ETWP; Proposed Rule To List the Topeka Shiner as Endangered

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to list the Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka) as an endangered species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The Topeka shiner is a small fish presently known from small tributary streams in the Kansas and Neosho river basins in Kansas; the Missouri, Grand, Lamine, Chariton, and Des Moines river basins in Missouri; the North Raccoon River basin in Iowa; the James and Vermillion river watersheds in South Dakota; and, the Rock River watershed in Minnesota. The Topeka shiner is threatened by habitat destruction, degradation, modification, and fragmentation resulting from siltation, reduced water quality, tributary impoundment, stream channelization, and stream dewatering. The species is also impacted by introduced predaceous fishes. This proposal, if made final, will implement Federal protection provided by the Act for Notropis topeka. A determination of critical habitat is neither beneficial nor prudent.