# Notice of Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Marsh Sandwort (Arenaria paludicola) and Gambel's Watercress (Rorippa gambelii) for Review and Comment > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-16327 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Proposed Rule - **Published:** June 23, 1997 - **Citation:** 62 FR 33798 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 Notice of Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Marsh Sandwort (Arenaria paludicola) and Gambel's Watercress (Rorippa gambelii) for Review and Comment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for two wetland plants, the marsh sandwort (Arenaria paludicola) and Gambel's watercress (Rorippa gambelii). Only one marsh sandwort population, with fewer than 10 individuals, is known to exist; it occurs in San Luis Obispo County, California. Four populations of Gambel's watercress are currently known, one with about 500 individuals near the marsh sandwort population, two others with about 300 individuals each, also in San Luis Obispo County, and a fourth population of approximately 100 plants on Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County. Both species are threatened by encroaching native and alien vegetation associated with lowered water tables, agricultural and residential development, and off-road vehicle use. In addition, the very low numbers of individuals and populations put these species at great risk of extinction due to stochastic events. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this plan. DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before August 22, 1997 to receive consideration by the Service. ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the following location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2140 Eastman Avenue, Suite 100, Ventura, California 93003 (phone: 805/644-1766); and the San Luis Obispo Public Library, 995 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, California 93401. Requests for copies of the draft recovery plan and written comments and materials regarding this plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor, at the above Ventura address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Constance Rutherford, Botanist, at the above Ventura address, (805) 644-1766. 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. 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 conservation of the species. They establish criteria for the recovery levels necessary for downlisting or delisting the species. They also provide an estimation of time and cost of implementing the recovery measures needed. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act) 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, to provide an opportunity for public review and comment, be given during plan development. The Service will consider all significant information presented during a public comment period, prior to the approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. The Service and other Federal agencies also will take these comments into account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans. Marsh sandwort, a member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), historically had a large range along the Pacific coast, extending from southern California north to Washington. It occurred in San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco counties in California, as well as in Pierce County, Washington. Recent searches of sites where the species was previously reported in Washington have resulted in negative findings. Of the seven historical populations in California, only a single known extant population occurs today, in Black Lake Canyon on the Nipomo Mesa in southern San Luis Obispo County. Gambel's watercress was reported in the early 1900s from several wetland locations in southern California, ranging from Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties south to a disjunct population in the Valley of Mexico near Mexico City. Three small populations of this species have been reported in the 1980s, from Black Lake Canyon, Oso Flaco Lake, and Little Oso Flaco Lake in San Luis Obispo County. These areas are located within 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) of each other. The Black Lake Canyon population, numbering about 500 individuals, is located approximately 200 meters (656 feet) downstream of the marsh sandwort plants. Both the marsh sandwort and Gambel's watercress are found in freshwater marshes, from sea level to about 450 meters (1,476 feet). Wetland habitats have been disappearing from the Pacific Coast of North America at a rapid rate since the early part of the century. The conversion of wetland habitat to agriculture, ranching activities, and increased urbanization, and the use of off-road vehicles for recreation, have eliminated or degraded habitat. Additionally, the groundwater table in the lower canyon has been dropping steadily in the past few years, possibly due to water drawdown from well-drilling, water uptake and transpiration from the many introduced eucalyptus trees in the area, and the [[Page 33799]] drought in California during the past decade. In addition to changes in water levels, degradation of water quality may result from an increase in development and agricultural use in the area. Increased erosion from the steep sandy slopes of Black Lake Canyon, both from development on the canyon rim and natural causes such as landslides, could result in increased sedimentation into bottom habitats. Such sedimentation could degrade bottom wetland habitats for these two rare plants. The conversion of pristine natural habitats to agriculture and increased urbanization have resulted in the replacement of native vegetation with exotic plant species. Both endangered plants therefore have to compete for water, nutrients, light, and space with exotic species, as well as with densely growing native vegetation surrounding them. The bottom and parts of the slopes of Black Lake Canyon have been designated as a Sensitive Resource Area by San Luis Obispo County, so that further development is restricted and subject to more careful environmental review by the county. A new amendment that would expand the Sensitive Resource Area boundary and increase erosion control on surrounding lands has been proposed and is currently being reviewed by the County Planning Department. The main objective for the long-term management and recovery of the marsh sandwort and Gambel's watercress is to secure viable, self- sustaining populations of both species in their natural habitats. The recovery strategy for these endangered plants involves six major steps: protect, maintain, and enhance species' habitats; monitor and document species' populations and habitat characteristics; conduct research on the ecology and biology of the species; increase existing populations; establish new populations; and evaluate progress and update management and recovery guidelines. Public Comments Solicited The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan described. All significant comments received by the date specified above will be considered prior to the approval of the plan. Authority The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)). Dated: May 6, 1997. Thomas J. Dwyer, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1. [FR Doc. 97-16327 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-16327. Public record. Not legal advice.