The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that a petition seeking to remove the Utah valvata snail (Valvata utahensis) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife presents substantial biological information indicating delisting may be warranted. Based on this finding, the Service will begin a full 12-month status review of the species to determine whether to propose delisting.
"This positive finding will provide additional opportunities for us to further review the status of the Utah valvata snail," said Jeff Foss, field supervisor of the Services Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office in Boise, Idaho.
The Service was already in the process of evaluating the Utah valvata snail as part of a 5-year review required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that was initiated on April 11, 2006. The results of the 5-year review for the snail will be incorporated into the 12-month finding.
The Utah valvata snail was listed on December 14, 1992 as an endangered species due to threats from proposed hydroelectric development, operation of existing hydroelectric dams, degraded water quality, diversion of water for irrigation and aquaculture, lack of regulatory protections for spring habitats, and invasion of the introduced New Zealand mudsnail.
The Service was petitioned to delist the Utah valvata snail by the Idaho Governors Office of Species Conservation and attorneys for several Idaho irrigation districts and canal companies on December 26, 2006. The species exists in riverine and reservoir habitats along 255 miles of the Snake and Wood Rivers in southern and eastern Idaho.
The petition contends that the snail should be delisted because it no longer meets the statutory definition of "threatened" or "endangered" under the ESA and further asserts that many of the threats identified in the 1992 listing rule no longer exist or have been mitigated by subsequent actions. It also states that the Utah valvata snail is more abundant and exists in more habitats than previously recorded.
At the time of listing in 1992, the Service believed the snail was restricted to spring-influenced habitats in a limited area of the mid-Snake River. Recent surveys indicate the species is now known to be more widespread than thought at the time of listing, and is tolerant of a variety of habitat conditions such as riverine habitats without spring influence, reservoirs, and springs.
The public is encouraged to submit new scientific information on the Utah valvata snail since its original listing. Comments and information must be submitted by September 4, 2007.
Comments and information may be submitted in the following manner:
- Mail to Field Supervisor, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 368, Boise, Idaho 83709;
- Hand-deliver to the above address;
- Fax to 208-378-5262;
- Use the Federal rulemaking internet portal: http://www.regulations.gov;
- Email to fw1srbocomment@fws.gov.
Please include "Utah Valvata Snail Comments" in the subject lines for fax and electronic comments.
At the conclusion of the 12-month finding, the Service will issue its recommendation on the listing status of this species. Any change in the listing classification of this species would require a separate rule-making process, including opportunities for public comment.
For further information, please contact Susan Burch at U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 368, Boise, Idaho 83709, 208-378-5243, email: susan_burch@fws.gov.
