Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office

3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130
Sacramento, CA 95821-6340

99-10

Contact: Patricia Foulk, Sacramento, California - 916/979-2710 (x456)
E-mail: Patricia_Foulk@mail.fws.gov

For Release March 19, 1999

SURVIVAL STRATEGY FOR AGE-OLD SHASTA CRAYFISH
OUTLINED IN RECOVERY PLAN

SACRAMENTO -- Strategies for recovering California's last remaining native crayfish are spelled out in a recovery plan from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The endangered Shasta crayfish is protected by both the Federal and California endangered species acts.

Typically less than two inches long, the Shasta crayfish is considered a medium-sized crayfish. The back of its body is colored dark mocha brown while its underbody is a bright orange-red; especially on its pincher-like claws. Scientists believe this crayfish has remained relatively unchanged during the period of recorded time.

There are only seven known remaining populations of Shasta crayfish and they are limited to the midsections of the Pit River drainage, primarily the Fall River and Hat Creek subdrainages in Shasta County. These crustaceans mainly live in cool, clear, spring-fed headwaters with clean volcanic cobbles and boulders on top of sand or gravel. The lava rocks provide protective cover for the crayfish, which remain hidden during the day and come out only after dark to browse on the community of plants, animals, and associated debris that coat the rocks.

The primary threats to Shasta crayfish are the introduction and expansion of non-native species of crayfish, and fishes and disturbances related to land use practices. Signal crayfish are rapidly expanding their abundance and range and must be controlled to prevent the extinction of Shasta crayfish.

Actions needed to prevent the crayfish's extinction include protecting populations by eradicating or preventing invasions by non-native crayfish; restoring habitat; eliminating impacts from land management practices; determining its status, distribution, and abundance in the mainstem Pit River; researching its ecology, behavior, and pathology; monitoring and assessing populations; developing effective watershed and ecosystem management plans for all drainages supporting populations; and providing opportunities to increase public awareness of the conservation needs of this unique California animal.

If recovery measures succeed, the Shasta crayfish could likely be removed from the endangered species list as early as 2012.

A number of conservation efforts are already underway with potential to benefit Shasta crayfish. In 1981, California Department of Fish and Game closed the midsections of the Pit River to crayfishing and the use of crayfish as bait, although some areas are now open for crayfishing where introduced species are abundant. The property owner of Bear Creek Meadow and the manager of timber lands upstream have mounted a cooperative effort to reduce and stabilize sediment flow into Fall River from Bear Creek. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company has excluded grazing cattle from all of its levee areas, Big Lake, and the Tule River, an action that will help stop the degradation of existing Shasta crayfish habitat. Furthermore, an initiative is underway among private landowners to develop partnerships for managing Shasta crayfish.

Restoring an endangered species to the point where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is the primary goal of the Endangered Species Act. Recovery plans provide a blueprint for actions by Federal, State, and other public agencies and private interests in the conservation of the endangered species and their ecosystems. Recovery plans do not obligate the expenditure of funds or require that actions be implemented.

A copy of the recovery plan can be obtained by writing to Diane Elam, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento, California 95821-6340.

–FWS–

Backgrounder & Q&A on the Shasta Crayfish Recovery Plan

Shasta Crayfish, Pacifastacus fortis
Final Recovery Plan
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Backgrounder

Shasta Crayfish, Pacifastacus fortis, are the last remaining native crayfish in California. There are only seven populations left and are found in the midsections of the Pit River drainage, primarily the Fall River and Hat Creek subdrainages in Shasta County. Shasta crayfish are medium-sized crayfish, averaging less than two inches long. Their body is colored dark mocha brown while the underbody is bright orange-red; especially on its pincher-like claws. These crustaceans usually live in cool, clear, spring-fed headwaters with clean volcanic cobbles and boulders on top of sand and gravel. The lava rocks provide protective cover for the crayfish, which remain hidden during the day and come out only after dark to browse on the community of plants, animals, and associated debris that coat the rocks. The primary threats to the Shasta crayfish are the introduction and expansion of non-native species of crayfish and the disturbances related to land use practices.

