# Appendix A

Living Resources

August 2012Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA 

## Appendix A Living Resources

Table of Contents

Plankton and Fish Larvae ...................................................................................................... ........ A-2 Zooplankton ................................................................................................................... ........... A-2 Ichthyoplankton ............................................................................................................... ......... A-3

Benthic Invertebrates ......................................................................................................... ........... A-4 Benthic Invertebrate Studies by US ACE and EPA (1984-2000) .............................................. A-4 Benthic Invertebrate Studies by USACE and EPA (2008) ....................................................... A-7 Fish and Epibenthic Invertebrate Species ................................................................................... A- 19 August 2008 EPA Trawl Survey ............................................................................................. A-23 Threatened or Endangered Species ............................................................................................. A-28

Other Wildlife ................................................................................................................ ............. A-32

Commercial and Recreational Fisheries - Economics................................................................. A-33

Marine Reserves ............................................................................................................... ........... A-33

References .................................................................................................................... ............... A-34

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure A-1. 2008 Sampling Sta tions at Yaquina ODMDS .......................................................... A-9 Figure A-2. Average Number of Individuals and Species per Grab by Location, June 2008 .... A-10 Figure A-3. Density of Benthic Invertebrates, June 2008 (number per m 2 ) .............................. A-17 Figure A-4. Density of Benthic Invertebrates, August 2008 (number per m 2 ) .......................... A-18 Figure A-5. Fishery Resources ................................................................................................ ... A-20 Figure A-6. Commercial and R ecreational Shellfish .................................................................. A-21 Figure A-7. Recreational Dungeness Crab ................................................................................. A-22 Figure A-8. Trawl Locations at Yaquina Ocean Disposal Sites, August 2008 .......................... A-25 Figure A-9. Wildlife Resources ............................................................................................... .. A-32

LIST OF TABLES

Table A-1. Disposal Activities at North ODMDS Drop Zone Prior to Sampling ........................ A-9 Table A-2. Number of Benthic Species per Sampling Location, June 2008 .............................. A-11

Table A-3. Number of Benthic Individua ls per Sampling Location, June 2008 ........................ A-12 Table A-4. Number of Benthic Species per Sampling Location, August 2008 ......................... A-15

Table A-5. Number of Benthic Individuals per Sampling Location, August 2008 .................... A-16 Table A-6. Summary of Fish Data fo r Each Trawl Area, August 2008 ..................................... A-26 Table A-7. Dungeness Crab Trawl Data, A ugust 2008.............................................................. A-27 Table A-8. Epibenthic Invert ebrate Data, A ugust 2008 ............................................................. A-28 Table A-9. Threatened or Endangered Species that May Occur at North and South ODMDS . A-29

ATTACHMENT

A. Demersal Fish Data by Location, August 2008 B. 2011 Yaquina ODMDS BathymetryAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-2 

# Appendix A Living Resources

Information on aquatic resources offshore of Yaquina Bay was obtained from published and unpublished reports, peer-reviewed literature, and personal communicati ons. In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and/or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have conducted field sampling specifically related to dred ge material disposal periodically since 1984 to

collect information on distribution and abundance of be nthic infauna. In 2008, in addition to benthic infaunal sampling, EPA conducted benthic trawls to collect presence/absence information on epibenthic invertebrates and benthic fish at th e Yaquina North and South ocean dredged material disposal sites (ODMDS).



## P LANKTON AND 

## F ISH 

## L ARVAE



### Zooplankton

Published literature within the last decade have examined the zooplankton community dynamics off the Oregon coast in relation to the physical ocea nographic patterns of the California current and the localized nearshore upwelling. Keister and Pete rson (2003) provided a discussion of the zooplankton community found off the central Oregon coast in the Newport coastal area (along the Newport hydrographic line). They indicate that the zooplankton community is influenced strongly by seasonal variations in wind and current patterns. During late spring and summer, northwesterly winds set up equatorward flow and coastal upwelling. Northwesterly winds dominate from April/May-September; periodic relaxations or southwesterly storms rapidl y affect the hydrography of nearshore areas, but offshore of about 30 kilometers (km), conditions ar e less variable. Boreal neritic copepods such as

Pseudocalanus mimus

, Calanus marshallae

, Centropages abdominalis

, Acartia longiremis , and

Acartia hudsonica dominate the coastal plankton during su mmer (Peterson and Miller 1977). In early fall, winds reverse and upwelling ceases; during autumn and winter, winds are predominantly southwesterly, the Davidson current flows polew ard and offshore surface waters are transported onshore. In winter, the coastal zooplankton is populated by warm-water species such as Mesocalanus

tenuicornis

, Paracalanus parvus

, Ctenocalanus vanus

, Clausocalanus spp.

, Acartia tonsa , and Corycaeus anglicus (Peterson and Miller 1977).

Ressler et al. (2005) studied the spatial distribution of euphausiid aggregations in Oregon and northern California. Euphausiids, particularly Euphausia pacific and Thysanoessa spinifera , are important prey items for juvenile and adult salmonids, spiny dogfish, rockfishes, Pacific hake, seabirds, and marine

mammals. Seventeen east-west transects were condu cted; with the furthest north transect off of Newport, Oregon, in water as shallow as 50 mete rs. Euphausiids were not common in depths

shallower than 50 meters. The authors found that the distribution of euphausiid patches was not uniform or random. They found that euphausiids cl ustered in two locations, inshore of Heceta Bank and off of Cape Blanco. The clusters were found to correlate with near-surface chlorophyll. In addition, the interaction of mesoscale circulati on patterns, upwelling, shoaling bottom topography, and diel vertical migration created these large patch es. These findings indicate that these sites are not likely an area where euphausiids would concentrate, and hence not likely a priority feeding ground for their pelagic predators.

Reese et al. (2005) examined the co mmunity structure, spatial distribution patterns, and environmental associations of near-surface zooplankton in summer 2000. Near-surface zooplankton are an important food resource for the early life history stages of many fish. Generally, zooplankton assemblages areAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-3 affected by water temperature, nutrient concentr ation, and salinity. The authors sampled from Newport, Oregon, to northern California. The authors found that during August, higher zooplankton

concentrations are concentrated offshore whereas in June, zooplankt on were concentrated more along shore. In addition, near-surface (Neuston net frame with a height of 0.3 meters was towed at the surface) zooplankton concentration was relatively low compared to subsurface estimates. The authors believe this occurred because all of their samp ling took place during the day when it is likely zooplankton are found at deeper depths. In terms of species, the authors found that the most common groups of zooplankton in their tows were: cr ab megaloae, hyperiid amphipods, euphausiids, and chaetognaths. For the zooplankton species captured, their distribution was most explained by sea surface temperature. For the area sampled, the nearsh ore area off of Newport did not appear to have a particularly high concentration of zooplankton (num ber of individuals per cubic meter) nor did that area have high species richness for the sampli ng efforts in either June or August 2000.

Brodeur et al. (2008) studied the spatial and trophi c overlap of two dominant jellyfish and pelagic finfish in August 2002 between Newport, Oregon and Northern California. They sampled as close to shore as 3 nautical miles. They found that in spri ng, pelagic fishes have a greater impact on plankton populations whereas by late summer the opposite is true; jellyfish become the dominant zooplankton consumer in the system consuming almost twice as much zooplankton production as forage fishes.



### Ichthyoplankton

Fish larvae are a transien t member of the inshore coastal plankton community. Their abundance and distribution has been described by Richardson (19 73), Richardson and Pearcy (1977), and Richardson et al. (1980). In more recent studies, Auth and Brodeur (2006) examined the species composition, distribution, and concentration of ichthyoplankton along the Newport hydrographic line from 9 to 84 km (central Oregon coast) to investigate annual, seasona l, vertical, and cross-shelf variability. Larval concentrations were also analyzed in relation to water temperature and salinity. The 281 samples collected from five cruises between April and September in 2000 and 2002 yielded 4,944 fish larvae comprising 72 taxa in 28 families. The dom inant taxa collected were northern anchovy ( Engraulis

mordax ), slender sole ( Lyopsetta exilis ), rockfishes ( Sebastes spp

. ), northern lampfish ( Stenobrachius leucopsarus ), and blue lanternfish ( Tarletonbeania crenularis ). Total larval concentration increased from 49.3 per 1000 cubic meters (m 3 ) in 2000 to 72.0 per 1000 m 3 in 2002, with seasonal concentrations highest in August 2000 (90.3 per 1000 m 3 ) and April 2002 (151.2 per 1000 m 3 ). Relatively few larvae were found at depths great er than 100 meters, while highest larval concentrations generally occurred from depths of 0 to 50 meters. However, slender sole concentrations were highest from de pths of 50 to 100 meters. Larval diversity and concentration were higher offshore (46-84 km) than in coastal areas (9 -28 km). Highest concentrations were normally

found at an intermediate station 65 km off the coast . Species designated as either coastal or offshore species by previous studies were predominantly fo und in their respective shelf regions. With the exception of slender sole, larval concentrations were positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with salinity.

