Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Kootenai River Population of White Sturgeon in Idaho and Montana for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Kootenai

River Population of White Sturgeon in Idaho and Montana for Review and

Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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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

Kootenai River population of white sturgeon. The Kootenai River white

sturgeon represents a land-locked population found in the Kootenai

River from Kootenai Falls, Montana, downstream through Kootenay Lake to

Corra Linn Dam on the lower West Arm of Kootenay Lake, British

Columbia. 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 September 30, 1996, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: The draft recovery plan is available for public inspection

by appointment during normal business hours at either the Service's

Upper Columbia River Basin Office, 11103 East Montgomery Drive, Suite

#2, Spokane, Washington, 99206 or the Snake River Basin Office, 4696

Overland Road, Room 576, Boise, Idaho, 83705. Persons wishing to review

the draft recovery plan may obtain a copy by contacting the Supervisor,

Snake River Basin Office, at the above address or by calling (208) 334-

1931. Written comments and materials regarding the plan should be sent

to the Service's, Snake River Basin Office, attention Recovery Team

Leader, at the above Boise address. Comments and materials received are

available on request for public inspection by appointment at the Snake

River Basin Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Ruesink or Steve Duke, at the

Service's, Snake River Basin Office, 4696 Overland Road, Room 576,

Boise, Idaho 83705. (208) 334-1931.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point

where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is

a primary goal of the Service's endangered species program. Recovery

plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation of the

species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting and

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 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 Kootenai River white sturgeon became isolated from other white

sturgeon in the Columbia River basin during the last glacial age

(approximately 10,000 years ago). Since then, the population has

adapted to the pre-development habitat conditions in the Kootenai River

drainage. Historically, spring runoff peaked during the first half of

June in the Kootenai River upstream of the existing Libby Dam in

Montana. Runoff from

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lower elevations between Libby Dam and Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was

somewhat earlier, peaking in late May. Combined flows were often in

excess of 1700 cubic meters per second (m3/s) [60,000 cubic feet

per second (cfs)]. During the remainder of the year, river flows

declined to basal conditions of 113 to 226 m3/s (4,000 to 8,000

cfs). Annual flushing events re-sorted river sediments providing a

clean cobble substrate conducive to insect production and sturgeon egg

incubation. Side channels and low-lying deltaic marsh lands were

unimpounded at this time, providing productive, low velocity backwater

areas. Nutrient delivery in the system was unimpeded by dams and

occurred primarily during spring runoff. Floodplain ecosystems like the

Kootenai River are characterized by seasonal floods that promote the

exchange of nutrients and organisms among a mosaic of habitats and thus

enhance biological productivity.

Modification of the Kootenai River white sturgeon's habitat by

human activities has changed the natural hydrograph of the Kootenai

River, altering white sturgeon spawning, egg incubation, nursery, and

rearing habitats, and reducing overall biological productivity. These

factors have contributed to a general lack of recruitment in the white

sturgeon population over the past 22 years.

Recovery of the Kootenai River white sturgeon is contingent upon

re-establishing natural recruitment, minimizing additional loss of

genetic variability to the population, and successfully mitigating

biological and physical habitat changes caused by the construction and

operation of Libby Dam. This draft recovery plan proposes conservation

actions to benefit white sturgeon within the entire Kootenai River

watershed in Canada and the United States. However, recovery tasks

proposed for the Canadian portion of the white sturgeon's range are

only recommendations since the Act does not impose any restrictions or

commitments on Canada. The draft recovery plan also proposes a strategy

for improving coordination and cooperation between the United States

and Canada on the operation of Libby Dam with the operation of other

hydroelectric facilities within the Kootenai River basin and elsewhere

in Canada.

The draft plan was developed by a recovery team composed of

representatives of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of

Fish and Game, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Bonneville Power

Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Canadian Department of

Fisheries and Oceans, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands

and Parks, and the Service. Short-term recovery objectives proposed

are: a) prevent extinction and b) begin to re-establish successful

natural recruitment to the Kootenai River population of white sturgeon.

Proposed recovery actions include providing additional Kootenai River

flows necessary for natural recruitment and using aquaculture, i.e.

hatchery propagation, to prevent extinction. The long-term objectives

are to provide suitable habitat conditions to ensure a self-sustaining

Kootenai River population of white sturgeon. Specific delisting

criteria are not determinable or proposed at this time.

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: June 25, 1996.

Thomas Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, OR.

[FR Doc. 96-16806 Filed 7-1-96; 8:45 am]

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