Dam removal may impact species of special concern (federally listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened, endangered, or rare) and their habitat. When any federal agency proposes an action (for example, dam removal) that might affect an ESA-listed species, they are required to submit a written statement to the federal agency (NOAA Fisheries or Fish and Wildlife Service) who is the trustee for that species. The trustee agency reviews the statement and issues a biological opinion (scientific judgment) stating whether the proposed action will jeopardize or adversely affect a listed species or critical habitat. The biological opinion may contain conservation recommendations or impose measures to reduce adverse effects from the proposed action.
In the Elwha, these fish and wildlife are listed as federally threatened species:
The Elwha also has fish and wildlife that are federal species of concern (FSC), which are species at risk of becoming listed. For FSC, there are concerns regarding their status and threats to their existence, but there is insufficient information available to list these species. In the Elwha, these are the FSC:
Below is a summary list of biological opinions relating to restoration of the Elwha issued by federal agencies.
2006 –Title: Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration. Download.
2004 – Title: Biological and Conference Opinion on the Effects to the Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and Bull Trout Proposed Critical Habitat from Continued Implementation of Forest Service Land and Resource Management Plans and Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plans as amended by the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan Record of Decision as amended by the October 24, 2003, Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement regarding Aquatic Conservation Strategy Clarification Amendments to the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan Record of Decision. Download.
2003 – Title: Endangered Species Act - Section 7 Biological Opinion and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Consultation. Download
2003 – Title: Biological Opinion and Letter of Concurrence for Effects to Bald Eagles, Marbled Murrelets, Northern Spotted Owls, Bull Trout, Designated Critical Habitat for Marbled Murrelets and Northern Spotted Owls from Olympic National Forest Program of Activities for August 5, 2003, to December 31, 2008. Download.
2002 – Title: Issuance of four permits and one modification authorizing scientific research studies of threatened Puget Sound Chinook salmon in the Puget Sound region from the North Fork Nooksack River to the Elwha River on the Olympic Coast. Download.
2002 – Title: Issuance of 16 permits and two modifications authorizing scientific research studies of threatened Puget Sound Chinook salmon in the Puget Sound region from the North Fork Nooksack River to the Elwha River on the Olympic Coast and threatened Hood Canal chum salmon. Download.
National Park Service. 1996. Elwha River Ecosystem Restoration, Draft Environmental Impact Statement. National Park Service, Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington, 98362.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2007. Species of Concern.