# Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Ouachita Rock-Pocketbook for Review and Comment > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-17044 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Uncategorized Document - **Published:** July 14, 1994 ## Text 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] BILLING CODE 4310-55-M --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-17044. Public record. Not legal advice.