Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Mobile River Basin Aquatic Ecosystem for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Mobile

River Basin Aquatic Ecosystem 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 Mobile

River Basin aquatic ecosystem, an area in Alabama with portions

extending into east Mississippi and northwest Georgia. This plan

specifically addresses the recovery objectives, criteria, and tasks for

1 fish (goldline darter, Percina aurolineata), 11 mussels (Alabama

moccasinshell, Medionidus acuitissiumus; orange-nacre mucket, Lampsilis

perovalis; fine-line pocketbook, Lampsilis altilis; southern

acornshell, Epioblasma othcaloogensis; uplan combshell, Epioblasma

metastriata; Coosa moccasinshell, Medionidus parvulus; ovate clubshell,

Pleurobema perovatum; southern clubshell, Pleurobema decisum; dark

pigtoe, Pleurobema furvum; southern pigtoe, Pleurobema georgianum;

triangular kidneyshell, Ptychobrachus greenii), and 1 aquatic snail

(Tulotoma magnifica). Additionally, it complements recovery plans

previously developed for another 17 listed aquatic species within the

Mobile River Basin. 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 December 1, 1994, to receive consideration by the Service.

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

a copy by contacting the Jackson Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi

39213. 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:

Paul Hartfield at the above address (601/965-4900, ext. 25).

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 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 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.

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 a 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 species considered in this draft recovery plan are the goldline

darter (Percina aurolineata), Alabama moccasinshell (Medionidus

acutissimus), orange-nacre mucket (Lampsilis perovalis), fine-lined

pocketbook (Lampsilis altilis), southern acornshell (Epioblasma

othcaloogensis), upland combshell (Epioblasma metastriata), Coosa

moccasinshell (Medionidus parvulus), ovate clubshell (Pleurobema

perovatum), southern clubshell (Pleurobema decisum), dark pigtoe

(Pleurobema furvum), southern pigtoe (Pleurobema georgianum),

triangular kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus greeni), and the tulotoma snail

(Tulotoma magnifica). The goldline darter was listed as threatened in

1992 due to a suspected decline in historic range, population

fragmentation and isolation, and existing threats to extant populations

due to water quality degradation. In 1993, eight of the 11 mussels were

listed as endangered, and three as threatened due to habitat loss and

fragmentation resulting from impoundment and their vulnerability to

existing sources of habitat and water quality degradation. The tulotoma

snail was listed as endangered in 1991 due to the loss of more than 90

percent of its historic habitat, and the isolation and vulnerability of

surviving populations.

The recovery objective of the draft plan is to protect the Basin's

native aquatic fauna and flora by achieving ecosystem stabilization.

Specific recovery objectives include reclassification and eventual

delisting of the tulotoma snail; delisting of the goldline darter; and

preventing the extinction of the eight endangered mussels and the

continued decline of the three threatened mussels. Actions needed for

ecosystem stabilization will require protection of habitat integrity

and water quality by full and appropriate implementation of Federal and

State regulatory authorities; development and implementation of Best

Management Practices and Water Quality Plans for construction,

agriculture, urban, and suburban activities that affect aquatic

ecosystems; development and implementation of Drainage Management Plans

that address problems specific to drainages occupied by listed species;

development, funding, and implementation of programs that educate and

directly involve the general public in ecosystem recovery; and basic

research on life history, ecology, anatomy, taxonomy, contaminant

sensitivities, and propagation technology of listed and candidate

species.

This Plan is being submitted for technical/agency review. After

consideration of comments received during the review period, it will be

submitted for final approval.

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 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 21, 1994.

Robert Bowker,

Field Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 94-23902 Filed 9-27-94; 8:45 am]

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