Critical habitat in freshwater riverine areas includes the stream channels and a lateral extent as defined by the ordinary high-water line (33 CFR 329.11). In areas for which the ordinary high-water line has not been defined pursuant to 33 CFR 329.11, the lateral extent is defined by the bankfull elevation. Bankfull elevation is the level at which water begins to leave the channel and move into the floodplain and is reached at a discharge which generally has a recurrence interval of 1 to 2 years on the annual flood series. Critical habitat in bays and estuaries includes tidally influenced areas as defined by the elevation of mean higher high water (MHHW).No areas were deemed ineligible for designation. No unoccupied areas were designated. 14 areas based on economic impacts and 5 areas based on national security impacts were excluded from this critical habitat designation and clipped out of the data. The following tribal lands were excluded from this designation, but were not clipped out of the data:(1) Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community, California(2) Cher-Ae Heights Trinidad Rancheria, California(3) Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, Oregon(4) Coquille Indian Tribe, Oregon(5) Hoh Tribe, Washington(6) Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Washington(7) Lower Elwha Tribe, Washington(8) Makah Tribe, Washington(9) Quileute Tribe, Washington(10) Quinault Tribe, Washington(11) Shoalwater Bay Tribe, Washington(12) Wiyot Tribe, California(13) Yurok Tribe, California

These data represent the critical habitat for Gulf Sturgeon as designated by Federal Register Vol. 68, No. 53, Wednesday, March 19, 2003, Rules and Regulations.

The designated areas are a combination of freshwater creeks and rivers and their associated estuaries. In freshwater areas, critical habitat includes the stream channel and a lateral extent as defined by the ordinary high-water line (33 CFR 329.11). In areas where the ordinary high-water line has not been defined, the lateral extent is defined by the bankfull elevation. Bankfull elevation is the level at which water begins to leave the channel and move into the floodplain and is reached at a discharge which generally has a recurrence interval of 1 to 2 years on the annual flood series. In estuarine areas, critical habitat includes tidally influenced areas as defined by the elevation of mean higher high water. See the final rule (76 FR 65324) for descriptions of areas excluded from this critical habitat designation. No areas were excluded from designation based on economic impacts. Areas were excluded from the critical habitat designation for the following federally-recognized tribes: (1) Lower Elwha Tribe, Washington; (2) Quinault Tribe, Washington; (3) Yurok Tribe, California; and (4) Resighini Rancheria, California.

The designated areas are a combination of freshwater creeks and rivers and their associated estuaries. In freshwater areas, critical habitat includes the stream channel and a lateral extent as defined by the ordinary high-water line (33 CFR 329.11). In areas where the ordinary high-water line has not been defined, the lateral extent is defined by the bankfull elevation. Bankfull elevation is the level at which water begins to leave the channel and move into the floodplain and is reached at a discharge which generally has a recurrence interval of 1 to 2 years on the annual flood series. In estuarine areas, critical habitat includes tidally influenced areas as defined by the elevation of mean higher high water. See the final rule (76 FR 65324) for descriptions of areas excluded from this critical habitat designation. No areas were excluded from designation based on economic impacts. Areas were excluded from the critical habitat designation for the following federally-recognized tribes: (1) Lower Elwha Tribe, Washington; (2) Quinault Tribe, Washington; (3) Yurok Tribe, California; and (4) Resighini Rancheria, California.

This feature class depicts the boundaries of Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas as defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2023-2024 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments (89 FR 22342, April 1, 2024)https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/01/2024-06775/magnuson-stevens-act-provisions-fisheries-off-west-coast-states-pacific-coast-groundfish-fishery?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdeliveryThe following descriptions highlight the cumulative adjustments incorporated in this feature class:November 2023 Inseason ActionBetween 42 N. lat. and 36 N. lat., the Non-Trawl RCA shoreward boundary has been extended to the State/Federal boundary.The 100-150 fm lines around Santa Barbara Island, San Nicolas Island, and Cortes and Tanner Banks will be part of the Non-Trawl RCA.March 2024 Inseason Action Between 37° 07' N. lat. and 36° N. lat., the Non-Trawl RCA shoreward boundary has been changed from the State/Federal boundary to the 50 fm depth contour. The feature class naming convention reflects the date (YYYYMMDD) that the RCAs were published in the Federal Register (FR).