Auth et al. (2007) examined diel vertical distribution, concentration, and community structure of ichthyoplankton from a single station 69 kilometers off Heceta Head on the central Oregon coast. The depth-stratified samples yielded 1,571 fish larvae from 20 taxa, representing 11 families, and 128 fish eggs from 11 taxa within 9 families. Dominant la rval taxa were rockfishes, northern lampfish, and blue lanternfish. The dominant egg taxa were Pacific sardine ( Sardinops sagax ), medusafish ( Icichthys lockingtoni ), Pacific viperfish ( Chauliodus macouni ), and Pacific jack mackerel ( Trachurus symmetricus ). Larval concentrations generally incr eased from the surface to 50 meters, and then decreased with depth. Larval concentrations were higher at night than during the day, and there was evidence of larval diel vertical migration. Depth stratum was found to be the most important factorAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-4 explaining variability in larval and egg concentra tions. The authors noted that species composition, assemblages, and dominant taxa were similar to those found in other studies conducted during the summer off the central Oregon coast (Richardson 1973; Richardson and Pearcy 1977; Brodeur et al. 1985; Auth and Brodeur 2006). This similarity provides evidence to support the hypothesis of Auth and Brodeur (2006) that past ichthyoplankton sampling along the Newport hydrographic line during summer is representative of ichthyoplankton assemblages elsewhere along the Oregon coast.

Both of the aforementioned studies were conducte d further offshore than the North and South ODMDS but likely the findings in Auth and Brodeur (2006) regarding the coastal areas (9 to 28 km) can be applied in terms of adults spawning mainly near the coast and the eggs and larvae get carried offshore by surface flows associated with coastal upw elling. Coastal spawning fish include osmerids (smelts), sculpins, greenlings, and some flatfishes in cluding butter sole, English sole, sand sole. The authors results corroborated other findings that th ere is a peak spring and fall spawning seasons (high diversity of ichthyoplankton ob served in April and September).



## B ENTHIC 

## I NVERTEBRATES

Benthic invertebrates play an important role in sec ondary productivity in nearshore marine systems. They are prey items for many demersal fishes, br eakdown organic material, and act as key players in bioturbation (mixing of sediment particles) of the top few centimeters of the seafloor.



### Benthic Infaunal Studies by USACE and EPA (1984-1989)

Benthic infaunal studies were conducte d within 3 nautical miles of Yaquina Bay in March 1984, May 1986, October 1989, May and September 1999, and J une and September 2000. Most of the studies were done in conjunction with the ODMDS program. In 1984, 9 stations were sampled in the vicinity

of the Interim Site to characterize the benthic resources. In 1986 and 1 989, 14 and 12 stations, respectively, were sampled to the west and north of the Interim Site to aid in establishing a new site. In 1999, 17 stations were sampled that were furthe r west and to the north and south of the previous stations. In 2000, 20 stations were sampled to evaluate the proposed North and South ODMDS, which were located further offshore than previous sampling.

The invertebrate fauna collected during these studi es were typical of the nearshore, high-energy environment found along the Oregon coast. It was similar to the commun ities found near other disposal sites along the Oregon coast, such as Coos Ba y sites E and F, Rogue River, Siuslaw River and Chetco River (Hancock et al. 1981; USACE 1985, 1988a,b). The community was dominated by highly mobile organisms that are adapted to a shifting sand environment. Dominant species and groups included gammaridean amphipods, sand dollars ( Dendraster eccentricus ), surface-dwelling gastropods ( Olivella spp.) and various species of polychaete worms.

Invertebrate diversity was fairly constant at co mparable stations throughout these studies with the exception of one 1986 station south of the Interim Si te. Because this station had a rocky and coarseshell substrate, it had a more diverse and diffe rent species composition than the sandy substrate stations. The dominant molluscs in these studies were the carnivorous gastropod Olivella spp. Three species of Olivella occur along the Oregon coast, two of which, O. biplicata and O.pycna, were collected off Yaquina Bay. Both of these species were present in significant numbers during 1984,

1986 and 1989 studies.

Dominant species of gammaridean amphipods included Mandibulophoxus gilesi, Synchelidium shoemakeri, and Psarnrnonyx longimerius. These amphipods are scavengers and feed primarily on particles of organic debris found in the sediment. M. gilesi and another species, EohaustoriusAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-5 sencillus, showed a great deal of variability between st ations and over time. The variability seen in these studies appears normal when compared to ot her studies (Hancock et al., 1981; USACE 1985, 1988a,b).



### Benthic Invertebrate Studies by USACE and EPA (1999-2000)

Baseline studies for the North and South sites occu rred in 1999 and 2000 followed by surveys in 2002 and in 2008 during the disposal season. These studi es included bathymetry, sidescan sonar, benthicgrabs, and benthic trawl surveys. For the 1999 and 2000 surveys, the USACE took five replicate GrayO’Hara boxcore samples from 17 and 18 stations, respectively (Marine Taxonomic Services (2001). These samples were taken within and around the North and South Sites in May and September 1999 and June and September 2000. The st ations discussed here are those that are within the North and South Sites. The data gathered outside the desi gnated sites are contained within Marine Taxonomic Services 2001 and 2003 reports and will be used in future analyses of changes to species abundance and diversity within and outside the disposal sites.

North Site. The May and September 1999 and the June a nd September 2000 surveys were similar in the number of species found at each sampling locatio n. As for individual abundance, the May and September 1999 survey and the June 2000 were similar in abundance while the September 2000 abundances were orders of magnitude greater. Duri ng the September 2000 survey, there appeared a large recruitment of opportunistic short-lived polychaetes, ( Spiophanes bombyx and Megelona

sacculate ) into the North Site. The third most abundant species was the anthozoan, Halcampoides sp , a species that had not previously been one of the 5 most abundant species at the sampling locations. Otherwise, the other species with the greatest abundances were polychaetes and a crustacean.

The benthic infaunal species found at the North Site sampling stations that had the greatest abundance were the same in May 1999 (YQ1), September 1999 (YQ1), and June 2000 (YQ1). However, station YQ24 in June 2000 only had one species (in the top 5) , in common with the other stations mentioned (the polychaete Nephtys caecoides ). In September 2000, when benthic infaunal abundance increased greatly at both YQ1 and YQ24 sites, the infauna w as dominated by 3 species that had not been seen in 1999 or in June 2000 at YQ 1. These species were ob served at YQ24 in June 2000 in the top 5 in the prior 3 surveys (1 polychaete, 1 crustacean, and 1 an thozoan). It does appear that variation in species and their abundance can be fairly site specific. At the two sampling stations in the North Site in June 2000, only 1 out of the 5 most abundant species were the same at both stations.

The 1999 and 2000 September surveys at the two st ations within the North site indicated that dominant species (the polychaete Spiophanes bombys ) were the same at both stations. Another polychaete (either Nephtys sp or Magelona sp .) was second most abundant . The third most abundant species was either an anthozoan ( Halcampoides sp. ) or a polychaete ( Notomastus sp ), and either polychaetes or crustaceans filled out the rest of the top 5 most abundant species.

The dominant mollusc genus at the North Site was the carnivorous gastropod, Olivella

. Dendraster

excentricus , sand dollar, was not found in high abunda nce at the North Site whereas they were a dominant species at the stations in the South Site.

South Site. The May and September 1999 and the June a nd September 2000 surveys were similar in the number of species found at each sampling locatio n. As for individual abundance, the May and September 1999 survey and the June 2000 were similar in abundance while the September 2000 abundances were orders of magnitude greater. Duri ng the September 2000 survey, there appeared a large recruitment of opportunistic short-lived polychaetes, ( Spiophanes bombyx and Magelona

sacculate ). Another species which showed up in Septem ber 2000 in high abundances but was not atAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-6 such levels was the anthozoan, Halcampoides sp . Otherwise, the other species with the greatest abundance were polychaetes, a crustacean, a nd juvenile razor clams at one station.

