[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31869-31870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13046]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-ES-2012-N116: FXES11130300000D2-123-FF03E00000]
Iris Lacustris (Dwarf Lake Iris); Draft Recovery Plan for Review
and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces
availability for public review of the draft recovery plan for the Iris
lacustris (dwarf lake iris), a species that is federally listed as
threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended.
The species grows along the northern shorelines of Lakes Michigan and
Huron, in the U.S. States of Wisconsin and Michigan and in Ontario,
Canada. The purpose of the recovery plan is to recover this species in
order that it can be removed from the list of Endangered and Threatened
Plants. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this
draft plan.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or
before June 29, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Ecological Services Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road, Suite
101, East Lansing, MI 48823 (telephone 517-351-2555) or by accessing
the Web site: http://midwest.fws.gov/Endangered.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Barbara Hosler, at the above
address and telephone. TTY users may contact Ms. Hosler through the
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Recovery Program
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 federally listed threatened and endangered species
native to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered
necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for
reclassification and delisting, and provide estimates of the time and
costs for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The 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 public notice and opportunity for public review and comment 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 consideration in
the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
Dwarf Lake Iris
The dwarf lake iris was listed as threatened on October 28, 1988
(via a final rule published on September 28, 1988; 53 FR 37972), under
the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The species grows along the northern shorelines
of Lakes Michigan and Huron, in the U.S. States of Wisconsin and
Michigan and in Ontario, Canada. Of 165 known occurrences, many lie on
private property where awareness of the species' presence and
significance is limited. Direct loss of plants and habitat is
continuing and is expected to accelerate due to people's high demand of
shoreline properties for development and recreation.
Dwarf lake iris typically grows in shallow soil over moist
calcareous sands, gravel, and beach rubble. Sunlight is one of the most
critical factors to the growth and reproduction of the species, and
partly shaded or sheltered forest edges are optimal for sexual
reproduction. Some form of disturbance is also required to maintain the
forest openings that provide these partial shade conditions. The
species is most often associated with shoreline coniferous forests
dominated by northern white cedar and balsam fir. The principal
limiting factor for dwarf lake iris is the availability of this
suitable shoreline habitat.
Recovery Criteria
The dwarf lake iris will be considered for delisting when the
likelihood of the species becoming threatened in the foreseeable future
has been eliminated by the achievement of three criteria:
Criterion 1
The species has a 95 percent probability of persistence within the
next 20 years, based on data obtained
[[Page 31870]]
from accepted standardized monitoring methods and on population
viability analysis. In order to meet this criterion, the following must
be verified:
1.a. There is a sufficient number and geographical distribution of
element occurrences required to ensure long-term persistence, and
1.b. Each element occurrence needed to ensure a 95-percent
probability of persistence within the next 20 years must meet a minimum
viable population size and exhibit an increasing or stable population
trend over a 10-year period.
Criterion 2
Management plans have been developed and are being implemented to
protect and manage the habitat associated with the element occurrences
identified in Criterion 1.b.
Criterion 3
A plan to provide public outreach and education for dwarf lake iris
has been developed and is being implemented. Additional detail on these
delisting criteria is available in the draft recovery plan.
The above three criteria will be met through the following actions:
(1) Protect occurrences; (2) Manage and restore habitat; (3) Inventory
and monitor known sites; (4) Conduct population viability analysis; (5)
Develop an education program about dwarf lake iris, other federally
listed shoreline species, natural communities, and their protection and
management; (6) Improve understanding of baseline dwarf lake iris
ecology; and (7) Review and track recovery progress.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the draft recovery plan.
All comments received by the date specified will be considered prior to
approval of the plan. Written comments and materials regarding the plan
should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field
Office (see ADDRESSES). Comments received will be available for public
inspection by appointment during normal business hours.
Availability of Public Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: May 10, 2012.
Thomas O. Melius,
Regional Director, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-13046 Filed 5-29-12; 8:45 am]
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