Endangered and Threatened Species; Endangered Status for Umpqua River Cutthroat Trout in Oregon

NMFS is issuing a final determination that the Umpqua River cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) is a ``species'' under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA) and will be listed as endangered. Extremely low, and declining, numbers of adult cutthroat trout counted at Winchester Dam on the North Umpqua River signal a high risk of extinction for the species. Habitat degradation, recreational fishing, and inadequate regulatory mechanisms are factors that have contributed to the species' decline. Habitat degradation and inadequate regulatory mechanisms continue to represent a potential threat to the Umpqua River cutthroat trout's existence. NMFS will reconsider this determination in 2 years (or as new scientific information becomes available) and will continue to assess the degree to which ongoing Federal, state, and local conservation initiatives reduce the risks faced by Umpqua River cutthroat trout.