Availability of Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Gila topminnow for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Gila topminnow

for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the

availability for public review of a draft revised recovery plan for the

Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis occidentalis). This

endangered species now occurs in the Gila River basin of Arizona and

Mexico. Only the U.S. portion of the range is protected under the

Endangered Species Act. Historical records exist for the Gila River

basin in New Mexico. The Service solicits comments from the public on

the draft revised recovery plan.

In 1967 the Gila (Sonoran) topminnow was listed as endangered

within the United States, under the Endangered Species Protection Act

of 1966 (USDI 1967). Following passage of the Endangered Species Act of

1969, the Gila (Sonoran) topminnow was included on Appendix D, the list

of species endangered within the United States (USDI 1970).

DATES: Written comments on the recovery plan should be received on or

before April 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review recovery plan may obtain a copy by

contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological

Services Field Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix,

Arizona 85021, (602-640-2720; Fax 602-640-2730), or the person named

below. Written data or comments concerning the recovery plan should be

submitted to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office,

Phoenix, Arizona (see address above). Comments and materials are

available on request for public inspection, by appointment, during

normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Duncan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Tucson Sub-office, 300 West Congress, Room 4D, Tucson, AZ

85701 (520-670-4860; Fax 520-670-4567).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Restoring threatened and endangered animals

or plants where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their

ecosystem is a primary goal of the Service's endangered species

program. The purpose of a recovery plan is to guide the recovery of a

listed species. The Plans describe actions considered necessary for

conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery levels

for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate the time and cost for

implementing the recovery actions needed.

The Endangered Species Act (Act) requires development of recovery

plans for listed species unless such a plan would not promote the

conservation of that species. The Act also requires that public notice

and an opportunity for public review 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 Sonoran topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis), includes two

subspecies, the Gila topminnow (P. o. occidentalis) and the Yaqui

topminnow (P. o. occidentalis). Recovery of the Yaqui topminnow is

covered by the Yaqui Fishes Recovery Plan. The Gila topminnow is native

to the Gila River Basin of the United States and Mexico, and the Rios

de la Concepcion and Sonora of northern Mexico. It was considered one

of the most common fishes in the southern part of the Colorado River

basin prior to 1940. However, habitat loss and interaction with

nonnative fishes, particularly western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

caused range-wide disappearances and decreases in abundance within the

United States.

Gila topminnows were historically widespread in the Gila River

drainage below about 4,000 feet elevation. The subspecies was found in

the San Francisco River at Frisco Hot Springs, New Mexico, west to the

mainstem Gila River near Yuma, Arizona, and possibly even into the

lower Colorado River. The fish thrived in the Salt River as far

upstream as the present site of Roosevelt Lake and was also common in

Tonto Creek. Although there are no museum specimens from the Verde or

San Simon rivers, Gila topminnows likely occurred there. Two

collections are known from the San Pedro River. Records of Gila

[[Page 10717]]

topminnow are also known from the Santa Cruz River. Various tributary

streams and springs, most notably Sonoita Creek, Cienega Creek, and

Sabino Canyon, also historically supported Gila topminnows.

Habitat destruction and introduction of nonnative species have

caused severe reductions of Gila topminnow populations, and are the

main causes for its listing as an endangered species. Past and current

threats to the Gila topminnow and its habitat include dams, water

diversion, watershed deterioration, channelization, livestock

overgrazing, and introduction of nonnative competitive and predatory

aquatic species. The western mosquitofish has proved to be especially

detrimental to Gila topminnow populations.

Since being federally listed in 1967, the Gila topminnow has been

reestablished into more locations than any native fish in the

Southwest. However, both naturally occurring and reestablished

populations continue to decline. The recovery plan details the Gila

topminnow recovery effort, acquaints the reader with the subspecies and

its status, the threats it faces, and provides a revised plan for its

survival and recovery in the United States.

The draft revised recovery plan has been extensively reviewed the

last five years by agencies, species experts, and the Desert Fishes

Recovery Team. The plan will be published as final following

incorporation of comments and material received during this comment

period.

Public Comments Solicited: The Service solicits comments on the

draft revised recovery plan described. All comments received by the

date specified above will be considered prior to approval of the plans.

Authority: The Authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the

Endangered Species Act, 16 U. S. C. 1533 (f).

Dated: February 26, 1999.

Thomas Bauer,

Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 99-5427 Filed 3-4-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P