The benthic infaunal species found at the South Site st ations that had the greatest abundance were very similar in May 1999, September 1999, and June 2 000. In September 2000, when benthic infaunal abundance increased greatly at all stations, the infa una was dominated by 3 species that had not been present at high abundance in 1999 or in June 2000. These species were the same top three most abundant species at all 4 stations sampled in September 2000: Spiophanes bombyx, Magelona

sacculata (polychaetes), Halcampoides sp. (anthozoan).

In the May 1999, September 1999, and June 2000, th e most abundant species was fairly consistent between seasons and sampling stations. Dendraster excentricus (sand dollar), Notomastus lineatus (polychaete), Olivella pycna (gastropod), Nemerteinea sp. (ribbon worm), Nephtys caecoides (polychaetes), and Eohaustorius sencillus (crustacean) dominated the top five most abundant species. In general, the species abundan ce and diversity at each station was fairly representative of the community structure at the other stations.

The large abundance increases of particular species at the both the North and South Sites in September 2000 is postulated to have been attributed to upwelling on the Oregon coast (Marine Taxanomic Services 2003). Magelona sacculate and Spiophanes bombyx are two species that show a marked increase in the population densities in fall 2000. Most of this density increase was attributed to juvenile recruitment.



### Benthic Invertebrate Studies by USACE and EPA (2002)

In June and September 2002, the USACE sampled 10 sta tions within the disposal area (4 stations) and outside the disposal area (6 stations). They took 5 replicate 0.096m2 modified Gray-O’Hara box cores at each of the 10 stations (Marine Taxonomic Services 2003).

When looking at the five most abundant species at each station in the disposal area versus the nondisposal areas, it appears that many of those species which were most abundant at the non-disposal areas were also the most abundant species in the di sposal area stations (Figure A-1). In the nondisposal areas, there were 4 species (tube-dwelling worm, polychaetes, juvenile razor clams, and juvenile brittle stars) which were not found at the disposal stations. Conversely, there were 3 species which were found at the disposal areas but were not found at the non-disposal areas (polychaetes).

From the August 2002 sampling, the benthic infaunal assemblages at the disposal and non-disposal areas were dominated by 11 species (Figure A-1). Eight of those eleven species were found at the disposal and non-disposal areas. Of the three species that were not found at both the disposal and nondisposal areas, the non-disposal area had two polych aetes which were not found at the disposal area. Conversely, the tube-dwelling filter feeder (Phylum - Phoronida) was found at the disposal area and not at the non-disposal areas.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-7 Figure A-1. June and August 2002. The frequency of occurrence of the top five most abundant species at the stations within the disposal area (total of 4 stations sampled) and at stations in non-disposal areas (total of 6 stations sampled).Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-8 

### Benthic Invertebrate Studies by EPA and USACE (2008)

The most recent study of benthic infauna in s upport of EPA and USACE site designation at Yaquina was conducted in June and August 2008 by the EPA. The sampling stations were selected based on the previous sampling efforts in 1999, 2000, and 2002 (USACE and EPA 2011; Figure A-2). In 2008, the USACE disposed of dredge material before and after sampling. The USACE disposed of 135,918 cubic yards (cy) of material at the North ODMDS drop zone over 18 days between May 20 to August 6 (Table A-1). Thus, disposal of material occurred 10 days prior to the June 2008 sampling 1 . For the August 2008 data, material was disposed at the North Site 19 days prior to sampling.

June 2008 Survey

The June 2008 survey was composed of 20 samples (18 samples plus two duplicate samples) that generated 6,028 specimens (Marine Taxonomic Se rvices 2009). The dominant species in the June 2008 data set included the polychaetes Chaetozone nr . setosa

, Magelona sacculata

, Nephtys caecoides, Onuphis iridescens

, Spio filicornis, and Spiophanes bombyx ; the crustaceans Anchicolurus

occidentalis and Eohaustorius estuarius ; and the miscellaneous phylum nemertinea. The number of polychaetes, specifically Spiophanes bombyx at a count of 3,313, far exceeded the number of other individual organisms. There were a total of 106 taxa of which 46 were polychaetes, 34 were crustacean, 18 were mollusca, 3 were echinode rms, and 5 were miscellaneous groups. No Cancer magister (Dungeness crab) larvae or juveniles were collected.

In terms of number of species and density of indi viduals per grab between the disposal area (also referred to as the North ODMDS drop zone) and non- disposal areas, the disposal area had fewer species (M = 25; SD = 2; n = 5) and a lower density of individuals (M= 118 individuals/grab ; SD = 28) than at non-disposal stations (M= 33 species; SD = 8, n=15; M= 362 individuals/grab ; SD = 197; n=15 (Figure A-3 and Tables A-2, A-3). The species th at differed the most between the disposal area and non-disposal areas was polychaetes. Both the overall lower density of individuals and lower density of polychaetes at the disposal area w as expected because dredged material was deposited during the week prior to the June sampling. Thus , these values can be considered to represent what occurs to the species and number of individuals i mmediately after a disposal event. This would indicate that the disposal action had an effect of lowering the number of benthic infaunal individuals, at least immediately (10 days) after disposal; the imp act to the number of species after a disposal event

is less clear.

1 June 2008 benthic grabs occurred on June 4 and 5. The August 2008 benthic grabs and trawl survey occurred on August 25.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-9 Figure A-2. 2008 Sampling Stations at Yaquina ODMDS

Source: USACE and EPA 2011.

Table A-1. Disposal Activities at North ODMDS Drop Zone Prior to Sampling

Year Month Start Day End Day # of

Loads Average cy per Load Total cy per Disposal Period
2007 October 20 29 40 978 39,113 2008 May 20 25 38 966 36,707 2008 July 26 31 49 994 48,704 2008 August 1 6 52 971 50,507Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-10 Figure A-3. Average Number of Individuals and Species in Disposal Area and Non-Disposal Areas,

June 2008Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EAA-11Table A-2. Number of Benthic Species per Sampling Location, June 2008StationPolychaetesMolluscsCrustaceaNemertinaEchinodermataPhoronidaMiscSppRichnessMeanNumber of SpeciesNorth ODMDS Drop SiteYQ-28 7 3 11 1 1 0 0 2325YQ-23 9 3 11 1 1 1 0 26YQ-24 8 3 13 1 0 0 0 25YQ-24D 11 6 7 1 2 1 0 28YQ-25 9 2 9 1 1 1 1 24Background Stations – Southern part of North ODMDSYQ-02 13 5 11 1 0 1 0 3134YQ-02D 15 5 6 1 1 1 0 29YQ-01 12 6 20 1 2 1 0 42Background Stations – South ODMDSYQ-13 13 5 13 1 1 1 0 3430YQ-14 13 6 13 1 1 0 1 35YQ-29 14 6 10 1 1 1 0 33YQ-16 6 5 9 1 1 1 0 23YQ-17 12 6 5 1 1 1 0 26YQ-18 11 4 9 1 1 0 1 27Background Stations – Outside of ODMDSsYQ-26 15 4 12 1 1 1 1 3535YQ-22 32 6 11 1 2 1 2 55YQ-06 17 5 12 1 1 1 0 37YQ-10 11 5 11 1 0 1 0 29YQ-20 12 7 6 1 1 1 0 28YQ-27 8 6 9 1 2 1 0 27Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EAA-12Table A-3. Number of Benthic Individuals per Sampling Location, June 2008StationPolychaetesMolluscsCrustaceaNemertinaEchinodermataPhoronidaMiscTotal # ofIndividualsper GrabAverage # ofIndividualsper Grab# ofIndividualsper m2MeanNumber of IndividualsNorth ODMDS Drop SiteYQ-28 39 4 24 10 3 0 0 801188001180YQ-23 80 6 40 14 1 1 0 142 1420YQ-24 28 5 49 43 0 0 0 125 1250YQ-24D 38 16 21 65 3 1 0 144 1440YQ-25 41 2 29 18 1 7 1 99 990Background Stations – Southern part of North ODMDSYQ-02 438 8 41 26 0 1 0 51438851403880YQ-02D 403 15 14 21 1 8 0 462 4620YQ-01 69 13 93 6 4 2 0 187 1870Background Stations – South ODMDSYQ-13 66 7 78 18 9 1 0 17938617903860YQ-14 341 16 53 40 4 0 2 456 4560YQ-29 372 16 37 32 2 3 0 462 4620YQ-16 28 7 17 22 1 2 0 77 770YQ-17 250 9 9 20 1 3 0 292 2920YQ-18 748 41 32 25 1 0 2 849 8490Background Stations – Outside of ODMDSsYQ-26 364 17 44 16 1 2 1 44532544503250YQ-22 312 11 52 94 2 1 1 473 4730YQ-06 275 11 62 14 1 5 0 368 3680YQ-10 72 7 25 13 0 1 0 118 1180YQ-20 275 25 27 7 1 1 0 336 3360YQ-27 132 9 16 49 3 1 0 210 2100Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-13 August 2008 Survey

