[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9750]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 22, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Winged 
Mapleleaf Mussel (Quadrula Fragosa) for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the winged 
mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula fragosa). This freshwater mussel is known to 
occur in one segment of the St. Croix River between Minnesota and 
Wisconsin. The species range is greatly reduced from its former 11-
state distribution (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, 
Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin) 
presumably because of widespread stream habitat modification. The 
Service solicits review and comments from the public on this draft 
plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before May 23, 1994 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft plan may examine a copy 
during normal business hours at the Service's Regional Office, Division 
of Endangered Species, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal 
Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056, telephone 612/725-3276, or 
at the Service's Twin Cities, Minnesota, Field Office, 4101 East 80th 
Street, Bloomington, Minnesota 55425-1665, telephone 612/725-3548. 
Persons wishing to obtain a copy of the draft recovery plan should 
contact the Twin Cities, Minnesota, Field Office. Written comments and 
materials regarding the plan should be mailed to the Regional Office. 
All comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
Regional Office for the duration of the comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles G. Kjos, at the above Twin 
Cities, Minnesota, Field Office address (612/725-3548).

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 the Service's endangered species 
program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to 
prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the 
United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for 
conservation of the species, criteria for recognizing recovery levels 
for reclassifying or delisting them, and initial estimates of times and 
costs to implement the recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), requires the development of recovery plans for listed 
species unless such plan would not promote the conservation of a 
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988, 
requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and 
comment be provided during the 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 account in 
the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The winged mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula fragosa) was listed as an 
endangered species under the Act on June 20, 1991 (56 FR 28345). This 
species is known to occur in one segment of the St. Croix River, which 
forms the boundary between Chisago County, Minnesota, and Polk County, 
Wisconsin. Little is known of the ecology and habits of the winged 
mapleleaf, presumably because of its rarity and early population 
reductions. It appears to be a species of gravel bars and riffle areas 
of larger rivers.
    The draft recovery plan outlines strategies to protect and manage 
the recovery of this species, with the specific goals of maintaining 
and increasing the St. Croix River population, improving understanding 
of winged mapleleaf biology and ecology, reintroducing the species to 
suitable sites in its historic range, and developing reclassification 
and delisting criteria. Streamflow requirements, host fish 
identification, and the genetic similarities and differences with the 
closely-related mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula quadrula) are recommended 
for investigation in the plan.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on this draft recovery plan. 
All comments received by the date specified above will be considered 
prior to approval of the plan.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: March 31, 1994.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-9750 Filed 4-21-94; 8:45 am]
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