Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Little Colorado Spinedace for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Little

Colorado Spinedace 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 Little

Colorado spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata) which the Service listed as a

threatened species on September 16, 1987 (52 FR 35040). The range of

this fish is restricted to north-flowing tributaries of the Little

Colorado River in Apache, Navajo, and Coconino counties in eastern

Arizona. Collected in 1871-1874 by the Wheeler expedition, this species

was believed to be abundant throughout the upper Little Colorado River

and cool water tributaries thereto that rise from the northern slopes

of the White Mountains and the Mollogon Rim. Since 1960, populations

throughout the species' known historic range have fluxuated greatly.

Populations are now known to exist in the upper Little Colorado

mainstem, East Clear Creek, Chevelon Creek, Nutriosa and Rudd Creek.

Modifications within the Little Colorado River and tributaries and

watershed have brought about reduced flows and degraded water quality.

These factors plus introduction of non-native fish are believed to be

major threats to the species continued existence in its Creek, native

habitats. 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 November 22, 1994, to receive consideration by the Service.

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

a copy by contacting the Project Leader, Parker Fisheries Assistance

Office, 60911 Highway 95, Parker, Arizona 85344. Written comments and

materials regarding the plan should be addressed to the Project Leader

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: Charles O. Minckley, U. S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, telephone (602) 3667-4785 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 site-specific management

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 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.

Goals set forth in the Little Colorado spinedace recovery plan are

to: identify actions considered necessary to protect existing

populations, restore depleted and extirpated populations, protect and

enhance existing habitats and ensure that the species' continued

existence in the wild is ensured. Once these goals have been achieved,

the species will be proposed for delisting. Tasks believed necessary to

achieve these goals are contained in the recovery plan.

The Little Colorado spinedace 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: September 16, 1994.

Robyn Thorson,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 94-23550 Filed 9-22-94; 8:45 am]

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