The August 2008 survey was composed of 19 samples (18 samples plus one duplicate) that generated 5,372 specimens (Marine Taxonomic Services 2009) . The data show a high energy benthic community structure. The dominant speci es in the data set included the polychaetes Magelona sacculata, Spiofilicornis and Spiophanes bombyx ; the mollusca Siliqua sp. juvenile (razor clam); the

crustacea Anchicolurus occidentalis, Diastylopsis dawsoni and Photis sp. indeterminate; and the miscellaneous phylum nemertinea. As in June, the count of Spiophanes bombyx exceeded the number of other individual organisms. There were a tota l of 98 taxa of which 45 were polychaetes, 29 were crustacea , 20 were mollusca, 2 were echinoderms, and 2 were miscellaneous groups. There were four Dungeness crab larvae or juveniles collected. Juveni le razor clams encountered during this study were too immature to identify to the species level. No adult razor clams were collected because they live deeper in the sediment than the grab sampler could penetrate.

In terms of number of species and density of indi viduals per grab between the disposal area (also referred to as the North ODMDS drop zone) and non- disposal areas, the disposal area had fewer species (M = 26; SD = 7; n = 4) and a lower density of individuals (M= 149 individuals/grab ; SD = 55) than at non-disposal stations (M= 33 species; SD = 5, n=15; M= 318 individuals/grab ; SD = 142; n=15 (Figure A-4 and Tables A-4, A-5). This may indicate that the disposal action has an effect of lowering the number of benthic infauna. As in June, there were fewer polychaetes at the disposal area. Again, polychaetes were often the most numerous organisms, while molluscs, crustaceans and nemerteans appear to be close to equally balanced among all sites.

Density of Benthic Invertebrates

For both June and August 2008, the density of benthi c invertebrates generally increased from east to west, from shallow to deeper waters (Figures A-3 a nd A-4). For both June and August, one exception was sample YQ-20 (furthest west outside South ODMD S), which had a lower density than the nearest sample to the east (YQ-18). Sample YQ-18 had the gr eatest density of benthic invertebrates in June, while YQ-22 (furthest west outside North ODMDS ) had the greatest density in August.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-14 Figure A-4. Average Number of Individuals and Species in Disposal Area and Non-Disposal Areas, Aug 2008Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EAA-15Table A-4. Number of Benthic Species per Sampling Location, August 2008StationPolychaetesMolluscsCrustaceaNemertinaEchinodermataPhoronidaMiscSppRichnessMeanNumber of SpeciesNorth ODMDS Drop SiteYQ-28 7 5 8 0 1 0 0 2126YQ-23 10 6 8 0 1 1 0 26YQ-24 12 9 13 0 1 1 0 36YQ-25 7 4 9 1 1 0 0 22Background Stations – Southern part of North ODMDSYQ-02 16 5 10 1 1 1 0 3434YQ-QC1 15 5 9 1 1 1 0 32YQ-01 14 4 15 1 1 1 0 36Background Stations – South ODMDSYQ-13 11 3 9 1 1 1 1 2732YQ-14 15 4 14 0 1 1 0 35YQ-29 14 7 13 1 1 1 0 37YQ-16 10 5 7 1 1 1 1 26YQ-17 14 9 12 0 1 1 0 37YQ-18 12 5 11 2 1 0 1 32Background Stations – Outside of ODMDSsYQ-26 11 2 8 1 1 1 0 2433YQ-22 22 4 7 1 1 1 0 36YQ-06 18 6 13 1 1 1 0 40YQ-10 12 7 14 1 1 1 0 36YQ-20 15 8 5 1 1 1 0 31YQ-27 11 6 12 1 1 1 0 32Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EAA-16Table A-5. Number of Benthic Individuals per Sampling Location, August 2008StationPolychaetesMolluscsCrustaceaNemertinaEchinodermataPhoronidaMiscTotal # ofIndividualsMean# ofIndividualsper m2MeanNumber of IndividualsNorth ODMDS Drop SiteYQ-28 37 18 46 11 0 0 0 11214911201490YQ-23 151 14 23 14 0 1 0 203 2030YQ-24 37 46 39 66 0 1 0 189 1890YQ-25 36 21 31 2 2 0 0 92 920Background Stations – Southern part of North ODMDSYQ-02 146 19 55 7 3 1 0 23117523101750YQ-QC1 92 12 33 9 3 2 0 151 1510YQ-01 68 11 55 7 1 2 0 144 1440Background Stations – South ODMDSYQ-13 99 13 28 18 3 2 1 16433516403350YQ-14 192 36 43 25 0 1 0 297 2970YQ-29 256 37 66 47 3 1 0 410 4100YQ-16 169 8 30 20 1 2 1 231 2310YQ-17 243 36 89 41 0 4 0 413 4130YQ-18 362 25 87 14 4 0 1 493 4930Background Stations – Outside of ODMDSsYQ-26 181 8 49 11 1 6 0 25637425603740YQ-22 485 19 107 29 1 2 0 643 6430YQ-06 193 37 85 17 2 3 0 337 3370YQ-10 93 16 74 15 1 3 0 202 2020YQ-20 296 42 35 18 1 1 0 393 3930YQ-27 312 14 49 29 2 5 0 411 4110Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-17 Figure A-5. Density of Benthic Invertebrates, June 2008 (number per m 2 )

Source: USACE and EPA 2011.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-18 Figure A-6. Density of Benthic Invertebrates, August 2008 (number per m 2 )

Source: USACE and EPA 2011.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-19 Summary

The benthic infaunal information collected by EPA and the USACE for the baseline studies in 1999 and 2000 and subsequent surveys of disposal a nd non-disposal areas in 2002 and 2008 provide snapshots of the infaunal community within and outside the disposal areas. The surveys show that that the species within and outside the disposal areas ar e typical inhabitants of sandy substrate at these depths (112 to 152 feet). Even though EPA and the USACE have not conducted year-round sampling, the recent findings in OWET 2011 provide insight into what may be found at these disposal sites besides in June and September. They found that benthic invertebrates did not vary across seasons which would indicate that the infaunal organisms that were found at the disposal sites prior to disposal and those that were found during the 2002 and 2008 sampling at non-disposal locations are likely typical of what benthic infaunal community stru cture is present year-round. Based on the benthic infaunal data in 2008, it appears that there may be a decrease in the number of individuals in the benthos post-disposal, however the number of species does not appear to be affected. In addition, the effect appears to be localized to the dredge disposal site itself which is a discrete area each year. Given the continuation of prey resources at the Site pos t-disposal and the relatively small area of sandy substrate that disposal occurs on each year, it is not likely the effects on benthic infauna translate into an adverse effect on prey resources for benthic feeding fish or epibenthic invertebrates.



## F ISH AND 

## E PIBENTHIC 

## I NVERTEBRATE 

## S PECIES

The nearshore area off Yaquina Bay supports a variety of pelagic and demersal fish species and epibenthic invertebrate species. Bottom habitats include sand, gravel, pebbles, and rocky reefs. The neritic reefs off Yaquina Bay are a unique feature of the coast and are associated with bull kelp ( Nereocystis leutkeana ) beds.

Pelagic fish species found in the nearshore ocean off of Yaquina River (Figure A-7) include anadromous salmonids such as coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ), winter steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), and spring and fall Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ). Other pelagic species include the Pacific herring ( Clupea harengus pallasi ), northern anchovy ( Engraulis mordax ), and surf smelt ( Hypomesus pretiosus ).

