[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34441-34442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16806]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Kootenai 
River Population of White Sturgeon in Idaho and Montana 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 the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the 
Kootenai River population of white sturgeon. The Kootenai River white 
sturgeon represents a land-locked population found in the Kootenai 
River from Kootenai Falls, Montana, downstream through Kootenay Lake to 
Corra Linn Dam on the lower West Arm of Kootenay Lake, British 
Columbia. 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 September 30, 1996, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: The draft recovery plan is available for public inspection 
by appointment during normal business hours at either the Service's 
Upper Columbia River Basin Office, 11103 East Montgomery Drive, Suite 
#2, Spokane, Washington, 99206 or the Snake River Basin Office, 4696 
Overland Road, Room 576, Boise, Idaho, 83705. Persons wishing to review 
the draft recovery plan may obtain a copy by contacting the Supervisor, 
Snake River Basin Office, at the above address or by calling (208) 334-
1931. Written comments and materials regarding the plan should be sent 
to the Service's, Snake River Basin Office, attention Recovery Team 
Leader, at the above Boise address. Comments and materials received are 
available on request for public inspection by appointment at the Snake 
River Basin Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Ruesink or Steve Duke, at the 
Service's, Snake River Basin Office, 4696 Overland Road, Room 576, 
Boise, Idaho 83705. (208) 334-1931.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    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. Recovery 
plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation of the 
species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting and 
delisting species, and estimate time and cost for implementing the 
recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) 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 that public notice and an 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 account in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The Kootenai River white sturgeon became isolated from other white 
sturgeon in the Columbia River basin during the last glacial age 
(approximately 10,000 years ago). Since then, the population has 
adapted to the pre-development habitat conditions in the Kootenai River 
drainage. Historically, spring runoff peaked during the first half of 
June in the Kootenai River upstream of the existing Libby Dam in 
Montana. Runoff from

[[Page 34442]]

lower elevations between Libby Dam and Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was 
somewhat earlier, peaking in late May. Combined flows were often in 
excess of 1700 cubic meters per second (m3/s) [60,000 cubic feet 
per second (cfs)]. During the remainder of the year, river flows 
declined to basal conditions of 113 to 226 m3/s (4,000 to 8,000 
cfs). Annual flushing events re-sorted river sediments providing a 
clean cobble substrate conducive to insect production and sturgeon egg 
incubation. Side channels and low-lying deltaic marsh lands were 
unimpounded at this time, providing productive, low velocity backwater 
areas. Nutrient delivery in the system was unimpeded by dams and 
occurred primarily during spring runoff. Floodplain ecosystems like the 
Kootenai River are characterized by seasonal floods that promote the 
exchange of nutrients and organisms among a mosaic of habitats and thus 
enhance biological productivity.
    Modification of the Kootenai River white sturgeon's habitat by 
human activities has changed the natural hydrograph of the Kootenai 
River, altering white sturgeon spawning, egg incubation, nursery, and 
rearing habitats, and reducing overall biological productivity. These 
factors have contributed to a general lack of recruitment in the white 
sturgeon population over the past 22 years.
    Recovery of the Kootenai River white sturgeon is contingent upon 
re-establishing natural recruitment, minimizing additional loss of 
genetic variability to the population, and successfully mitigating 
biological and physical habitat changes caused by the construction and 
operation of Libby Dam. This draft recovery plan proposes conservation 
actions to benefit white sturgeon within the entire Kootenai River 
watershed in Canada and the United States. However, recovery tasks 
proposed for the Canadian portion of the white sturgeon's range are 
only recommendations since the Act does not impose any restrictions or 
commitments on Canada. The draft recovery plan also proposes a strategy 
for improving coordination and cooperation between the United States 
and Canada on the operation of Libby Dam with the operation of other 
hydroelectric facilities within the Kootenai River basin and elsewhere 
in Canada.
    The draft plan was developed by a recovery team composed of 
representatives of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of 
Fish and Game, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Bonneville Power 
Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Canadian Department of 
Fisheries and Oceans, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands 
and Parks, and the Service. Short-term recovery objectives proposed 
are: a) prevent extinction and b) begin to re-establish successful 
natural recruitment to the Kootenai River population of white sturgeon. 
Proposed recovery actions include providing additional Kootenai River 
flows necessary for natural recruitment and using aquaculture, i.e. 
hatchery propagation, to prevent extinction. The long-term objectives 
are to provide suitable habitat conditions to ensure a self-sustaining 
Kootenai River population of white sturgeon. Specific delisting 
criteria are not determinable or proposed at this time.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan 
described. 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: June 25, 1996.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, OR.
[FR Doc. 96-16806 Filed 7-1-96; 8:45 am]
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