[Federal Register: December 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 243)]
[Notices]
[Page 76002-76003]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20de04-112]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Recovery Plan for Five Plants From Monterey County, CA
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') announces the
availability of the final Recovery Plan for Five Plants from Monterey
County, California. This recovery plan includes the following species:
Astragalus tener var. titi (coastal dunes milk-vetch), Piperia yadonii
(Yadon's piperia), Potentilla hickmanii (Hickman's potentilla),
Trifolium trichocalyx (Monterey clover), and Cupressus goveniana ssp.
goveniana (Gowen cypress). Astragalus tener var. titi, Piperia yadonii,
Potentilla hickmanii, and Trifolium trichocalyx are listed as
endangered. Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana is listed as a
threatened species. These plant species are found primarily along the
coast of northern Monterey County, California. Potentilla hickmanii
also occurs in San Mateo County and has occurred historically in Sonoma
County. Astragalus tener var. titi has occurred historically in Los
Angeles and San Diego Counties, California. This recovery plan includes
specific criteria and actions to be taken in order to effectively
recover the species.
ADDRESSES: Copies of this recovery plan are available by request from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office,
2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003 (telephone: 805/
644-1766). An electronic copy of the recovery plan is also available
[[Page 76003]]
http://www.endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.htmlplans.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Steeck, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the above Ventura address.
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 our endangered species program. The
Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 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.
Recovery plans help guide the recovery effort by describing actions
considered necessary for the conservation of the species, establishing
criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and
estimating time and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
Section 4(f) of the Act requires that public notice and an
opportunity for public review and comment be provided during recovery
plan development. In fulfillment of this requirement, the Draft
Recovery Plan for Five Plants from Monterey County, California, was
available for public comment from May 13, 2002, through July 12, 2002
(67 FR 32003). Information presented during the public comment period
has been considered in the preparation of this final recovery plan, and
is summarized in the appendix to the recovery plan. We will forward
substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation to
appropriate Federal or other entities so that they can take these
comments into account during the course of implementing recovery
actions.
The five plants addressed in this final recovery plan are
threatened by one or more of the following: alteration, destruction,
and fragmentation of habitat resulting from urban and golf course
development; recreational activities; competition with nonnative plant
species; herbivory from native or nonnative species; demographic
stochasticity; modifications in hydrology; loss of individuals from
roadside maintenance activities; and disruption of natural fire cycles
due to fire suppression associated with increasing residential
development around and within occupied habitat.
The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the
recovery of these species so that protection by the Act is no longer
necessary. Actions necessary to accomplish this objective include: (1)
Permanent protection of habitat presently occupied by the species and
the surrounding ecosystem on which they depend, with long-term
commitments to conserving the species; (2) in protected habitat,
successful control of invasive nonnative plants and successful
management of other problems through at least 12 years; (3) development
of management strategies that include results from research on the life
histories of the taxa, and results from monitoring the species'
responses to vegetation management; (4) surveys for additional
populations, and successful reintroductions or establishment of
populations for Astragalus tener var. titi, Potentilla hickmanii, and
Trifolium trichocalyx, with populations of all five species assured of
long-term survival; (5) establishment of seed banks; and (6) existing
populations of Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana are assured of long-
term survival, including successful recruitment and reproduction. Once
these criteria have been met, Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana may be
considered for delisting and Astragalus tener var. titi, Piperia
yadonii, Potentilla hickmanii, and Trifolium trichocalyx may be
considered for downlisting.
Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: August 19, 2004.
Steve Thompson,
Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Region 1, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-27810 Filed 12-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P