Demersal fish species present in the nearshore ar ea are mostly residents and include a number of sculpins, sea perch, and rockfish species associated rocky habitats, as well as flatfish species occurring predominantly over open sandflats. Flatfish include English sole ( Parophrys vetulus ), sanddab ( Citharichthys sp.), and starry flounder ( Platichthys stellatus ). English sole and starry flounder, along with the sand sole ( Psettichthys melanostictus ), spawn in the inshore area in the summer and juveniles of these, as well as other marine species, may rear in Yaquina Bay.

The commercially and recreationally important epib enthic invertebrate species off of Yaquina Bay include shellfish and Dungeness crab ( Cancer magister ) (Figures A-8 and A-9). Razor clam beds are located north and south of the jetties along the beach . Recruitment to the inshore beaches comes from the subtidal spawning areas. Gaper clams are present in large numbers near the mouth and upriver in the estuary proper. Cockles are also present in the intertidal areas near the base of the jetties. Piddock clams occur in the sandstone outcroppings north of the estuary mouth.

Dungeness crab adults occur on sandflat habitat along the entire Oregon coast. They spawn in offshore areas and occur in the estuary when conditi ons are favorable in late summer and fall. There are currently no known squid spawning areas offshore of Yaquina Bay.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-20 Figure A-7. Fishery ResourcesAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-21 Figure A-8. Commercial and Recreational ShellfishAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-22 Figure A-9. Commercial and Recreational Dungeness CrabAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-23 

### August 2008 EPA Trawl Survey

Seven trawl transects were conducted by EPA in August 2008 (USACE and EPA 2011) to provide a snapshot of the fish and epibenthic invertebrat es that are found at the North ODMDS, South ODMDS (non-disposal), and outside the ODMDS (Figure A-10). The survey conducted two trawls at the North ODMDS and baseline area, but conducted three trawls at the South ODMDS. For the purposes of this discussion, the last trawl at the South ODMDS is not included; however, the data can be seen in the Attachment to this appendix. Disposal at the North ODMDS site occurred 18 days between May and August, with the most recent disposal being 20 days prior to the trawl survey. Information collected on each trawl included the number and relative age of demersal fish species; number, sex and size of Dungeness crab, and the number and the species of ep ibenthic invertebrates co llected for each of the

seven trawls.

In total, 840 epibenthic fish were caught and all species were typical for nearshore habitat of the Oregon coast (Table A-6 and Attachment). The nu mber of fish collected per trawl ranged from 95

individuals in the North ODMDS to 177 individua ls (outside of ODMDS). The number of species ranged from 8 species (South ODMDS) to 15 species (outside of ODMDS). Overall, the number of fish collected from North ODMDS trawls (146 and 95 individuals, respectively) were comparable to

the number of fish collected from baseline trawls (104, 156, 83, 158, and 177 individuals). The number of species collected at North ODMDS trawls (10 and 10 species, respectively) also was comparable the other trawl sites (8, 10, 9, 11, a nd 15 species). The percent of the total catch was highest north of the North ODMDS site at 17 and 19%. The North ODMDS trawls pulled in 16% and 10% of the total catch, while the trawls in the S outh ODMDS pulled in 9%, 11%, and 17% of the total

catch.

With regards to average abundance of fish per tr awl, trawl YQB-05 (north of the North ODMDS) had the greatest number of individual fish collected during each trawl (158 and 177 individuals) with an average of 168 fish per trawl. These trawls also caught the greatest number of species (11 and 15 species). The trawls within the North ODMDS averaged 121 individual fish per trawl (146 and 95, respectively). The trawls at the South ODMDS site averaged 130 fish per trawl (104 and 156 individuals, respectively). The number of species per area did not appear to differ substantially with the range of species from 8 to 15 species (South ODMDS and north of North ODMDS).

The fish species found during this survey likely represen t the fish that are present at the Site during the summer, and not throughout the entire year (OWET 2011). This survey also found that high densities

of flatfish characterized the summer trawls while flat fish densities were significantly lower in October. The most abundant species of benthic fish which we re caught in the OWET study were similar to the fish species that dominated the catch in the EPA 2008 trawls. Overall, the OWET 2010 study provides

additional data that EPA and the USACE can use as baseline and reference stations for future studies because of sampling conducted at the same depth and grain size.



### Juvenile Fish

Juvenile fish were caught in all the trawls. Of a ll the identifiable fish caught, 75% were juveniles. North of the North ODMDS, 13 of the 17 (76%) species caught had at least one juvenile individual in the catch. In the North ODMDS, 7 of the 15 species (47%) caught had at least one juvenile individual collected in the survey. In the South ODMDS, 9 out of the 12 species (75%) caught had a least oneAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-24 juvenile life history stage present. In terms of which species had the most juveniles present, butter sole and English sole were in th e top three for most juveniles presen t in each area. The third species was either the Pacific tomcod (north of North ODMDS) or Pacific sanddab (North ODMDS and South ODMDS). These numbers demonstrate the use of the site by juvenile benthic fish. Overall, it appears that the North drop zone location does not likely support significantly different abundance of adult or juvenile fish in comparison to comparable areas not used for dredge material disposal.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-25 Figure A-10. Trawl Locations at Yaquina Ocean Disposal Sites, August 2008

Source: USACE and EPA 2011Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-26 Table A-6. Summary of Fish Data for Each Trawl Area, August 2008

Common Name North of North ODMDS North ODMDS South ODMDS

Adult Juvenile UD Adult Juvenile UD Adult Juvenile UD Big skate 1 4 2 1 1

Butter sole 7 59 2 29 2 32

Curl fin 1 English sole 6 75 3 80 12 53 Ling cod 1

Pacific sanddab 6 22 27 41 59 51 Pacific staghorn sculpin 6 2 1 2

Pacific tomcod 91 13 4

Petrale sole* 1 1 1 2

Pricklebreast poacher 1

Rock sole 1

Sablefish 2

Sand sole 4 25 2 19 5 22 Showy snailfish 1 3 Smelt - unknown sp 1 6 Snailfish (marbled?) 1 Speckled sanddab 7 1 Spotted ratfish 1 1 Starry flounder 1 1 1 Tubenose poacher 1 4 Warty poacher 11 9 1 6 Unidentified sculpin 1

Total 44 285 6 54 185 2 98 166 0

Total # Individuals per Area 335 241 264

% of Total Catch 40 29 31

UD = Life stage undetermined

Dungeness Crab

Dungeness crab data provides support for the trends seen in the demersal fish data, as expected, since they were collected from the same trawls. The greatest number of crabs was collected from trawls

north of the North ODMDS with totals of 17 and 30 crabs (Table A-7). The North ODMDS trawls had 6 and 9 adult crabs per trawl while the South ODMD S trawls collected 3, 5, and 6 adult crabs. No

female crabs were collected at the South ODMDS while only 1 was collected at the North ODMDS.

The trawls to the north of the North ODMDS coll ected the most female crabs (6 and 8 females).

The percentage of legal male Dunge ness crab (>5.75 inches) was highest in the trawls collected at the South ODMDS. Although there was nearly the same number of legal males north of the North ODMDS, they made up a smaller percentage of the over all catch than the percentage of legal males at trawls in South ODMDS. Overall, there was a to tal of 82 Dungeness crab collected of which 38% were legal males.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EAA-27Table A-7. Dungeness Crab Trawl Data, August 2008+ Legally harvestable crabs are males greater than 5.75 inches, approximately 14.7 cm (data collected in cm).++ Percent legal males relative to the total number of crabs.NA = Not availableLocationNorth ODMDSSouth ODMDSOutside ODMDSTotalsTrawlYQB-01N to S inNorth ODMDS,Western thirdYQB-02S to N inNorth ODMDS,Eastern edgeYQB-03N to S inSouth ODMDS,Western thirdYQB-04N to S inSouth ODMDS,Eastern thirdYQB-04S to N inSouth ODMDS,Eastern thirdYQB-05SW to NENorth ofNorth ODMDSYQB-05N to SNorth ofNorth ODMDSReplicate1111212Crab DataNo.MeanWidthNo.MeanWidthNo.MeanWidthNo.MeanWidthNo.MeanWidthNo.MeanWidthNo.MeanWidthcmincmincmincminCmincmincminFemale Crabs 0 NA NA 1 14.5 5.7 1 15.2 6.0 0 NA NA 0 NA NA 6 12.4 4.9 8 12.6 4.9Male Crabs 6 14.3 5.6 8 14.2 5.6 6 15.8 6.2 5 15.8 6.2 8 15.9 6.2 11 14.1 5.6 22 14.9 5.9Total Crab Count 6 9 7 5 8 17 30 82+ No. Legal Males 2 2 5 3 6 4 9 31++ % Legal Males 33.3 22.2 71.4 60.0 75.0 23.5 30.0 37.8Source: USACE and EPA 2011Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-28 Epibenthic Invertebrates

The trawls collected 10 different types of epiben thic invertebrates with only Dungeness crab and short-spined pink star (Pisaster brevispina) collected in all trawls (Table A-8). The most numerous organisms were the Dungeness crab and sea nettles whic h were caught in the trawls north of the North ODMDS. Average number of individuals per area that were caught puts the area north of the North ODMDS with the most (47), followed by the Sout h ODMDS (24) and then the North ODMDS (21).

