Implementation of the recovery plan for SRKWs
Section 7 consultations: Looking at Federal actions (funding, permiting, regulating) that might affect hydropower (hatchery production), water treatment plants, sewer outfalls, in-water construction, upland projects, habitat restoration, research, tidal and wave energy, etc.
Recovery plan implementation: started in 2003 really with funding before plan was final (research, enforcement support, education); broad approach to address all threats; adaptive process.
Prey: coordinating with ongoing salmon recovery efforts, starting to inform their process as we learn more about what KWs eat.
Contaminants: Puget Sound Partnership put KWs on the cover!
Vessel impacts: we want to minimize disturbance
- monitor vessel activitiy around whales
- continue evaluation of voluntary measures
- evaluate need for regs or restricted areas
Back in March, 2007 we made an Advanced Notice of Propsoed Rulemaking
Another step was to write a draft environmental analysis of proposed rules:
- economic analysis and regulatory impact review
- many cooperating agencies: WDFW, DFO, Coast Guard
- internal review on-going, some delays (due to administrative turn-over?) before published in Fed Register
Oil Spill Response Plan
- Action in recovery plan and recovery criteria: effective response plan in place
- Oct 2007 workshop to discuss tools
- Draft Response Plan for workshop and public review. It was recently submitted by WDFW as appendix to Northwest Area Contingency Plan
Coordination
- A big part of the Recovery Plan requires coordination with DFO, Canada. SRKWs listed under SARA; helped develop U.S. recovery plan
- KW listed in WA state: state vessel regulation in 2008; WDFW particpated in developing recovery plan
Outreach partners
More at nwr.noaa.gov or via orca.plan@noaa.gov