Background: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has completed its comprehensive scientific review of steelhead on the West Coast, and has continually updated steelhead status as new information has emerged. Coast-wide there are 15 distinct groups, or evolutionarily significant units (ESUs), of steelhead, from southern California to the Canadian border and east to the Rocky Mountains. In March 1998, NMFS proposed protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for upper Willamette River and Middle Columbia River steelhead. The Fisheries Service has now made final listing determinations for these steelhead ESUs.
 
Special Features: Steelhead are most prized by anglers. They depend more on the freshwater environment than most salmon species, relying heavily on rivers and streams as nursery areas. Steelhead penetrate farther into headwater areas, and do not usually die after spawning.
 
Scientific Findings:
> Middle Columbia River ESU, Threatened: Long-term decline in steelhead abundance throughout the ESU. Recent average adult abundance for the Yakima, Walla Walla, Umatilla, John Day and Deschutes river basins combined has been estimated at 13,400 adults (compared to a historical run size estimate of 100,000 fish in the Yakima River alone). Natural steelhead escapement in the Yakima and Umatilla rivers has dropped to as low as 500 fish in some years, and steelhead are now extinct in the Crooked and Metolius rivers. Increasing proportions of hatchery fish in the Deschutes, John Day and Umatilla rivers pose genetic and ecological problems to remaining natural fish. Habitat blockages, reductions in streamflow and water quality, and mortality passing hydroelectic dams pose significant impacts to these fish.
 
> Upper Willamette River ESU, Threatened: Winter steelhead are in steep decline after exhibiting wildly fluctuating abundance. Recent average adult abundance has been estimated at 3,000 fish. Natural fish adult returns in 1995 were the lowest in 30 years. Declines have been recorded in almost all natural populations. Natural steelhead integrity is at risk from introduced summer steelhead.
 
What's Next: The listings will become effective in 60 days. At that time, federal rules will go into effect, but they will affect only activities on federal lands or projects that require a federal permit. On non-federal lands, other so-called "4(d) rules" (protective regulations) will be proposed later. They will be tailored to mesh with whatever efforts have already been made by state, tribal and local conservation initiatives.
 
Get more information on these listings by visiting the National Marine Fisheries Service's Website at www.nwr.noaa.gov; by contacting Garth Griffin, NMFS Protected Resources Division, 525 NE Oregon St., Suite 500, Portland, OR, 97232; or by calling 503-230-5400.