Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding for a Petition To List the Southern Population of Walleye as Endangered

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding

for a Petition To List the Southern Population of Walleye as Endangered

agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

action: Notice of 12-month petition finding.

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summary: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 12-month

finding for a petition to list the southern population of walleye

(Stizostedion vitreum) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended. After review of all available scientific and commercial

information, the Service finds that listing this species is not

warranted at this time.

dates: The finding announced in this document was made on September 1,

1995.

addresses: Data, information, comments, or questions pertaining to this

petition should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

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

Mississippi 39213. The petition finding, supporting data, and comments

are available for public inspection, by appointment during normal

business hours at the above address.

for further information contact: Dr. Ron Larson at the above address

(601-965-4900, ext. 27).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that, for any petition to

revise the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants that

presents substantial scientific and commercial information, the Service

make a finding within 12 months of the date of the receipt of the

petition on whether the petition action is: (a) not warranted, (b)

warranted, or (c) warranted but precluded from immediate proposal by

other pending proposals of higher priority. Section 4(b)(3)(C) requires

that petitions for which the requested action is found to be warranted

but precluded should be treated as though resubmitted on the date of

such finding, that is, requiring a subsequent finding to be made within

12 months. Such 12-month findings are to be published promptly in the

Federal Register.

On August 22, 1994, the Service received a petition dated August

20, 1994, from Mr. Robert R. Reid, Jr., of Birmingham, Alabama, to

emergency list the southern population of walleye (Stizostedion

vitreum) as endangered. The Service made a 90-day finding, concluding

that the petition and Service files contained substantial information

indicating that the requested action may be warranted. An announcement

of that finding was published in the Federal Register on March 13, 1995

(60 FR 13397). A status review was initiated on March 13, 1995, and the

public comment period was open between March 13, and May 12, 1995.

The Service has reviewed the petition, literature cited in the

petition, information received by the Service during the comment

period, other available literature and information, and consulted with

biologists and researchers familiar with the southern population of

walleye. On the basis of the best scientific and commercial information

available, the Service find that listing is not warranted at this time.

The status review revealed that the southern population of walleye has

likely declined; however, convincing data on biological vulnerability

and range-wide threats are not available to support a proposed rule for

listing at this time.

Information obtained during the status review indicated that native

walleye historically occurred in the lower Mississippi and Pearl rivers

in Mississippi; in all eight Mobile Basin drainages in Alabama,

Georgia, Mississippi, and in a small area of Tennessee; and in the

Escambia River of Alabama (Brown 1962, Schultz 1971, Hackney and

Holbrook 1978, Moss et al. 1985, Mettee et al. 1989a, 1989b). Genetic

analyses, based on protein electrophoresis and mitochondrial-DNA, have

demonstrated that the walleye native to the Mobile Basin is distinctive

(Wingo 1982, Murphy 1990, Billington et al. 1992, Billington and

Strange in press). This population, herein referred to as the

``southern walleye,'' is currently known from seven Mobile Basin

(Basin) drainages. The southern walleye is a large freshwater fish that

reaches weights of 2 pounds (4 kg) or more (Schultz 1971, Moss et al.

1985). Southern walleye occur mostly in rivers and larger streams, but

they may also occur in impoundments and channelized rivers. They are

migratory and move upstream, or into smaller streams in winter and

early spring, to spawn on clean sand and gravel substrates (Schultz

1971, Kingery and Muncy 1988).

Southern walleye populations appear to be small. In fish surveys,

they often comprise less than one percent of a collection (Brown 1962,

Schultz 1971). However, adult walleye are frequently found in deep

holes and associated with submerged logs; habitats that are not readily

sampled. Based on what appear to be spawning runs, there are at least

five potential spawning areas located throughout the Basin, but

considering the walleye's extensive distribution, additional spawning

sites are likely.

The status review disclosed that the southern walleye has likely

declined in population size and distribution owing to considerable

habitat modification that has occurred over much of its range. Locks

and dams block or restrict walleye movement and may inundate historic

spawning habitat. Additional habitat has been altered by

channelization, desnagging, gravel mining, and headcutting. Local

declines in water quality from point and nonpoint source pollution also

may affect stream reaches occupied by walleye. Angling may reduce

reproduction in Alabama because mature fish are caught when

concentrated at spawning sites.

Some of the major threats, e.g., dam construction, channelization,

and water pollution, appear to have recently stabilized. Illegal gravel

mining remains a problem in several coastal plain areas because of

inadequate detection and enforcement. Headcutting continues to be a

threat in areas such as the upper Tombigbee where geomorphic

instability has resulted from channelization, gravel dredging, and

other channel modifications (Hartfield 1992). However, these problems

are

[[Page 47339]]

localized in relatively small portions of the southern walleye's known

and potential range within the Basin. The review identified several

potential threats to two spawning sites, but there was insufficient

data to infer that other spawning areas are threatened.

Despite these identified threats, the Service found that an

accurate assessment of the current status and population trends of the

southern walleye was not possible due to a lack of recent and historic

information on populations (e.g., distribution and abundance within

drainages), and number, location, and condition of spawning sites. The

status review identified only one comprehensive report on the walleye's

status (Schultz 1971), and that report covered only a small portion of

the species' range.

The Service believes that the southern walleye is still

sufficiently abundant that timely management and conservation efforts

can improve its status. Attempts by the State of Mississippi to enhance

southern walleye populations by closing fishing and operating an

experimental walleye hatchery are meritorious. Similar efforts by other

states could enhance southern walleye populations throughout its range.

The Service will retain the southern walleye as a species of

concern and continue to seek information on the species and monitor its

status. If additional data become available, the Service may reassess

the need for listing and propose listing as necessary.

Further details regarding the biological status of the species are

contained in the administrative finding, which can be obtained by

contacting the office indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this

notice.

References Cited

A complete list of all references cited herein, as well as others,

is available upon request from the Jackson Field Office (see

ADDRESSES).

Author

The primary author of this document is Dr. Ron Larson, Jackson,

Mississippi, Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: September 1, 1995.

John G. Rogers,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 95-22624 Filed 9-11-95; 8:45 am]

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