As temporary guidance to ensure the conservation of native fish
prior to the completion of conservation plans, the Department shall use the
interim criteria described in this rule. Once a conservation plan is approved,
these interim criteria will no longer apply to the species management unit. In
addition, for state endangered species covered by an associated endangered
species management plan, as described in OAR
635-100-0140, these interim
criteria do not apply.
(1) Existing
Populations - No more than 20% of the historical populations within the species
management unit have become extinct and no natural population within the
species management unit in existence as of 2003 shall be lost in the future.
Further, if the historical species management unit contained more than one race
(e.g., summer and winter steelhead), then each race must be represented by at
least 2 populations. For at least 80% of the existing populations within each
species management unit or for selected index populations identified in the
stock status report as described in
635-007-0505(10),
interim criteria (2) through (6) must be exceeded in at least 3 years during
the most recent 5-year time interval.
(2) Habitat Use Distribution - Naturally
produced members of a population must occupy at least 50% of a population's
historic habitat.
(3) Abundance -
The number of naturally produced spawners must be greater than 25% of the
average abundance of naturally produced spawners over the most recent 30 year
time period.
(4) Productivity - In
years when the total spawner abundance is less than the average abundance of
naturally produced spawners over the past 30 years, then the rate of population
increase shall be at least 1.2 adult offspring per parent. Where offspring are
defined as naturally produced adults that survive to spawn and parents are
defined as those adults of both natural plus hatchery origin that spawned and
collectively produced the observed offspring.
(5) Reproductive Independence - At least 90%
of the spawners within a population must be naturally produced and not hatchery
produced fish, unless the department determines the hatchery produced fish are
being used in a short-term experimental program to help restore a population in
its natural habitat or otherwise directed by a court order.
(6) Hybridization - The occurrence of
individuals that are the product of deleterious hybridization with species that
are non-native to the basin in which they are found must be rare or
nonexistent.
