115 



7 

 Salmon need clean, sediment-free gravel to spawn, and roads are a 

 major source of sedimentation. Through the consultation process, 

 land management agencies have agreed to close, eliminate, or 

 resurface many roads in Snake River salmon watersheds in order to 

 reduce sediment loads. Projects to improve salmon passage 

 through culverts at road crossings are also underway. 



Consultations with Federal agencies and permit conditions for 

 state agencies that operate hatcheries have decreased the number 

 of wild adult salmon being collected for broodstock. This means 

 more wild salmon can spawn naturally in their natal streams. The 

 number of hatchery fish being released in areas where they might 

 adversely affect wild listed salmon has also been decreased from 

 the base period by altering the timing and location of their 

 release. 



In addition to section 7 consultations, NMFS is responsible for 

 the development and implementation of recovery plans. In 

 contrast to consultations which are designed to stabilize 

 populations of listed species, recovery plans are designed to 

 increase the populations of the listed species to sufficient 

 levels so that they may be removed from the threatened or 

 endangered species list. 



In December 1991, NMFS appointed a seven-member scientific 

 recovery team consisting of three fisheries scientists, one 