Table A-8. Epibenthic Inv ertebrate Data, August 2008

Location North of North

ODMDS North ODMDS South ODMDS

Trawl YQB-05 YQB-01 YQB-02 YQB-03 YQB-04

Replicate 1 2 1 1 1 1 2

Common Name Latin Name
Clear jellyfish unknown 2 3 10 6
Crangon sp. 8 3 2 1 Dungeness crab Cancer magister 17 30 6 9 7 5 8

Flat mud star 2 1 5 1 Short-spined pink star Pisaster brevispina 4 1 5 10 4 2 10

Sunflower star Pycnopodia helianthoides 1 2 3 5 3
Sand flea (adult) 1 Luidia sp. Luidia sp. 1

Sea nettles 24 3 Unidentified shrimp 1

Other 2 bits of

sponges

Total Individuals per Trawl 56 37 20 21 19 25 27

Average # of Individuals per Area 47 21 24



## T HREATENED OR 

## E NDANGERED 

## S PECIES

There are 23 threatened or endangered species pr otected under the Endangered Species Act that may occur in the nearshore area off of Yaquina Bay (T able A-9). Some of these species have a greater

likelihood of occurrence than others based on their lif e history characteristics. In addition, given that the site designation could be in perpetuity, the likelih ood that they may occur at the sites is greater and

is included in this discussion.

Salmonids

On February 11, 2008, the NMFS listed the Oregon Coast coho salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act [73 Federal Register (FR) 7816]. The listing includes all naturally spawned populations of coho salmon in Oregon coastal streams south of the Columbia River and north of Cape Blanco , including the Cow Creek [Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stock #37] coho hatchery program. Critical habitat also was designated. Yaquina Bay and River were designated as critical habita t but ocean waters were not included in this designation.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-29 Table A-9. Threatened or Endangered Species that May Occur at North and South ODMDS

Species Listing Status Critical Habitat

Anadromous Fish
Oregon Coast Coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) T 6/20/08; 76 FR 35755 2/11/08; 73 FR 7816

S. Oregon/N. California Coasts ( O. kisutch ) T 6/28/05; 70 FR 37160 5/5/99; 64 FR 24049

Lower Columbia River Chinook ( O. tshawytscha) T 8/15/11; 76 FR 50448 70 FR 52630; 9/2/05

Upper Willamette River spring run Chinook ( O. tshawytscha) T 8/15/11; 76 FR 50448 70 FR 52630; 9/2/05

Snake River spring/summer run Chinook ( O. tshawytscha) T 8/15/11; 76 FR 50448 64 FR 57399; 10/25/99

Snake River fall-run Chinook ( O. tshawytscha ) T 6/28/05; 70 FR 37160 6/28/05; 70 FR 37160

Southern Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) T 4/07/06; 71 FR 17757 10/09/09; 74 FR 52300

Eulachon ( Thaleichthys pacificus ) T 3/18/10; 75 FR 13012 10/20/11; 76 FR 65324

Marine Mammals

Eastern Steller sea lion ( Eumetopias jubatus ) T 5/5/1997; 63 FR 24345 8/ 27/93; 58 FR 45269

Blue whale ( Balaenoptera musculus ) E 12/02/70; 35 FR 18319 Not applicable Fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus ) E 12/02/70; 35 FR 18319 Not applicable Humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) E 12/02/70; 35 FR 18319 Not applicable

Southern Resident Killer whale ( Orcinus orca ) E 11/18/05; 70 FR 69903 11/26/06; 71 FR 69054

Sei whale ( Balaenoptera borealis ) E 12/02/70; 35 FR 18319 Not applicable Sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ) E 12/02/70; 35 FR 18319 Not applicable

Marine Turtles
Green turtle ( Chelonia mydas )

Excludes Pacific Coast of Mexico & Florida ET 7/28/78; 43 FR 32800 9/02/98; 63 FR 46693

Leatherback turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea ) E 6/02/70 ; 39 FR 19320 3/23/79; 44 FR 17710 1/16/12; 77 FR 4170 Loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta ) T 7/28/78; 43 FR 32800 Not applicable Olive ridley turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea ) ET 7/28/78; 43 FR 32800 Not applicable

Birds

Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) T 10/01/92; 57 FR 45328 61 FR 26255; 05/24/1996

Short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria (=Diomedea) albatrus) E 06/02/70; 35 FR 8491 None designated

Western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) T 03/05/93; 58 FR 12864 70 FR 56969; 09/29/2005

Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) T 06/26/90; 55 FR 26114 57 FR 1796; 01/15/1992

Invertebrates
Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) T 07/02/80; 45 FR 44935 45 FR 44935; 07/02/1980Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-30 Coho are present in the Yaquina Bay offshore area as both adults and juveniles. Adults hold in the offshore area prior to entering the estuary to migrate up river to spawn. Juveniles rear in the nearshore ocean area after migrating downstream and transitioni ng to saltwater. Upstream migration of adult coho salmon ranges from August through November. Juvenile outmigration extends from April through June and peaks in May.

In 2005, the Lower Columbia River coho salmon ESU was listed as threatened and includes all naturally spawned populations of coho in the Colu mbia River and its tributaries in Washington and Oregon, from the mouth of the Columbia up to an d including the Big White Salmon and Hood Rivers,

and includes the Willamette River to Willamette Falls, Oregon, as well as 25 artificial propagation programs (70 FR 37160). While migrating individual s may utilize the coastal habitat off Yaquina Bay for migratory purposes, they are likely to be further offshore than the ODMDS.

Several ESUs of Chinook salmon lis ted in 2005 (70 FR 37160) could potentially be in the ocean area off of Yaquina Bay. These include the Lower Colu mbia River (threatened), Upper Willamette River spring-run (threatened), Upper Columbia River spring-run (endangered), Snake River spring/summer run (threatened), and Snake River fall-run (threatened). All of these ESUs have designated critical habitat, but critical habitat does not include ocean waters. During their ocean life history residence period, these species have been found off of Yaquina Bay (Weitkamp 2009).

Eulachon

Southern DPS Pacific eulachon was listed as threatened on May 17, 2010 (75 FR 13012). Eulachon (commonly called smelt, candlefish, or hooligan) are a small, anadromous fish from the eastern Pacific Ocean. Eulachon typically spend 3 to 5 years in sa ltwater before returning to freshwater to spawn from late winter through mid spring. They occur in nearshore ocean waters and to 1,000 feet (300 meters) in depth, except for the brief spawning runs in to their natal (birth) streams. In the continental U.S., most eulachon originate in the Columbia Basi n. Other areas in the U.S. where eulachon have been documented include Sacramento River, Russian River, Humboldt Bay and several nearby smaller coastal rivers (e.g., Mad River), and the Klamath River in California; Rogue and Umpqua rivers in Oregon; and infrequently in coastal rivers and tr ibutaries to Puget Sound, Washington. Although eulachon migrate along the coast, little is known about th eir use of nearshore and marine habitat. In January 2011, critical habitat was proposed (76 FR 515) and does not include any ocean waters.

According to NMFS analysis supporting their listing, the most significant threat to eulachon and their habitats are changes in ocean conditions due to climate change (75 FR 13018). Dredging was identified as a low to moderate threat primarily due to spawning-related impacts. However, impacts associated with dredged material disposal were not identified as a threat. Even though eulachon are found in nearshore waters, the potential for eulachon to be in the area during disposal is low because: (1) eulachon are not known to use Yaquina Bay; t hus, large numbers of returning outmigrants or adults are unlikely to be transiting through the North and South ODMDS; and (2) disposal actions occur for a limited number of days per year, whic h limits the likelihood (in combination with the aforementioned reasoning) of fish coming in contact with dredged material disposal.

