Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Rare Species of Soldier Meadows for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Rare Species of

Soldier Meadows 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

threatened desert dace, Eremichthys acros, and the category 1 candidate

Soldier Meadows cinquefoil, Potentilla basaltica. These species are

endemic to Soldier Meadows, Humboldt County, Nevada. 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 April 29, 1996, to receive consideration by the Service.

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

a copy by contacting the State Supervisor, Nevada State Office, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, 4600 Kietzke Lane, Building C-125, Reno,

Nevada, 89502-5093 (Phone: 702-784-5227). Written comments and

materials regarding the plan should be sent to Mr. Carlos H. Mendoza,

State 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. Selena Werdon at the above

address, or telephone 702-784-5227.

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

(Service) 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 the conservation of the species,

establish criteria for reclassification or delisting, and estimate time

and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed

The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (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.

Desert dace are endemic to Soldier Meadows, located in western

Humboldt County, Nevada. The species occupies 10 thermal spring systems

and approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of spring outflow stream

habitat. No recent population estimate is available, but the species is

considered to be relatively abundant in some spring systems. Threats to

the species when listed included habitat modifications due to

agricultural diversions, potential geothermal and/or mineral

development; and introductions of nonnative fishes; and parasites.

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Potential threats include trampling and overgrazing by livestock and

wild horses and burros, and increasing recreational use of the species'

habitat. Recovery efforts will focus on restoring historical habitat in

one spring outflow, monitoring population stability and health, and

eliminating threats from ongoing habitat modification and sympatric

nonnative species. Habitat for desert dace is currently public land

administered by the Bureau of Land Management and private land under a

conservation easement.

Soldier Meadows cinquefoil are also endemic to Soldier Meadows,

although one additional population occurs in Ash Valley, Lassen County,

California. In Soldier Meadows, the species occupies alkali meadow,

seep, and marsh habitats bordering thermal springs, outflow streams,

and depressions. Soldier Meadows contains 10 subpopulations of the

cinquefoil. An estimated 84,650 individual plants are distributed on

approximately 28 hectares (69 acres). Threats to the species include

habitat modifications due to agricultural diversions, trampling and

overgrazing by livestock and wild horses and burros, and recreational

use; and competing nonnative plants. Conservation efforts will focus on

eliminating threats from ongoing habitat modification and invading

nonnative plants, and monitoring population stability and health.

Habitat for Soldier Meadows cinquefoil in Soldier Meadows is currently

public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and private

land under a conservation easement.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments on the Recovery Plan for the

Rare Species of Soldier Meadows. 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. 1553(f).

Dated: February 9, 1996.

Thomas Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 96-4375 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]

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