[Federal Register: December 2, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 231)]
[Notices]
[Page 72307-72308]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02de05-46]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Final Recovery Plan for Six Mobile
Basin Aquatic Snails
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability
of the final recovery plan for six Mobile Basin aquatic snails. The six
snails included in the recovery plan are: the endangered cylindrical
lioplax (Lioplax cyclostomaformis), flat pebblesnail (Lepyriam
showalteri), and plicate rocksnail (Leptoxis ampla); and the threatened
painted rocksnail (Leptoxis taeniata), round rocksnail (Leptoxis
ampla), and lacy elimia (Elimia crenatella). All are endemic to the
Mobile River Basin (Basin) where they inhabit shoals, rapids and
riffles of large streams and rivers above the Fall Line. All six
species have disappeared from more than 90 percent of their historic
ranges as a result of impoundment, channelization, mining, dredging,
and pollution from point and non-point sources. The final recovery plan
includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met in order
to reclassify (downlist) the cylindrical lioplax, flat pebblesnail, and
plicate rocksnail to threatened species and for the eventual delisting
of all six species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
(Act).
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of this recovery plan by contacting
the Jackson Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood
View Parkway, Jackson, MS 39213 (telephone 601/965-4900), or by
visiting our recovery plan Web site at http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Hartfield (telephone 601/321-
1125).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 28, 1998, (63 FR 57610), we listed six aquatic snails,
in the Mobile River Basin, as threatened (painted rocksnail, round
rocksnail, lacy elimia) or endangered (cylindrical lioplax, flat
pebblesnail, plicate rocksnail) under the Act. These six snails are
endemic to portions of the Mobile River Basin in central Alabama. The
cylindrical lioplax, flat pebblesnail, and round rocksnail are found in
the Cahaba River drainage; the lacy elimia and painted rocksnail are in
the Coosa River drainage; and the plicate rocksnail is in the Black
Warrior River drainage. These snails require rock, boulder, or cobble
substrates and clean, unpolluted water and are found on shoals and
riffles of large streams and rivers. Impoundment and water quality
degradation have eliminated the six snails from 90 percent or more of
their historic habitat. Known populations are restricted to small
portions of stream drainages. These surviving populations are currently
threatened by pollutants such as sediments and nutrients that wash into
streams from the land surface.
Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is
a primary goal of the endangered species program. To help guide the
recovery effort, we are preparing recovery plans for most listed
species. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for
conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or
delisting, and estimate time and cost for implementing recovery
measures.
The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed
species, unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during
recovery plan development. A notice of availability of the technical
agency draft recovery plan for six Mobile Basin aquatic snails was
published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2005 (70 FR 2879). A
60-day comment period was opened with the notice, closing on March 21,
2005. We received comments from two interested parties. Comments and
information submitted were considered in the preparation of this final
plan and, where appropriate, incorporated.
The cylindrical lioplax, flat pebblesnail, and plicate rocksnail,
will be considered for reclassification to threatened status when the
following criteria are met:
1. The existing population has been shown to be stable or
increasing over a period of 10 years (2 to 5 generations). This may be
measured by numbers/area, catch per unit/effort, or other methods
developed through population monitoring, and must be demonstrated
through annual monitoring.
2. There are no apparent or immediate threats to the listed
population (see Listing/Recovery Criteria, below).
3. A captive population has been established at an appropriate
facility, and the species has been successfully propagated.
4. A minimum of two additional populations have been established
(or discovered) within historic range.
The lacy elimia, round rocksnail, painted rocksnail, cylindrical
lioplax, flat pebblesnail, and plicate rocksnail will be considered for
delisting when:
1. A minimum of three natural or re-established populations have
been shown to be persistent (i.e., stable or increasing) for a period
of 10 years (2 to 5 generations).
2. There are no apparent or immediate threats to the populations
(see Listing/Recovery Factor Criteria, below).
[[Page 72308]]
The objective of this final plan is to provide a framework for the
recovery of these six aquatic snails so that protection under the Act
is no longer necessary. As reclassification and recovery criteria are
met, the status of these species will be reviewed and they will be
considered for reclassification or removal from the Federal List of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR part 17).
Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533 (f).
Dated: September 8, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E5-6759 Filed 12-1-05; 8:45 am]
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