[Federal Register: April 7, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 66)]
[Notices]
[Page 17758-17760]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap10-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-ES-2010-N058; 30120-1113-0000 D2]
Approved Recovery Plan for the Scaleshell Mussel
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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[[Page 17759]]
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the approved recovery plan for the scaleshell mussel
(Leptodea leptodon). The endangered scaleshell mussel is now
consistently found in only the Meramec, Bourbeuse, and Gasconade Rivers
in Missouri. This plan includes specific recovery objectives and
criteria to achieve removal of the species from the protections of the
Endangered Species Act (Act).
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan by sending a
request to Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological
Services Field Office, 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO
65203 (printed copies will be available for distribution within 4 to 6
weeks), or by downloading it from the Internet at: http://www.fws.gov/
endangered/recovery/index.html#plans.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Andy Roberts, by telephone at
(573) 234-2132 ext. 110. TTY users may contact Mr. Roberts through the
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Recovery of 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 Service's endangered species
program. To help guide the recovery effort, we are working to prepare
recovery plans for most 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 listed species, and estimate time and cost for implementing
the measures needed.
The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires us to develop recovery
plans for listed species unless such a plan will not promote the
conservation of a particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as
amended in 1988, requires us to provide the public notice, and an
opportunity for public review and comment, during recovery plan
development. We provided the draft scaleshell recovery plan to the
public and solicited comments from August 6, 2004, through September 7,
2004 (69 FR 47949). We considered information we received during the
public comment period, and information from peer reviewers, in our
preparation of the recovery plan, and also summarized that information
in Appendix V of this approved recovery plan.
We listed the scaleshell as endangered on October 9, 2001 (66 FR
51322). The current distribution of the scaleshell is limited to only
three rivers in Missouri: the Meramec, Bourbeuse, and Gasconade.
Surveys indicate that the species is in decline throughout these areas.
In the last 25 years, it has been reported from 15 additional streams
in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, but only has been represented
by a small number or a single specimen (live or dead) collected during
one or more extensive mussel surveys of these rivers.
The scaleshell occurs in medium-to-large rivers with low-to-medium
gradients. It primarily inhabits stable riffles and runs with gravel or
mud substrate and moderate current velocity. The scaleshell requires
good water quality, and is usually found where a diversity of other
mussel species are concentrated. More specific habitat requirements of
the scaleshell are unknown, particularly of the juvenile stage. Water
quality degradation, sedimentation, channel destabilization, and
habitat destruction are contributing to the decline of the scaleshell
throughout its range. The spread of the nonnative zebra mussel
(Dreissena polymorpha) may threaten scaleshell populations in the near
future.
The scaleshell must complete a parasitic phase on freshwater drum
(Aplodinotus grunniens) to complete its life cycle. The scaleshell's
complex life cycle and extreme rarity hinders its ability to reproduce.
The sedentary nature of the species and the low density of remaining
populations exacerbate threats to its survival posed by the natural and
manmade factors. Further, the relatively short life span of the
scaleshell may render it less able to tolerate periods of poor
recruitment. The remaining populations are very susceptible to local
extirpation, with little chance of recolonization because of their
scattered and isolated distribution.
The principal recovery strategy is to conserve existing habitat and
restore degraded habitat by addressing threats immediately adjacent to
occupied sites and in upstream areas of occupied watersheds. Stream
reaches occupied by the scaleshell have numerous and widespread threats
affecting the species. In some cases, these threats are related to the
surrounding land use and can originate upstream of extant populations.
Therefore, some recovery actions may need to be implemented on a large
scale in order to restore aquatic habitat downstream. Other recovery
actions include artificial propagation to increase and stabilize
populations, and research on the biology, ecology, and genetics of the
species.
Recovery efforts on this scale will not be possible without
soliciting outside help to restore aquatic habitat and improve surface
lands. The assistance of Federal and State agencies, conservation
groups, local governments, private landowners, industries, businesses,
and farming communities will be essential in implementing the necessary
recovery actions for the scaleshell to meet recovery goals. The role of
private landowners, nonprofit organizations, and corporations cannot be
overemphasized, as most land in watersheds occupied by the scaleshell
is under private ownership.
The scaleshell mussel will be considered for delisting when section
4(a)(1) threat factors under the Act are assessed and when the
following criteria are met:
(1) Through protection of existing populations, successful
establishment of reintroduced populations, or the discovery of
additional populations, a total of eight stream populations exist, each
in a separate watershed and each made up of at least four local and
geographically distinct populations with, at a minimum, one stream
population located in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, four in the
Middle Mississippi River Basin (two of these must exist east of the
Mississippi River), and three in the Lower Mississippi River Basin;
(2) Each local population in Criterion 1 is viable in terms of
population size, age structure, recruitment, and persistence; and
(3) Threats to local populations in Criterion 1 have been
identified and addressed per measurable criteria developed in the
Recovery Plan.
We will achieve these criteria through the following actions:
(1) Stabilizing existing populations through artificial propagation
to prevent extirpation;
(2) Formation of partnerships and utilization of existing programs
to protect remaining populations, restore habitat, and improve surface
lands;
(3) Improving understanding of the biology and ecology of the
scaleshell;
(4) Further delineating the current status and distribution of the
scaleshell;
(5) Restoring degraded habitat in areas of historical range;
(6) Reintroducing the scaleshell into portions of its former range;
(7) Initiating various educational and public outreach actions to
heighten awareness of the scaleshell as an endangered species and to
solicit help with recovery actions; and
[[Page 17760]]
(8) Tracking recovery and conducting periodic evaluations with
respect to recovery criteria.
Criteria are also provided in the recovery plan to reclassify the
scaleshell mussel to threatened status. The species will be considered
for reclassification when section 4(a)(1) threat factors under the Act
are assessed and when either of the following criteria is met:
(1) Through protection of existing populations, successful
establishment of reintroduced populations, or the discovery of
additional populations, four stream populations exist, each in a
separate watershed and each made up of at least four local populations
located in distinct portions of the stream;
(2) Each local population in Criterion 1 is viable in terms of
population size, age structure, recruitment, and persistence; and
(3) Threats to local populations in Criterion 1 have been
identified and addressed per the measurable criteria developed in the
Recovery Plan.
Authority: Sec. 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C.
1533(f).
Dated: March 18, 2010.
Lynn M. Lewis,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-7849 Filed 4-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P