Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Russian River Estuary Management Activities

Résumé

NMFS has received an application from the Sonoma County Water Agency (Agency) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to Russian River Estuary (Estuary) management activities, specifically construction and maintenance of a lagoon outlet channel to improve rearing habitat for listed salmonid species and artificially breaching the barrier beach at the mouth of the river to minimize potential for flooding, as well as conducting a series of biological and physical monitoring activities. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to the Agency to incidentally harass, by Level B Harassment only, a small number of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii), California sea lions (Zalophus califonianus), and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) during the specified activity.