[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33798-33799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16327]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Notice of Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Marsh 
Sandwort (Arenaria paludicola) and Gambel's Watercress (Rorippa 
gambelii) 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 announces the availability 
for public review of a draft recovery plan for two wetland plants, the 
marsh sandwort (Arenaria paludicola) and Gambel's watercress (Rorippa 
gambelii). Only one marsh sandwort population, with fewer than 10 
individuals, is known to exist; it occurs in San Luis Obispo County, 
California. Four populations of Gambel's watercress are currently 
known, one with about 500 individuals near the marsh sandwort 
population, two others with about 300 individuals each, also in San 
Luis Obispo County, and a fourth population of approximately 100 plants 
on Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County. Both species are 
threatened by encroaching native and alien vegetation associated with 
lowered water tables, agricultural and residential development, and 
off-road vehicle use. In addition, the very low numbers of individuals 
and populations put these species at great risk of extinction due to 
stochastic events. The Service solicits review and comment from the 
public on this plan.


DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before August 22, 1997 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
following location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2140 Eastman 
Avenue, Suite 100, Ventura, California 93003 (phone: 805/644-1766); and 
the San Luis Obispo Public Library, 995 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, 
California 93401. Requests for copies of the draft recovery plan and 
written comments and materials regarding this plan should be addressed 
to the Field Supervisor, at the above Ventura address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Constance Rutherford, Botanist, at the 
above Ventura address, (805) 644-1766.

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. 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. They establish criteria for the recovery levels 
necessary for downlisting or delisting the species. They also provide 
an estimation of time and cost of implementing the recovery measures 
needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) (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 that public notice, to provide an opportunity for public 
review and comment, be given during plan development. The Service will 
consider all significant information presented during a public comment 
period, prior to the approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. The 
Service and other Federal agencies also will take these comments into 
account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    Marsh sandwort, a member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), 
historically had a large range along the Pacific coast, extending from 
southern California north to Washington. It occurred in San Bernardino, 
San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco counties in California, 
as well as in Pierce County, Washington. Recent searches of sites where 
the species was previously reported in Washington have resulted in 
negative findings. Of the seven historical populations in California, 
only a single known extant population occurs today, in Black Lake 
Canyon on the Nipomo Mesa in southern San Luis Obispo County.
    Gambel's watercress was reported in the early 1900s from several 
wetland locations in southern California, ranging from Los Angeles and 
San Bernardino counties south to a disjunct population in the Valley of 
Mexico near Mexico City. Three small populations of this species have 
been reported in the 1980s, from Black Lake Canyon, Oso Flaco Lake, and 
Little Oso Flaco Lake in San Luis Obispo County. These areas are 
located within 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) of each other. The Black Lake 
Canyon population, numbering about 500 individuals, is located 
approximately 200 meters (656 feet) downstream of the marsh sandwort 
plants.
    Both the marsh sandwort and Gambel's watercress are found in 
freshwater marshes, from sea level to about 450 meters (1,476 feet). 
Wetland habitats have been disappearing from the Pacific Coast of North 
America at a rapid rate since the early part of the century. The 
conversion of wetland habitat to agriculture, ranching activities, and 
increased urbanization, and the use of off-road vehicles for 
recreation, have eliminated or degraded habitat. Additionally, the 
groundwater table in the lower canyon has been dropping steadily in the 
past few years, possibly due to water drawdown from well-drilling, 
water uptake and transpiration from the many introduced eucalyptus 
trees in the area, and the

[[Page 33799]]

drought in California during the past decade. In addition to changes in 
water levels, degradation of water quality may result from an increase 
in development and agricultural use in the area.
    Increased erosion from the steep sandy slopes of Black Lake Canyon, 
both from development on the canyon rim and natural causes such as 
landslides, could result in increased sedimentation into bottom 
habitats. Such sedimentation could degrade bottom wetland habitats for 
these two rare plants.
    The conversion of pristine natural habitats to agriculture and 
increased urbanization have resulted in the replacement of native 
vegetation with exotic plant species. Both endangered plants therefore 
have to compete for water, nutrients, light, and space with exotic 
species, as well as with densely growing native vegetation surrounding 
them.
    The bottom and parts of the slopes of Black Lake Canyon have been 
designated as a Sensitive Resource Area by San Luis Obispo County, so 
that further development is restricted and subject to more careful 
environmental review by the county. A new amendment that would expand 
the Sensitive Resource Area boundary and increase erosion control on 
surrounding lands has been proposed and is currently being reviewed by 
the County Planning Department.
    The main objective for the long-term management and recovery of the 
marsh sandwort and Gambel's watercress is to secure viable, self-
sustaining populations of both species in their natural habitats. The 
recovery strategy for these endangered plants involves six major steps: 
protect, maintain, and enhance species' habitats; monitor and document 
species' populations and habitat characteristics; conduct research on 
the ecology and biology of the species; increase existing populations; 
establish new populations; and evaluate progress and update management 
and recovery guidelines.

Public Comments Solicited

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

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)).

    Dated: May 6, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-16327 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P