Biological Review Team Reevaluation of Klamath Mountains Province steelhead

In March 1999, a lawsuit was filed challenging the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) decision not to list the Klamath Mountains Province (KMP) and Northern California ESUs' for steelhead under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Subsequently, Northern California ESU was listed as threatened in June 2000 (NMFS 2000) based on the failure of the State of California to implement critical conservation measures. In October 2000, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that NMFS' decision not to list KMP steelhead was arbitrary and capricious, and set aside the March I 998 final rule (NMFS 1998). Judge Illston has directed NMFS to further consider the status of KMP steelhead and file its decision by 31 March 2001. This document summarizes the information used in reconsidering the status of this ESU.