Common use of Critical Habitat Clause in Contracts

Critical Habitat. Critical habitat for the Puget Sound Chinook salmon ESU was designated on September 2, 2005 (Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 170). This designation specifically identified habitat within the Lower Skagit Sub-basin (Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 170). Critical habitat includes the stream channels within the designated stream reaches, and includes a lateral extent as defined by the ordinary high-water line. In areas where the ordinary high-water line has not been defined, the lateral extent will be defined by the bankfull elevation. As previously mentioned, bankfull elevation is the level at which water begins to leave the channel and move into the floodplain. It is reached at a discharge which generally has a recurrence interval of 1 to 2 years in the annual flood series (Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 170). In estuarine and nearshore marine areas, critical habitat includes areas contiguous with the shoreline from the line of extreme high water out to a depth of no more than 30 meters relative to mean lower low water (FR, 2005a). • Within the Coverage Area and extending into marine waters, critical habitat for the Puget Sound Chinook ESU includes the following watercourses: Skagit River – all segments within the Coverage Area. • North Fork Skagit River – from the Coverage Area boundary upstream to the confluence with the Skagit River. • South Fork Skagit River - from the Coverage Area boundary upstream to the confluence with the Skagit River. • Browns Slough – upstream to Fir Island Road crossing. • Hall Slough – from the Coverage Area boundary upstream to the terminus of designated habitat (location unspecified). • Xxxxxxxx Slough – old channel (Unnamed [48.3831, –122.4842]). • Nearshore marine habitat. The entire watershed for the Samish River was excluded from the Critical Habitat designation for Puget Sound Chinook Salmon. Primary constituent elements (PCEs) for Chinook salmon have been identified within the designated critical habitat areas. The PCEs are those habitat components that are essential for the primary biological needs of foraging, reproducing, rearing of young, dispersal, genetic exchange, or sheltering. The PCEs cover freshwater spawning sites; freshwater rearing sites; freshwater migration corridors; estuarine areas for physiological transition and rearing and migration; nearshore marine areas; and offshore marine areas (Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 170).

Critical Habitat. Critical habitat for the Puget Sound Chinook salmon ESU was designated on September 2, 2005 (Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 170). This designation specifically identified habitat within the Lower Skagit Sub-basin (Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 170). Critical habitat includes the stream channels within the designated stream reaches, and includes a lateral extent as defined by the ordinary high-water line. In areas where the ordinary high-water line has not been defined, the lateral extent will be defined by the bankfull elevation. As previously mentioned, bankfull elevation is the level at which water begins to leave the channel and move into the floodplain. It is reached at a discharge which generally has a recurrence interval of 1 to 2 years in the annual flood series (Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 170). In estuarine and nearshore marine areas, critical habitat includes areas contiguous with the shoreline from the line of extreme high water out to a depth of no more than 30 meters relative to mean lower low water xxxxx xxx xxxxx (FRXX, 2005a0000x). •  Within the Coverage Area and extending into marine waters, critical habitat for the Puget Sound Chinook ESU includes the following watercourses: Skagit River – all segments within the Coverage Area. •  North Fork Skagit River – from the Coverage Area boundary upstream to the confluence with the Skagit River. •  South Fork Skagit River - from the Coverage Area boundary upstream to the confluence with the Skagit River. •  Browns Slough – upstream to Fir Island Road crossing. •  Hall Slough – from the Coverage Area boundary upstream to the terminus of designated habitat (location unspecified). •  Xxxxxxxx Slough – old channel (Unnamed [48.3831, –122.4842]). •  Nearshore marine habitat. The entire watershed for the Samish River was excluded from the Critical Habitat designation for Puget Sound Chinook Salmon. Primary constituent elements (PCEs) for Chinook salmon have been identified within the designated critical habitat areas. The PCEs are those habitat components that are essential for the primary biological needs of foraging, reproducing, rearing of young, dispersal, genetic exchange, or sheltering. The PCEs cover freshwater spawning sites; freshwater rearing sites; freshwater migration corridors; estuarine areas for physiological transition and rearing and migration; nearshore marine areas; and offshore marine areas (Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 170).