Green Sturgeon

The Southern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of green sturgeon was listed as threatened on April 7, 2006 (71 FR 17757). Critical habitat was desi gnated for the species on October 9, 2009 (74 FR 52300). Green sturgeon that spawn to the north, prim arily in the Klamath and Rogue rivers, constitute the Northern DPS, which is not federally listed. The two sturgeon DPSs were established because they were genetically distinct. According to NM FS analysis supporting the listing of the SouthernAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-31 DPS of green sturgeon, “The principal factor for d ecline of the Southern DPS is the reduction of the spawning area to a limited area of the Sacramento River” (71 FR 17762). The nearest spawning

habitat is in the Sacramento River. Southern D PS green sturgeon likely occur at the Yaquina ODMDS as they migrate north and south to access estuaries during summer and early fall. Designated critical habitat for southern green sturgeon includes all U.S. coastal marine waters out to the 60 fathom depth bathymetry line from Monterey Bay, California north and east to include waters in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington, which encompasses the ODMDS and all tidally influenced areas of Yaquina Bay up to the elevation of mean higher high water.

Marine Mammals

There are many whale and sea turtle species in Oregon’ s offshore coastal area that are federally listed under the Endangered Species Act. The blue, fin, sei , sperm, humpback, and southern resident killer whales are all federally endangered species and occu r as migrants off the Oregon coast in waters typically farther from shore than within the Yaquina ODMDS.

Blue whales occur off the Oregon coast in May a nd June, as well as August through October. Blue whales typically occur offshore as individuals or in small groups and winter well south of Oregon. Fin whales also winter far south of Oregon and range o ff the coast during summer. Sei whales also winter south of Oregon and probably occur in southward mi gration off the Oregon coast in late summer and early fall. Sperm whales occur as migrants and so me may summer off the Oregon coast; they forage in waters much deeper than tho se in the nearshore area. Humpba ck whales primarily occur off the Oregon coast from April to October with peak num bers from June through August. Humpback whales are particularly concentrated in Oregon along th e southern edge of Heceta Bank and are found primarily on the continental shelf and slope. The ra nge of the southern resident killer whale during the spring, summer, and fall includes the inland waterway s of Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Southern Georgia Strait. Their occurrence in the coastal waters off Oregon has been documented. Little is known about their winter movements and range.

Marine Turtles

The loggerhead, green, leatherback, and olive ridley s ea turtles are all federally listed species and have been recorded from strandings along the Oregon and Washington coasts. The occurrence of sea turtles off the Oregon coast is associated with the appearance of albacore and jellyfish. Albacore occurrence is strongly associated with the warm waters of the Japanese current. B ecause these warm waters generally occur 30 to 60+ miles offshore from the Oregon coast, these sea turtle species do not typically occur in the nearshore area. However, b ecause of food resources (i.e, jellyfish) that do occur closer to shore , NMFS designated critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle off the coast of Oregon,

which includes the North and South ODMDS.

Birds

Federally listed marine birds that may be present in the Yaquina Bay offshore area include the marbled

murrelet and short-tailed albatross. Threatened ma rbled murrelets are observed in small flocks or as individuals in the ocean throughout the year. Th e endangered short-tailed al batross may forage in open ocean areas off the coast. The Pacific coast population of western snowy plover is a federally threatened species that breeds in coastal areas in California, Oregon and Washington. Western snowy plover breeding and feeding occur on b eaches rather than in open water.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-32 

## O THER 

## W ILDLIFE

Wildlife resources in the vicinity of Yaquina Bay ar e shown in Figure A-9. Three species of seals and sea lions inhabit the Yaquina Bay coastal area. St eller sea lions, a federally threatened species, and harbor seals ( Pusa vitulina ) are year-long residents, while California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus ) are present most of the year. Steller sea lions forage at river mouths and nearshore areas along the Oregon coast. The closest Steller sea li on haul out site is located about 7 miles south of the Yaquina North Jetty (Seal Rock). Harbor seal s breed in the estuary and on nearshore rocks. The Yaquina nearshore area and shoreline provides habitat for shorebirds, wa terfowl, herons, bald eagles ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ), hawks, and many other species of birds. Pelagic birds (e.g., murres, auklets, cormorants) likely use Yaquina Bay and River and adjacent waters for foraging.

Figure A-1. Wildlife ResourcesAppendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-33 

## C OMMERCIAL AND 

## R ECREATIONAL 

## F ISHERIES



## - E CONOMICS

The major commercial and recreational fishing ar eas in the vicinity of the Yaquina ODMDS are shown in Figure A-5. Based on data from NMFS (2006) for commercial fishing, a total of 393 vessels, all commercially registered, delivered landing s to Newport in 2000. Landings were in the following West Coast fisheries (data shown represents landings in metric tons/value of said landings/number of vessels making landings; NA = not available): coastal pelagic (158/$14,203/17), crab (1,613/$7,474,302/99), groundfish (40,389/$9,382,966/179), highly migratory species (1,403/$2,626,906/180), salmon (368/$1,361,844/181), shellfish (NA/NA/2), shrimp (3,628/$3,240,124/38), an d other species (50/$222,093/106). Newport residents owned 90 vessels in 2000, of which 9 were a part of the Groundfis h Vessel Buyback Program. Community members owned 69 vessels that participated in the federal groundfish fishery. In Toledo, community members owned 20 vessels, 15 of which participat ed in the federal groundfish fishery.

Based on data from NMFS (2006) for recreational fi shing, Newport had at least two outfitter guide businesses in 2003. Eight licensed charter vessel bus inesses were located in Newport. Ten licensed charter vessel businesses used Newport as their home port. There were at least six sport fishing businesses operating in Newport. Newport has 13 licen sing vendors. In 2000, the number of licenses sold by active agents was 4,785 at a value of $81,155. Two sport fishing license vendors were operating in Toledo in 2000 and a tota l of 906 angling licenses were sold at a total value of $15,021. For Newport, the 2000 recreational salmonid catch in the Ocean Boat Fishery was 1,141 Chinook salmon and 9,124 coho salmon. The recreational non-salmonid catch in the Ocean Boat Fishery was a total of 125,112 fish. The top species landed includ e black rockfish, blue rockfish, lingcod, Albacore tuna, Pacific halibut, chilipepper rockfish, California halibut, kelp greenling, yelloweye rockfish, and yellowtail rockfish.



## M ARINE 

## R ESERVES

The State of Oregon is engaged in a process to establish a network of marine reserves as part of an overall strategy to manage its ma rine waters and submer ged lands. The overall purpose is to protect, sustain, or restore the nearshore marine ecosystem, its habitats, and species. A marine reserve is an area within Oregon’s state territorial sea or adjacent intertidal area that is protected from all extractive activities including the removal or disturbance of living and non-living mari ne resources. Marine reserves are intended to provide lasting protec tion. The State is moving forward with recommendations by the Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) to establish marine reserves at Otter Rock, Redfish Rocks, Cape Perpetua, Cascade Head , and Cape Falcon. Of these, the Otter Rock marine reserve is the nearest site to the Yaquina North and South ODMDS. The Otter Rock marine reserve is located in Lincoln County between the cities of Newport and Depoe Bay, and encompasses approximately 1.3 square miles of nearshore waters. This marine reserve area is located about 8 miles north of the Yaquina North and South ODMDS.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-34 

## R EFERENCES

Auth, T.D. and R.D. Brodeur. 2006. Distribution and community structure of ichthyoplankton off the coast of Oregon, USA, in 2000 and 2002. Marine Ecology Progress Series 319:199-213.

Auth, T.D., R.D. Brodeur, and K.M. Fisher. 2007. Diel variation in vertical distribution of an offshore ichthyoplankton community off the Oregon Coast. Fish Bulletin 105:313-326.

Brodeur, R.D., D.M. Gadomski, W.G. Pearcy, H.P. Batchelder, and C.B. Miller. 1985. Abundance and distribution of ichthyoplankton in the upwe lling zone off Oregon during anomalous El Niño

conditions. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 21:365-378.

