Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species (APPS)

1) If your activities will involve equipment (e.g., scientific instruments) or techniques that are new, untested,or otherwise have unknown or uncertain impacts on the biological or physical environment , please discuss the degree to which they are likely to be adopted by others for similar activities or applied more broadly.

The techniques utilized in the sampling methods for CV steelhead are customary.

2) If your activities involve collecting, handling, or transporting potentially infectious agents or pathogens (e.g., biological specimens such as live animals or blood), or using or transporting hazardous substances (e.g., toxic chemicals), provide a description of the protocols you will use to ensure public health and human safety are not adversely affected, such as by spread of zoonotic diseases or contamination of food or water supplies.

While this proposal includes transporting captured CV steelhead, the fish will be released back to the San Joaquin River from which they came.  There are no toxic chemicals proposed in association with this monitoring effort.

3) Describe the physical characteristics of your project location, including whether you will be working in or near unique geographic areas such as state or National Marine Sanctuaries, Marine Protected Areas, Parks or Wilderness Areas, Wildlife Refuges, Wild and Scenic Rivers, designated Critical Habitat for endangered or threatened species, Essential Fish Habitat, etc. Discuss how your activities could impact the physical environment, such as by direct alteration of substrate during use of bottom trawls, setting nets, anchoring vessels or buoys, erecting blinds or other structures, or ingress and egress of researchers, and measures you will take to minimize these impacts.

We will be working on capturing fish from sloughs and canals where habitat is unsuitable for the fish and relocate them to acceptable and suitable habitats within the Restoration Area.

4) Briefly describe important scientific, cultural, or historic resources (e.g., archeological resources, animals used for subsistence, sites listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places) in your project area and discuss measures you will take to ensure your work does not cause loss or destruction of such resources. If your activity will target marine mammals in Alaska or Washington, discuss measures you will take to ensure your project does not adversely affect the availability (e.g., distribution, abundance) or suitability (e.g., food safety) of these animals for subsistence uses.

The project will be implemented in a way to avoid adverse impacts to cultural and historic resources, consistent with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.  No activities planned here are proposed to modify the physical or aesthetic characteristics of any eligible properties.

5) Discuss whether your project involves activities known or suspected of introducing or spreading invasive species, intentionally or not, (e.g., transporting animals or tissues, discharging ballast water, use of equipment at multiple sites). Describe measures you would take to prevent the possible introduction or spread of non-indigenous or invasive species, including plants, animals, microbes, or other biological agents.

While this proposal includes transporting captured CV steelhead, the fish will be released back to the San Joaquin River from which they came.  There are no known or suspected results that could occur from the monitoring activities that could result in the intentional or unintentional spread of disease or invasive species in the restoration area.