We, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), are applying the protective regulations for threatened West Coast salmon and steelhead to Upper Columbia River steelhead. Upper Columbia River steelhead were previously listed as endangered in 1997 and were thereby afforded protections against "take" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On January 5, 2006, the listing status of Upper Columbia River steelhead was changed to threatened. We have determined that the existing protective regulations for threatened West Coast salmonids are necessary and advisable for the conservation of Upper Columbia River steelhead.