Recovery Plan: The recovery plan for the Shasta crayfish outlines actions necessary for restoring the crayfish to a point where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem. Recovery plans do not obligate the expenditure of funds or require that actions be implemented. Actions needed to prevent the crayfish's extinction include protecting populations by eradicating or preventing invasions by non-native crayfish; restoring habitat; eliminating impacts from land management practices; determining its status, distribution, and abundance in the mainstem Pit River; researching its ecology, behavior, and pathology; monitoring and assessing populations; developing effective watershed and ecosystem management plans for all drainages supporting populations; and providing opportunities to increase public awareness of the conservation needs of this unique California animal. If recovery measures succeed, the Shasta crayfish could likely be removed from the endangered species list as early as 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Shasta Crayfish Recovery Plan

Q. When was the Shasta crayfish listed as an endangered species? What led to its listing?

A. Originally designated as a rare species under California law in 1980, the Shasta crayfish was listed as an endangered species by the State in 1988. The Shasta crayfish was Federally listed as an endangered species on September 30, 1988. No critical habitat was designated.

The limited distribution and abundance of the Shasta crayfish, coupled with the apparent decline in the species, led to its endangered status. Its distribution is limited to the midsections of the Pit River drainage, primarily the Fall River and Hat Creek subdrainages. The greatest densities of Shasta crayfish are found in the pristine headwater springs of the Fall River. Overall, Shasta crayfish have a low abundance and fragmented distribution with migration and genetic exchange between populations limited by hydroelectric development, natural barriers, and loss of habitat. No single event is responsible for the species' decline, but numerous natural and human disturbances over time have collectively resulted in the reduced abundance and fragmented distribution of the Shasta crayfish.

Q. What protections does a listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act offer these species?

A. Listed species benefit from a variety of conservation measures under the Act including increased public awareness and recognition, development of recovery plans and strategies, requirements for Federal protection, and prohibitions against certain activities. Collectively, these measures are used to secure the survival and recovery of the species.

Q. Since the Shasta crayfish is already State-listed, what benefits are derived from Federal listing?

A. State listing provides a measure of protection to the species; however, this law does not adequately prevent the ongoing loss of habitat.

Federal listing brings with it affirmative responsibilities for Federal agencies to use their authorities to bring listed species to the point at which protection under the Endangered Species Act is no longer necessary. In addition, Federal agencies must consult with the Service on actions they fund, authorize, or permit, if such action is likely to adversely affect a listed species. The Service works closely with the California Department of Fish and Game to determine appropriate conservation measures when a proposed project may affect a species that is both Federally and State listed.

Q. What is meant by recovery?

A. Recovery is the process by which the decline of an endangered or threatened species is arrested or reversed, and threats neutralized so that its survival in the wild can be ensured. The goal of the Endangered Species Act is the recovery of listed species to levels where protection under the Act is no longer necessary.

Q. What are recovery plans?

A. Recovery plans are documents that detail the specific tasks needed to recover listed species. They provide a blueprint for private, Federal, and State cooperation in the conservation of threatened and endangered species and their ecosystems. A recovery plan is a reference document identifying actions that if implemented, are expected to recover the species. Any actions implemented must follow appropriate State, local, or Federal laws and regulations. Cooperation from private landowners is voluntary.

Q. Are recovery plans required by law?

A. Yes. Section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act calls for the development and implementation of recovery plans for species listed as endangered or threatened unless such plans would not contribute to their conservation.

Q. How long does it take to write a recovery plan?

A. In July 1994, the Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a policy stating that recovery plans are to be completed within two and a half years of the species' date of listing.

Q. Who writes a recovery plan?

A. Recovery plans may be written by biologists within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and may incorporate the expertise of individuals from other Federal or State agencies or private contractors. Another alternative is to form a recovery team to develop a plan. A new policy -- part of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt's Ten Point Plan -- significantly expanded recovery participation beginning in July 1994. The policy directs that local jurisdictions, private organizations and affected citizens be included in recovery plan development and implementation. These changes in policy require that the Service solicit State agency expertise and participation in both recovery planning and implementation. Service policy emphasizes the importance of integrating Federal, Tribal, State, and private efforts to recover listed species. The Service reviews outside work and may modify drafts as necessary to ensure consistency, resolve disputes and establish priorities. Plans must identify management tasks, research needs and other cations necessary to reach the plans' goals. Since 1994, to ensure that all recovery actions are based on the best available scientific information, the Service is requiring that all recovery plans be independently peer-reviewed.

