Supplemental Environmental Assessment of the Wells Summer Chinook Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan

This Supplemental Environmental Assessment (Supplemental EA) supplements the 2019 Environmental Assessment for Endangered Species Act Section 4(d) Approval and Section 10(a)(1)(A) Permit Issuance for Steelhead Hatchery Programs and Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permit Issuance for Summer/Fall and Fall Chinook Salmon Hatchery Programs in Upper Columbia River (2019 EA) (NMFS 2019). NMFS is proposing to approve an additional 1,000,000 subyearling summer Chinook salmon from the Wells Hatchery under limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Douglas County Public Utility District have submitted a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) that outlines the supportive breeding, rearing, releasing, and associated monitoring and evaluation actions for the proposed hatchery program (WDFW 2019). The primary purpose of the proposed hatchery program is to augment the prey base of Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW).