install new fish screens that would exclude fish when water is diverted fiom the Sacramento 

 River. NMFS requested that GCID take immediate action to present a take of juvenile winter- 

 run Chinook before they would pass GCID's pumping station. NMFS requested the Department 

 of Justice move to enjoin the operation of the pumping plant when the fish are likely to be taken. 

 A Federal District Court Judge issued a temporary restraining order against GCID which was 

 effective on August 19. 1991. and cuts diversion of water by about 50 percent. GCID currently 

 operates under a court-approved plan that protects winter-run chinook salmon. 



NMFS has consulted under section 7 with the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Because a 

 direct take of Sacramento River winter-run chinook salmon by sport or commercial fishermen is 

 not allowed, the biological opinion includes measures in the incidental take statement to decrease 

 the potential incidental take of the species. These measures include not approving an early 

 opening of the commercial fishery south of Point Arena. California. 



and delaying the recreational fishery for 2 weeks and closing it 2 weeks early south of Point 

 Arena. Fishing regulations in 1996 include increased size limits in California recreational and 

 commercial ocean salmon fisheries to further reduce impacts on winter-run chinook salmon. 



15 



