A federal judge has given NOAA four months to make a Endangered Species Act listing determination for two distinct populations of Pacific Coast chinook salmon in Oregon and California, while setting a January deadline for a third chinook population segment in Washington state.
NOAA Fisheries has until Nov. 3 to decide whether spring-run Oregon Coast and Oregon/Northern California populations warrant protection, according to a ruling from U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeff Armistead of U.S. District Court for the District of Portland in Oregon.
The agency must determine whether the Washington state coast population merits protection by Jan. 2, 2026.
Agency spokesperson Rachel Hager said in an email that the agency could not comment on ongoing regulatory actions, adding, “NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience.”
