Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Louisiana Quillwort Fern for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Louisiana

Quillwort Fern 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

Louisiana quillwort (Isoetes louisianensis). This quillwort is only

known from eight locations in two parishes in southeastern Louisiana

(St. Tammany and Washington Parishes). It is restricted to sandy soils

and gravel bars in or near shallow blackwater streams in riparian

woodland/bayhead forest areas of pine flatwoods. All sites are located

on private land. 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 15, 1995 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: Ms. Cary Norquist at the above address

(601/965-4900, ext. 28).

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

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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 is the Louisiana

quillwort (Isoetes louisianensis). This small, semi-aquatic plant is in

a family of primitive seedless plants closely related to ferns

(Isoetaceae). It occurs in the East Gulf Coast Physiographic Province

in shallow, sandy blackwater streams in riparian woodland/bayhead

forest areas included in a landscope of pine flatwoods. It is currently

known only from St. Tammany and Washington Parishes in southeastern

Louisiana where it occurs on private land. This species is extremely

vulnerable because of its small population size and restricted range.

Any activity which would affect the hydrology or stability of the

streams in which the plant occurs, such as gravel mining and timbering

(without the use of Best Management Practices), could potentially

affect this species.

The objective of this proposed plan is to delist the Louisiana

quillwort. Delisting will be considered when 10 viable and

geographically distinct populations from separate drainages are

protected. Actions needed to reach this goal include: (1) Protecting

and monitoring populations; (2) surveying for new populations; (3)

conducting life history studies; and (4) educating the public on the

conservation needs of this species. 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, 1995.

Linda LaClaire,

Acting Field Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 95-23955 Filed 9-26-95; 8:45 am]

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