What a surprise. The feds looked at the same exact data about the salmon and steelhead population being threatened by beaver killing and came up with opposite conclusions that support their careers. It’s almost like they reviewed the research with their eyes closed!
I guess Upton Sinclair was right.
Trump Administration OKs Beaver Killing in Oregon, Despite Harm to Endangered Salmon, Steelhead
Portland, OR – Despite recognizing that restoring beaver populations is key to recovery of imperiled salmon and steelhead species, a federal agency just gave the go-ahead to keep killing beavers in Oregon.
In a long-awaited analysis, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued its findings on the impact on salmon and steelhead of continued killing of Oregon beavers by Wildlife Services, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In this opinion, we concluded the proposed actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the following ESA-listed species, or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their proposed or designated critical habitats:
1.Lower Columbia River (LCR) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
2.Upper Willamette River (UWR) Chinook salmon
3.Snake River (SR) spring/summer-run Chinook salmon
4.SR fall-run Chinook salmon
5.Columbia River (CR) chum salmon (O. keta)
6.LCR coho salmon (O. kisutch)
7.Oregon Coast (OC) coho salmon
8.Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon
9.LCR steelhead (O. mykiss)
10.UWR steelhead
11.Middle Columbia River (MCR) steelhead12.Snake River Basin (SRB) steelhead
We looked at the data you looked at and concluded we don’t care very much about your icky ole beavers. I sit in the big chair and I get to do what I want. No matter how many salmon die.
Still no one tells NOAA and NMNS not to pay attention to research entirely. Check out their reference section to remind yourself that they got an earful of Michael Polloclk. I read these results with a less unhappy eye than some do. Look at their conclusions.
3.3 Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Recommendations
The following three conservation measures are necessary to avoid, mitigate, or offset the impact of the proposed action on EFH. All of these conservation recommendations are a subset of the ESA terms and conditions.
1.Promote non-lethal methods. Minimize adverse effects from beaver removal by promoting non-lethal management, as stated in term and condition 1 in the accompanying opinion.
2.Monitoring and reporting. Ensure completion of monitoring and reporting to confirm the proposed action is meeting the objective of limiting adverse effects, as stated in term and condition #2 in the accompanying opinion.
3.Participate in outreach programs. Participate in efforts to improve landowner outreach and funding programs to manage beaver where they exist using non-lethal methods, as stated in conservation recommendation #1 in the accompanying opinion.
4.Participate in relocation efforts. Participate in any new beaver relocation efforts by providing live-trapped beaver, as stated in conservation recommendation #2 in the accompanying opinion.
If nonlethal measures were recommended, encouraged or even required, with the use of flow devices, and fish and game actually promoted beaver benefits, As in someone collected a saIary for saying good things about beavers, would die a very very happy woman.
I think we’re grading on a curve, and this ain’t a bad start.
2020.06.17-NOAA-Beaver-BiOp
