Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding and Initiation of Status Review for a Petition To List the Southern Population of the Walleye as Endangered

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding and

Initiation of Status Review for a Petition To List the Southern

Population of the Walleye as Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition finding and initiation of status

review.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 90-

day finding for a petition to list the southern population of walleye

(Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) under the Endangered Species Act of

1973, as amended. The Service finds that the petition presents

substantial information indicating that listing this species may be

warranted. A status review is initiated.

DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on January 26,

1995. Comments and materials should be submitted to the Service by May

12, 1995, to be considered in the 12-month finding.

ADDRESSES: Data, information, comments, or questions concerning this

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

Wildlife Service, Jackson Field 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: Paul Hartfield, Biologist, at above

address (601-695-4900, ext. 25). [[Page 13398]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

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

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that the Service make a

finding on whether a petition to list, delist, or reclassify a species

presents substantial scientific or commercial information to

demonstrate that the petitioned action may be warranted. This finding

is to be based on all information available to the Service at the time

the finding is made. To the maximum extent practicable, this finding is

to be made within 90 days of the date the petition was received, and

the finding is to be published promptly in the Federal Register. If the

finding is that substantial information was presented, the Service also

is required to promptly commence a review of the status of the species

involved if one has not already been initiated under the Service's

internal candidate assessment process.

The Service announces a 90-day finding on a petition requesting the

Service to list as endangered the southern population of the walleye

(Stizostedion vitreum vitreum). The petition, dated August 20, 1994,

was submitted by Robert R. Reid, Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama, and was

received by the Service on August 22, 1994. The petition requested that

the southern population of the walleye be emergency listed as

endangered. The petitioner stated that the southern population of the

walleye is a genetically distinct population, deserving of specific or

subspecific rank, which merits listing because: (1) It has declined in

the Tombigbee River drainage, (2) remaining populations in the

Tombigbee River drainage are threatened by existing and proposed water

projects, and (3) it is rare in other Mobile River Basin drainages in

Alabama.

The Service has reviewed the petition, the literature cited in the

petition, other literature, information available in the Service's

files, and has consulted with knowledgeable fisheries biologists. On

the basis of the best scientific and commercial information available,

the Service finds the petition presents substantial information that

listing this species may be warranted. Emergency listing is allowed

under the Act whenever immediate protection is needed to prevent

extirpation of a species. Based on currently available information,

emergency listing is not needed for the southern population of walleye.

Electrophoretic analyses (Murphy 1990) and mitochondrial DNA

comparisons (Billington et al. 1992) have confirmed the genetic

uniqueness of the upper Tombigbee River population of walleye. Ongoing

studies of walleye populations in the Mobile River basin drainages of

Alabama have indicated that this distinct Gulf Coast strain of walleye

extends into that State (Mike Mecina, University of Auburn, Alabama,

pers. comm. 1994). The relationship of other Gulf Coast drainage

populations of walleye (e.g., Apalachicola River, Florida, Georgia;

Pearl River, Mississippi) to the Mobile River Basin population is

unknown and needs further investigation.

Populations of walleye appear to be low in the Tombigbee River

drainage of Mississippi. Recent reports of walleye are documented in

several Tombigbee River tributaries in Mississippi, including the

Buttahatchee River, Sipsey, Bull Mountain, Yellow, Luxapalila,

Sucarnoochee, and Hashuqua Creeks (Dennis Riecke, Mississippi

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, pers. comm. 1994).

Current information on the distribution of walleye in the Mobile Basin

drainages of Alabama is limited. Walleye collection localities within

the past 10 years in Alabama include the Black Warrior, Alabama, Little

Cahaba, Locust Fork, and lower Tallapoosa Rivers, and Euphappee,

Oakmulgee, and Hatchet Creeks (Fred Harders, Alabama Department of

Conservation, pers. comm. 1994; Malcolm Pierson, Alabama Power Company,

pers. comm. 1994).

Service records indicate that potential walleye habitat throughout

the Mobile River Basin may have been affected or eliminated due to

impoundment of approximately 1,000 miles of river habitat, and/or by

extensive stream channelization. Erosion due to headcutting, a proposed

channelization project, and proposed impoundments pose additional

threats to the population. Walleye appear to require clean, relatively

swift streams for reproduction (Schultz 1971). Potential threats to

stream habitat quality in the Mobile River Basin include various point

source effluents (e.g. coal surface mining and sand/gravel mining), as

well as sediments, nutrients, and toxicants from non-point runoff.

The Service solicits further information regarding occurrence and

distribution of the species, threats to its continued existence, and

any additional comments and suggestions from the public, other

concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or

any other interested parties concerning the status of the southern

population of the walleye. Of particular interest is information

regarding:

(1) Genetic composition of other walleye populations in Gulf Coast

drainages;

(2) Additional historic and current population data that may assist

in determining range and long-term population trends;

(3) Pertinent information on biology and life history; and,

(4) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning

any threat (or lack thereof) to populations of the southern walleye.

After consideration of additional information, submitted during the

indicated time period (see DATES section), the Service will prepare a

12-month finding.

References Cited

Billington, N., R.J. Barrette, and P.D.N. Hebert. 1992. Management

implications of mitochondrial DNA variation in walleye stocks. North

American Journal of Fisheries Management 12:276-284.

Murphy, B.R. 1990. Evidence for a genetically unique walleye

population in the upper Tombigee River system of northeastern

Mississippi. SFC Proceedings (22):14-16.

Schultz, C.A. 1971. Survey of the walleye population and related

parameters in the Tombigee River system in Mississippi. Mississippi

Game and Fish Commission Final Report, Project F-23.

Author: The primary author of this document is Paul Hartfield,

Jackson, Mississippi, Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered

Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: January 26, 1995.

Mollie H. Beattie,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 95-6143 Filed 3-10-95; 8:45 am]

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