 2021

2020 Actions and Documents

Publications

October

Bonneville Dam MMPA Section 120 Management Report 2020 (PDF, 10 pages)

2019 Actions and Documents

Publications

April

April 17, 2019 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 18 pages)

April 29, 2019 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 15 pages)

April 30, 2019 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 15 pages)

May

May 6, 2019 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 15 pages)

May 13, 2019 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 15 pages)

May 15, 2019 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 15 pages)

May 20, 2019 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 15 pages)

2018 Actions and Documents

Publications

March

March 23, 2018 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 13 pages)

May

May 4, 2018 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 11 pages)

May 7, 2018 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 13 pages)

May 14, 2018 - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 12 pages)

2017 Actions and Documents

Publications

May

May 22nd - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 12 pages)

May 15th - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 12 pages)

May 8th - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 13 pages)

May 2nd - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 12 pages)

April

Final Report and Recommendations of the Bonneville Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force

April 24th - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 12 pages)

March

March 24th - Updated list of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 11 pages)

February

2016 Field Report: Evaluation of Pinniped Predation on Adult Salmonids and other Fish in the Bonneville Dam Tailrace, 2016 (PDF, 51 pages)

Task Force Meeting Announcement (PDF, 1 page)

January

January 6th - Letter from ODFW to NMFS Regarding Term and Condition 2, 2016 Letter of Authorization (PDF, 2 pages)

2016 Actions and Documents

Publications

• Task Force Meeting Announcement and Details (PDF, 1 page)
• Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force Agenda (PDF, 2 pages)
• Section 120 Evaluation and Task Force Instructions (PDF, 4 pages)
• Summary Information Document (PDF, 3 pages)
• Final Facilitators Summary (PDF, 13 pages)
• Final Report & Recommendations (PDF, 22 pages)
• Appendix A - Membership (PDF, 1 page)
• Appendix B - Agenda & Summary (PDF, 23 pages)
• Appendix C - CRITFC Presentation (PDF, 13 pages)
• Appendix C - ODFW Presentation (PDF, 11 pages)
• Appendix C - USACE Presentation (PDF, 13 pages)
• Appendix C - Instructions (PDF, 4 pages)
• Appendix C - Summary Information (PDF, 3 pages)
• Appendix D - Attendee List (PDF, 1 page)
• Appendix E - FRN & Media Notices (PDF, 1 page)

Chronology

October

October 14th - ODFW 2016 MMPA Section 120 Field Report (PDF, 18 pages)

June

News Release

Letter of Authorization (PDF, 14 pages)

Sea Lion Task Force

Final Facilitators Summary (PDF, 22 pages)

Final Report & Recommendations (PDF, 13 pages)

Supplemental Biological Opinion (PDF, 21 pages)

Response to public comments (PDF, 10 pages)

Supplemental Environmental Assessment (PDF, 67 pages)

FONSI (PDF, 7 pages)

Federal Register Notice

May

May 2nd - Updated List of Predatory Sea Lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 14 pages)

Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force to reconvene - Announcement and Details (PDF, 1 page)

May 11th - Updated List of Predatory Sea Lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 16 pages)

May 16th - Updated List of Predatory Sea Lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 16 pages)

April

April 13th - Updated List of Predatory Sea Lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 13 pages)

April 18th - Updated List of Predatory Sea Lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 15 pages)

April 26th - Updated List of Predatory Sea Lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 14 pages)

March

Corps 2015 MMPA Section 120 Field Report (PDF, 39 pages)

March 31st - Updated List of Predatory Sea Lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 13 pages)

January

States' Letter and Application (PDF, 9 pages)

NOAA Fisheries' response to the States' application (PDF, 1 page)

Federal Register Notice

Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force to reconvene

2015 Actions and Documents

May

May 11th - List of Predatory Sea Lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 12 pages)

May 26th - Updated List of Predatory Sea Lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 13 pages)

April

April 20th - List of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 10 pages)

2014 Actions and Documents

September

2014 Field Report: Evaluation of pinniped predation on adult salmonids and other fish in the Bonneville Dam tailrace. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (PDF, 40 pages)

2013 Actions and Documents

February

U.S. District Court rules in favor of NOAA Fisheries (PDF, 45 pages)

March

States 2013 plan to manage Sea Lions in the Columbia River Basin (PDF, 3 pages)

List of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW/WDFW (PDF, 2 pages)

May

List of predatory sea lions that can be removed by ODFW / WDFW (PDF, 9 pages)