Hancock, D.R., P.O. Nelson, C.K. Sollitt, and K. J. Williamson. 1981. Coos Bay Offshore Disposal Site Investigation Interim Report, Phase I, Febr uary 1979-March 1980. Report to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District. Oregon State University, Corvallis OR.

Keister, J.E. and W.T. Peterson. 2003. Zonal and seasonal variations in zooplankton community structure off the central Oregon Coast, 1998-2000. Progress in Oceanography 57:341-361.

Marine Taxonomic Services, Ltd. January 2009. Dr aft Report, Oregon Coast Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site Benthic Survey. Prepared for U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10, Seattle, WA.

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2006. Draft Community Profiles for West Coast and North Pacific Fisheries - Washington, Oregon, California, and other U.S. States. Socioeconomics Program, Northwest Fisheries Science Center and Economics and Social Sciences Research Program, Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

OWET (Oregon Wave Energy Trust). 2011. Baseline characterization and monitoring of the OSU

mobile ocean test berth site: Benthic habitat ch aracteristics and organisms on the central Oregon Coast. 33p. www.oregonwave.org (Accessed February 2012).

Peterson, W.T. and C.B. Miller. 1976. Zooplankton along the continental shelf off Newport, OR 1969- 1972: distribution, abundance, seasonal cycle, and year to year variations. Oregon State University, Sea Grant College Program Pub. No. ORESU-T-76-002.

Peterson, W.T. and Miller, C. B. 1977. Seasonal cycle of z ooplankton abundance and species composition along the central Oregon Coast. Fishery Bulletin 75:717–724.

Peterson, W.T., C.B. Miller and A. Hutchins on. 1979. Zonation and maintenance of Copepod populations in the Oregon upwelling zo ne. Deep-Sea Research 26A:467-494.

Richardson, S.L. 1973. Abundance and distribution of larval fishes in waters off Oregon, May-October 1969, with special emphasis on the northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax

. Fishery Bulletin 71:697-

711.

Richardson, S.L. and W.G. Pearcy. 1977. Coastal and oceanic larvae in an area of upwelling off Yaquina Bay, Oregon. Fishery Bulletin 75:125-145.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-35 Richardson, M.D., A.G. Carey and W.A. Colgate. 19 77. An Investigation of the Effects of Dredged Material Disposal on Neritic Benthic Assemblages off the Mouth of the Columbia River. Phase II.

USACE Portland District for Contract Number DACW57-76-R-0025.

Richardson, S.L., J.L. Laroche and M.D. Richards on. 1980. Larval fish assemblages and associations in the northwest Pacific Ocean along the Oregon coast, winter-spring 1972-1975. Estuarine and

Coastal Marine Science 11:671-698.

USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). 1985. Yaquina Bay Interim Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site Evaluation Study. Portland District, Portland OR.

USACE. 1988a. Chetco Ocean Dredged Material Dis posal Site Evaluation, Final Report. Portland District, Portland OR.

USACE. 1988b. Rogue Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site Evaluation, Final Report. Portland District, Portland OR.

USACE and EPA. March 2011. 2008 Monitoring Studi es at Yaquina Bay Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites (ODMDS). Final Data Report. Portland District and EPA Region 10.

Weitkamp, L.A. 2009. Marine distribution of Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) from the west coast of North America determined by coded wire tag recoveries. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 139:147-170.Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-36 

## ATTACHMENT A

D EMERSAL 

## F ISH 

## D ATA BY 

## L OCATION 

## , A UGUST 

## 2008

North ODMDS

Trawl YQB-01

N to S in North ODMDS

Western third YQB-02

S to N in North ODMDS Eastern edge
Replicate number 1 1

Common Name Latin name Adult Juvenile UD Adult Juvenile UD
Big skate Raja binoculata 2 1

Butter sole Isopsetta isolepis 1 11 1 18

Curl fin Pleuronichthys decurrens 1

English sole Parophrys vetulus 1 50 2 30

Ling cod Ophiodon elongatus

Pacific sanddab Citharichthys sordidus 25 28 2 13

Pacific staghorn sculpin Leptocottus armatus 1

Pacific tomcod Microdadus proximus 3 10

Petrale sole* Eopsetta jordani 1 1

Pricklebreast poacher Stellerina xyosterna

Rock sole Lepidopsetta sp.

Sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria

Sand sole Psettiethys melanostictu 2 16 3

Showy snailfish Liparis pulchellus 3

Smelt - unknown sp Atherinops sp.

Snailfish (marbled?) Liparis (dennyi)? 1

Speckled sanddab Citharichthys stigmaeus

Spotted ratfish Hydrolagus colliei 1 1

Starry flounder Platichthys stellatus 1

Tubenose poacher Pallasina barbata 1

Warty poacher Ocella verrucosa 9 1

Unidentified sculpin

Subtotals 35 111 0 19 74 2

Totals 146 95

% of Total Catch 15.9 10.3

*The adult petrale sole from trawl YQB-01 had a 2.5 cm dorsal growth; adult fish, 3-4 years.
UD = Life stage undetermined

Source: USACE and EPA 2011Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-37 

### North of North ODMDS

Trawl YQB-05

SW to NE

North of North ODMDS YQB-05

N to S

North of North ODMDS
Replicate number 1 2

Common Name Latin name Adult Juvenile UD Adult Juvenile UD
Big skate Raja binoculata 1 2 2

Butter sole Isopsetta isolepis 4 28 3 31

Curl fin Pleuronichthys decurrens
English sole Parophrys vetulus 4 33 2 42

Ling cod Ophiodon elongatus 1

Pacific sanddab Citharichthys sordidus 1 11 5 11

Pacific staghorn sculpin Leptocottus armatus 4 1 2 1

Pacific tomcod Microdadus proximus 43 48

Petrale sole* Eopsetta jordani 1

Pricklebreast poacher Stellerina xyosterna 1

Rock sole Lepidopsetta sp. 1

Sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria 2

Sand sole Psettiethys melanostictu 2 17 2 8

Showy snailfish Liparis pulchellus 1

Smelt - unknown sp Atherinops sp. 1

Snailfish (marbled?) Liparis (dennyi)? 6

Speckled sanddab Citharichthys stigmaeus

Spotted ratfish Hydrolagus colliei
Starry flounder Platichthys stellatus 1

Tubenose poacher Pallasina barbata
Warty poacher Ocella verrucosa 4 7

Unidentified sculpin 1

Subtotals 22 136 0 22 149 6

Totals 158 177

% of Total Catch 17.2 19.3

UD = Life stage undetermined

Source: USACE and EPA 2011Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EA A-38 

### South ODMDS

Location South ODMDS

Trawl YQB-03

N to S in South ODMDS

Western third YQB-04

N to S in South ODMDS

Eastern third YQB-04

S to N in South ODMDS

Eastern third
Replicate number 1 1 2

Common Name Latin name Adult Juvenile UD Adult Juvenile UD Adult Juvenile UD

Big skate Raja binoculata 1 1 1

Butter sole Isopsetta isolepis 12 2 20 4 4

Curl fin Pleuronichthys decurrens

English sole Parophrys vetulus 4 21 8 32 26

Ling cod Ophiodon elongatus

Pacific sanddab Citharichthys sordidus 21 29 38 22 20 7

Pacific staghorn sculpin Leptocottus armatus 2

Pacific tomcod Microdadus proximus 1 3 3

Petrale sole* Eopsetta jordani 1 1

Pricklebreast poacher Stellerina xyosterna

Rock sole Lepidopsetta sp.

Sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria

Sand sole Psettiethys melanostictu 2 10 3 12 3 7

Showy snailfish Liparis pulchellus

Smelt - unknown sp Atherinops sp.

Snailfish (marbled?) Liparis (dennyi)?

Speckled sanddab Citharichthys stigmaeus 7 1 2

Spotted ratfish Hydrolagus colliei

Starry flounder Platichthys stellatus 1 1

Tubenose poacher Pallasina barbata 4

Warty poacher Ocella verrucosa 2 4

Unidentified sculpin

Subtotals 30 74 0 64 92 0 32 46 5

Totals 104 156 83

% of Total Catch 11.3 16.9 9.0

UD = Life stage undetermined

Source: USACE and EPA 2011Appendix A, Yaquina ODMDS Evaluation/EAA-39ATTACHMENT BYaquina ODMDS Bathymetry – August 2, 2011.