This feature class depicts the boundaries of Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas as defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2023-2024 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments (89 FR 22342, April 1, 2024)https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/01/2024-06775/magnuson-stevens-act-provisions-fisheries-off-west-coast-states-pacific-coast-groundfish-fishery?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdeliveryThe following descriptions highlight the cumulative adjustments incorporated in this feature class:November 2023 Inseason ActionBetween 42 N. lat. and 36 N. lat., the Non-Trawl RCA shoreward boundary has been extended to the State/Federal boundary.The 100-150 fm lines around Santa Barbara Island, San Nicolas Island, and Cortes and Tanner Banks will be part of the Non-Trawl RCA.March 2024 Inseason Action Between 37° 07' N. lat. and 36° N. lat., the Non-Trawl RCA shoreward boundary has been changed from the State/Federal boundary to the 50 fm depth contour. The feature class naming convention reflects the date (YYYYMMDD) that the RCAs were published in the Federal Register (FR).

Critical habitat includes all marine waters within the delineated boundaries. For the inland waters of Washington state (2006 designation), the contiguous shoreline is defined by the line at a depth of 20 feet (6.1 meters) relative to extreme high water. For the coastal marine waters along the U.S. west coast (2021 revision), the contiguous shoreline is defined by the line at a depth of 20 feet (6.1 meters) relative to mean high water. See the final rules (71 FR 69054 and 86 FR 41668) for descriptions of areas excluded from this critical habitat designation. For the inland waters of Washington state (2006 designation), military areas excluded due to national security impacts were not clipped out of the data.For the coastal marine waters along the U.S. west coast (2021 revision), military areas excluded due to national security impacts (i.e., the Quinault Range and its 10 kilometer buffer) were clipped out of the data.

The following waterways, bottom and water of the waterways and adjacent riparian zones: The Sacramento River from Keswick Dam, Shasta County (River Mile 302) to Chipps Island (River Mile 0) at the westward margin of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, all waters from Chipps Island westward to Carquinez Bridge, including Honker Bay, Grizzly Bay, Suisun Bay, and Carquinez Strait, all waters of San Pablo Bay westward of the Carquinez Bridge, and all waters of San Francisco Bay (north of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge) from San Pablo Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge.Adjacent riparian zones are those areas above a streambank that provide cover and shade to the nearshore aquatic areas. This designation does not include any estuarine sloughs.

Critical habitat includes the stream channels within the designated stream reaches, and includes a lateral extent as defined by the ordinary high-water line (33 CFR 319.11). In areas where ordinary high-water line has not been defined, the lateral extent is defined by the bankfull elevation. Bankfull elevation is the level at which water begins to leave the channel and move into the floodplain and is reached at a discharge which generally has a recurrence interval of 1 to 2 years on the annual flood series. Critical habitat in lake areas is defined by the perimeter of the water body as displayed on standard 1:24,000 scale topographic maps or the elevation of ordinary high water, whichever is greater.See the final rule (70 FR 52630) for descriptions of areas excluded from this critical habitat designation. Excluded Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) lands and Indian lands were not clipped out of the data.

Critical habitat includes the stream channels within the designated stream reaches, and includes a lateral extent as defined by the ordinary high-water line (33 CFR 329.11). In areas where the ordinary high-water line has not been defined, the lateral extent will be defined by the bankfull elevation. Bankfull elevation is the level at which water begins to leave the channel and move into the floodplain and is reached at a discharge which generally has a recurrence interval of 1 to 2 years on the annual flood series. Critical habitat in estuaries is defined by the perimeter of the water body as displayed on standard 1:24,000 scale topographic maps or the elevation of extreme high water, whichever is greater.See the final rule (70 FR 52488) for descriptions of areas excluded from this critical habitat designation. Economic exclusions were clipped out of the data.