[Federal Register: September 24, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 184)]
[Notices]
[Page 54279-54280]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24se07-57]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Recovery Plan for the Pacific Coast Population of the Western
Snowy Plover
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the recovery plan for the Pacific Coast population of
the Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus). The final
plan includes recovery criteria and measures for the Pacific coast
population of the western snowy plover.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the plan by either of the following
methods: Internet: Download a copy at http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans
; or U.S. mail: Send a request to U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage
Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, CA 95825. Printed copies of the recovery
plan will be available for distribution in 4 to 6 weeks.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Aubrey, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the above Sacramento address (telephone, 916-414-6600).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program. To help
guide the recovery effort, we are working to prepare recovery plans for
most of the listed species native to the United States. Recovery plans
describe actions considered necessary for the conservation of the
species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting or
delisting them, and estimate time and cost for implementing the
recovery measures needed.
Section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) requires us to provide public notice and an opportunity for
public review and comment during recovery plan development. We made the
draft recovery plan for the Pacific Coast population of western snowy
plover was available for public comment from August 14, 2001, through
December 12, 2001 (66 FR 42676). We provided an opportunity to resubmit
comments due to the possibility that some comments submitted were not
received due to a shutdown in the Department of the Interior's internet
access, including receipt of outside electronic mail. Resubmitted
comments were accepted through February 15, 2002. We considered
information we received during the public comment period in our
preparation of this final recovery plan, and also summarized that
information in an appendix of the recovery plan. We will forward
substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation to
appropriate Federal or other entities so they can take these comments
into account in the course of implementing recovery actions.
The Pacific coast breeding population of the western snowy plover
(Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) currently extends from Damon Point,
Washington, to Bahia Magdalena, Baja California, Mexico. Snowy plovers
(Pacific coast population) breed
[[Page 54280]]
primarily above the high tide line on coastal beaches, sand spits,
dune-backed beaches, sparsely vegetated dunes, beaches at creek and
river mouths, and salt pans at lagoons and estuaries. Less common
nesting habitats include bluff-backed beaches, dredged material
disposal sites, salt pond levees, dry salt ponds, and river bars. The
snowy plover winters mainly in coastal areas from southern Washington
to Central America. In winter, snowy plovers are found on many of the
beaches used for nesting as well as on beaches where they do not nest,
in manmade salt ponds, and on estuarine sand and mud flats. Habitat
degradation caused by human disturbance, urban development, introduced
beachgrass (Ammophila spp.), and expanding predator populations has
resulted in a decline in active nesting areas and in the size of the
breeding and wintering populations.
Our primary objective in this recovery plan is to remove the
Pacific coast population of the western snowy plover from the List of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants by achieving well-
distributed increases in numbers and productivity of breeding adult
birds, and providing for long-term protection of breeding and wintering
plovers and their habitat. Specific actions needed to achieve this
objective and described in the recovery plan include (1) protection of
breeding and wintering habitat; (2) monitoring and managing breeding
habitat; (3) monitoring and managing wintering and migration areas; (4)
undertaking scientific research that facilitates recovery efforts; (5)
public participation, outreach, and education; and (6) establishing an
international conservation program with the Mexican government to
protect snowy plovers and their breeding and wintering locations in
Mexico.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: September 17, 2007.
Darrin Thome,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E7-18638 Filed 9-21-07; 8:45 am]
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