Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) Biological Opinion and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response Issuance of an ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) Enhancement Permit to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District for Implementation of the Rescue and Rearing Management Plan for the Carmel River Steelhead Rescue and Rearing Enhancement Program Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) Biological Opinion and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response for the Issuance of an ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) Enhancement Permit to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District for Implementation of the Rescue and Rearing Management Plan for the Carmel River Steelhead Rescue and Rearing Enhancement Program

NOAA Fisheries has issued an Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement permit to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) for the continuation of the Carmel River Steelhead Rescue and Rearing Enhancement Program (Program) for ten years in accordance with their revised Rescue and Rearing Management Plan (RRMP). The purpose of the Program is to enhance the S-CCC steelhead population in the Carmel River watershed in Monterey County, California. The permit authorizes the take of the threatened S-CCC Distinct Population Segment (DPS) steelhead. Covered activities include: (1) collection, transport, and relocation of natural-origin steelhead in streams of the Carmel River watershed; (2) temporary captive rearing of juvenile steelhead at the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility and subsequent release; and (3) monitoring activities, including tagging and tracking of juvenile steelhead, to inform Program performance. Implementation of these actions will be guided by the RRMP and a technical advisory team with staff from NOAA Fisheries, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the District, and the Carmel River Steelhead Association.