17 
cha pter i\/ 
Key Findings Published in the 
NOAA ESA Shortnose Sturgeon 
Biological Opinion 
In response to EPA’s submission of a biological evaluation and request for formal 
consultation under Section 7 (a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act as described in 
Chapter 2, the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service published a biological 
opinion (NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service 2004). This chapter provides an 
extracted summary of key findings, the incidential take statement and recommended 
reasonable and prudent measures published in NOAA’s biological opinion 2 . 
CHLOROPHYLL A CRITERIA 
NOAA Fisheries determined that the chlorophyll a criteria will beneficially affect 
the food sources for several species of listed sea turtles and benefit the habitat of 
shortnose sturgeon and sea turtles (NOAA Fisheries 2004). This is based on the 
finding that the recommended Chesapeake Bay chlorophyll a criteria provide 
concentrations characteristic of desired ecological trophic conditions and protective 
against water quality and ecological impairments (U.S. EPA 2003a). When the 
chlorophyll a criteria are met, light levels and dissolved oxygen levels in the Chesa¬ 
peake Bay system should improve (U.S. EPA 2003b). The proposed chlorophyll a 
concentrations should be protective against these water quality impairments. The 
criteria should significantly improve water quality conditions in the Bay, particularly 
for underwater Bay grasses. 
WATER CLARITY CRITERIA 
NOAA Fisheries determined that shortnose sturgeon and sea turtles are expected to 
benefit from the improved water quality resulting from the adoption of the proposed 
2 The entire biological opinion document can be viewed and downloaded at: 
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/pubs/BONMFS.pdf 
chapter iv 
Key Findings Published in the NOAA ESA Shortnose Sturgeon Biological Opinion 