Q. Who wrote the Shasta crayfish recovery plan?

A. The Shasta crayfish recovery plan was prepared by Maria J. Ellis, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the Service's Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. The plan was prepared under contract with the California Department of Fish and Game Inland Fisheries Division Endangered Species Project.

Q. How was the public involved in the planning process?

A. On September 30, 1997, the Service released the draft Recovery Plan for the Shasta Crayfish for a 90-day comment period ending on December 29, 1997. Ten letters were received, each containing varying numbers of comments. All comments were reviewed and are addressed in the final plan.

Q. What is the primary objective of the Shasta crayfish recovery plan?

A. The primary objective of the plan is to stabilize and protect existing populations so that Shasta crayfish may be reclassified as a threatened species and ultimately delisted.

Q. What actions are needed to delist the Shasta crayfish?

A. A variety of actions are needed if the Shasta crayfish is going to survive. They include protecting Shasta crayfish populations by eradicating or preventing invasions by nonnative crayfish, restoring habitat, and eliminating impacts from land management practices; determining the status, distribution, and relative abundance of Shasta crayfish in the mainstem of the Pit River; conducting research on the ecology, behavior, and pathology of Shasta crayfish; monitoring and assessing Shasta crayfish populations and determining population targets for a sustainable and well-distributed population; developing effective watershed and ecosystem management plans for all drainages supporting Shasta crayfish populations; and finally providing public education on Shasta crayfish.

Q. How soon does the Service anticipate delisting the Shasta crayfish?

A. If the recommended recovery actions are implemented, it is believed the Shasta crayfish could be delisted as soon as 2012.

Q. Why does it take so long for species to recover?

A. Typically, reversing or halting the decline of a species is a gradual process that may take years, or even decades. Even experts may have an incomplete understanding of the cause of a species' decline. This makes designing an effective plan for recovering the species difficult. Research can usually identify what is causing the decline, but this takes time. Once the causes of decline have been correctly identified and recovery actions implemented, the unpredictable nature of ecological systems may produce unanticipated results, requiring development of new or modified approaches.

Q. How much will recovery of the Shasta crayfish cost?

A. Since 1989, recovery plans have been required to contain cost estimates. These estimates are useful for planning, but may not reflect actual spending. For example, the recovery plan for the Ozark big-eared bat estimated spending $2.6 million for recovery. This species is now considered stable; actual expenditures have totaled about $861,000. ( Actual expenditures include all Federal and State spending)

The estimated spending for recovery of the Shasta crayfish is $4.5 million.

Q. Does Congress provide money for recovery?

A. Yes, specific amounts are appropriated by Congress for recovery and are included in the Service's endangered species program budget.

Q. How does the Service decide which species get what amount of recovery money?

A. The Service uses a two-tiered priority system to guide recovery. This system in turn guides the allocation of recovery dollars. First, each species is assigned a rank according to the degree of threat, recovery potential, taxonomic distinctiveness and presence of an actual or imminent conflict. This recovery priority is assigned by the lead Region of the Service at the time of listing and is reviewed yearly thereafter. Second, each recovery task identified in the recovery plan for the species is assigned a priority. Priority 1 tasks are necessary to prevent extinction, priority 2 tasks are needed to avoid significant further decline of the species, and priority 3 tasks include all other actions necessary to achieve recovery.

Actual funding allocations may not always strictly follow these guidelines. For example, if an otherwise low priority species may be recovered by completing only one or two low priority tasks, it might receive money sooner that a higher priority species requiring completion of more tasks. This allows the lower priority species to be downlisted or delisted sooner. Congressional actions directing specific funds to specific recovery projects also can change the priority.

Q. Do recovery programs work?

A. Yes. But recovery is a challenge that takes time; it seeks to halt or reverse declines that in some instances have been many years in the making. On average, even in the face of a substantial increase in the number of species listed over the past decade, the recovery efforts of the Service, other Federal agencies, States, tribal governments and private landowners have managed to hold those species with declining population trends to an overall average of 35 percent. Of all the species listed between 1968 and 1998, less than 1 percent have been recognized as extinct, and subsequently delisted. The fact that almost 99 percent of listed species have not been lost speaks to the success of the Act as a mechanism for conservation of species that are at risk of extinction.

More questions? Contact Diane Elam, Recovery Coordinator, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at 916/979-2710.

California Freshwater Shrimp

Photo Credit: B. "Moose" Peterson