Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Ouachita Rock-Pocketbook for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Ouachita

Rock-Pocketbook for Review and Comment

agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

action: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

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summary: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the

availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the

Ouachita rock-pocketbook (Arkansia wheeleri) which the Service listed

as an endangered species on October 23, 1991 (56 FR 54957). Two extant

populations are known to exist in the wild. A viable population of some

1,000 individuals inhabit the Kiamichi River in Oakland and a smaller

population of some 100 individuals inhabit the lower Little River in

Arkansas. The Little River population is believed too reduced and

fragmented to ensure long-term viability. The Service solicits review

and comment from the public on this draft plan.

dates: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or

before September 12, 1994, to receive consideration by the Service.

addresses: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain

a copy by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 222 South

Houston, Suite A, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127. Written comments and materials

regarding the plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor at the

above address. Comments and materials received are available on request

for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at

the above address.

for further information contact: David Martinez, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service Biologist, (918) 581-7458 or at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring an endangered or threatened plant or animal to the point

where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is

a primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered

species program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is

working to prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native

to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered

necessary for conservation and survival of the species, establish

objective, measurable criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting

or delisting species, and estimate time and cost for implementing the

recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C.

1531 et seq.) 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, as amended in 1988,

requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and

comment be provided during recovery plan development. The Service will

consider all information presented during a public comment period prior

to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other

Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the

course of implementing approved recovery plans.

The Ouachita rock-pocketbook (Arkansia wheeleri) is a monotypic

genus now believed restricted to approximately 138 kilometers (85

miles) of the Red River system in eastern Oklahoma and western

Arkansas. Stream impoundment, channelization, and water quality

degradation are major threats to the species' continued survival.

Impoundments change the physical and chemical characteristics of

impounded stream reaches, producing conditions unsuitable for mussel

species such as the Ouachita rock-pocketbook. The quality and

regulation of releases from impoundments also modify water quality and

physical characteristics in downstream waters, often for considerable

distances. Such changes generally are detrimental to the native mussel

community. Although suitable habitat may continued to exist farther

downstream or upstream from impoundments, the populations in those

habitats become isolated from each other as a result of the

impoundments. Such isolation may prevent exchanges of genetic material

that may be essential for long-term survival of the populations.

Channelization removes meanders and normal variations in width and

depth of stream channels. It also removes riparian vegetation and

modifies flow and sediment conditions in streams. These effects combine

to eliminate naturally complex mussel habitats and communities that

have become established over long periods of time. Degradation of water

quality, whether from the preceding factors or from various sources,

also affects mussels by increasing exposure to deleterious constituents

and/or reducing availability of needed constituents in aquatic

environments. Finally, freshwater mussels may be affected indirectly by

any factors affecting particular fish species that the mussels require

as larval hosts. The recovery plan addresses Ouachita rock-pocketbook

populations as units believed necessary for survival and recovery of

the species.

The Ouachita rock-pocketbook recovery plan has been reviewed by the

appropriate Service staff in Region 2. The plan will be finalized and

approved following incorporation of comments and materials received

during this comment period.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan

described. All comments received by the date specified above will be

considered prior to the approval of the plan.

Authority: The Authority for this action is section 4(f) of the

Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: June 16, 1994.

John G. Rogers,

Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 94-17044 Filed 7-13-94; 8:45 am]

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