Zayleen Kalalo at NOAA Fisheries

Zayleen is currently interning with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Branch for NOAA Fisheries, out of their California Central Valley Office in Sacramento, CA. Through the Federal Power Act (FPA), NOAA’s FERC Branch focuses on improving fish habitat through reintroductions for anadromous salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon. Some of which are listed as threatened or endangered and have critical habitat designated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Zayleen’s practicum consists of two major components (1) Improving Stakeholder engagement with the Winnemem Wintu tribe, from the McCloud River area. (2) Salmonid reintroduction policy through the FPA.

In order to improve fish passage and increase stakeholder engagement, Zayleen’s practicum focuses on incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge elements into NOAA’s fish reintroduction protocols. This consists of conducting interviews with the tribe, detailing historical salmon runs, conservation practices, as well as their relationship to the land and species.

The second component requires an analysis of current conservation rules under the Endangered Species Act section 10(j). The proposed rule focuses on Winter-run Chinook Salmon which are currently listed as endangered. The implementation of the rule allows for stakeholder engagement with the hopes of recovering species. Zayleen is currently overlooking the ESA section 10(j) rule at the federal level and its success in preventing species extinction.

You see can Zayleen's final deliverable here.