September

U.S. Ninth Circuit rules in favor of NOAA Fisheries (PDF, 14 pages)

October

Corps of Engineers' Field Report, 2013 (PDF, 40 pages)

Letter of Authority and Bonneville Field Report (PDF, 19 pages)

2012 Actions and Documents

March

• Letter of Authorization to Idaho, including list of animals authorized for removal; letters to other states have the same language (PDF, 8 pages)
• Marine Mammal Protection Act Report (PDF, 42 pages)
• Supplemental Information Report - Appendix B (PDF, 46 pages)
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Review Memo (PDF, 15 pages)
• NEPA Review Memo Appendix A (PDF, 12 pages)
• Response to comment on states' request for MMPA Sec. 120 sea lion removal authority (PDF, 22 pages)

May

Response to OR, WA request: MMPA Sec 120, Amend 12 of 2012 LOA (3.31.2016) (PDF, 13 pages)

October

Corps of Engineers' Field Report, 2012 (PDF, 33 pages)

States' Field Report, 2012 (PDF, 37 pages)

2011 Actions and Documents

January

NOAA Fisheries decides to fix "flaws" in sea lion removal program rather than seek further review of Ninth Circuit Court's decision.

May

NOAA Fisheries announced authorizing the states of Washington and Oregon to remove California sea lions that feed on ESA-listed salmon in the Columbia River Basin.

• News release
• Questions & Answers on sea lion removal authorization (PDF, 3 pages)
• Letter of authorization to Washington; letter to Oregon has the same language (PDF, 8 pages)
• 2011 decision memo approving sea lion removal letters of authorization (PDF, 42 pages)
• Supplemental Information Report to the 2008 Environmental Assessment (PDF, 31 pages)
• Endangered Species Act update memo (PDF, 15 pages)

July

NOAA Fisheries withdraws letter of authorization to lethally remove California Sea Lion at Bonneville Dam; program removals to date: total 37 animals (PDF, 1 page)

August

Request by the states for Marine Mammal Protection Act Section 120 Authorization to remove California Sea Lions from the Columbia River (PDF, 23 pages)

September

NOAA Fisheries accepts the states' application for a new authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to lethally remove individually identifiable California sea lions at Bonneville Dam.

October

Pinniped Fishery Interaction Task Force reconvenes

Corps of Engineers' Field Report, 2011 (PDF, 31 pages)

States' Field Report, 2011 (PDF, 39 pages)

November

2011 Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force Report release (PDF, 15 pages)

2010 Actions and Documents

October

Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force meeting

Corps of Engineers' Field Report, 2008-2010 (PDF, 55 pages)

November

Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force meeting

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decides that authorization for removal program must be revised (PDF, 30 pages)

December

Release of 2010 Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force Report (PDF, 16 pages)

States request that letter of authorization be reissued to them: States' Report (PDF, 6 pages)

2009 Actions and Documents

October

Corps of Engineers' Pinniped Field Report, 2009 (PDF, 37 pages)

November

States request to NOAA Fisheries (PDF, 6 pages)

December

NOAA response to the states' request (PDF, 9 pages)

2008 Actions and Documents

January

NOAA Fisheries releases draft environmental assessment on states application; followed by public comment period.

March

In response to a request from the states, NOAA Fisheries granted authority to Washington, Oregon and Idaho to remove California sea lions that feed on ESA-listed salmon in the Columbia River Basin.

• News release
• Federal Register notice
• Letter of Authorization to Oregon; letters to Washington & Idaho have the same language (PDF, 6 pages)
• Final Environmental Assessment (EA); red-lined to show differences between the draft and final (PDF, 144 pages)
• EA Chapter 8, Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (PDF, 8 pages)
• 2008 decision memo approving sea lion removal letters of authorization (PDF, 17 pages)
• MMPA Sec. 120 permanent removal fact sheet (PDF, 2 pages)
• Columbia River pinniped fact sheet (PDF, 2 pages)

September

States' Field Report, 2008 (PDF, 7 pages)

2007 Actions and Documents

January

NOAA Fisheries accepts states application; followed by public comment period

August

NOAA Fisheries established the Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force

November

Release of 2007 Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force Report (PDF, 16 pages)

2006 Actions and Documents

December

Washington, Oregon, and Idaho submit request for authorization under the lethally remove California sea lions at Bonneville Dam that are having significant negative impact on the decline or recovery of endangered and threatened salmon and steelhead (PDF, 29 pages)

More Information

MMPA Section 120 Pinniped Removal Program: Columbia River and Willamette River