[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51127-51128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25845]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Shasta Crayfish 
(Pacifastacus fortis) 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 the draft Recovery Plan for the 
Shasta Crayfish (Pacifastacus fortis). This distribution of this 
crayfish is limited to the Pit River drainage in Shasta County, 
California. This taxa was listed as an endangered species by the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service on September 30, 1988 (53 FR 38460).

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by December 29, 
1997 will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor at the following address: 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3310 El Camino Ave., Suite 130, 
Sacramento, California 95821 (phone: 916/979-2710). Comments and 
material received are available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Chrisney, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, or Karen Miller, Recovery Coordinator, at the above 
Sacramento address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The distribution of the Shasta crayfish is limited to the 
midsections of the Pit River drainage, primarily the Fall River and Hat 
Creek subdrainages in Shasta County, California. Overall, Shasta 
crayfish populations have low abundance and fragmented distribution 
with migration and genetic exchange between populations limited by 
hydroelectric development and habitat loss. The limits of its 
geographic distribution appear to have changed little over time. 
Currently, there are

[[Page 51128]]

seven populations of Shasta crayfish ranging in size from approximately 
fewer than 50 to 5,000.
    Shasta crayfish primarily live in cool, clear, spring-fed 
headwaters that are characterized by clean volcanic cobbles and 
boulders on top of sand or gravel. The volcanic cobble and boulders are 
essential habitat components because they provide protective cover for 
the crayfish. The main threats to Shasta crayfish include: major land 
reclamation, water diversion projects, and the introduction of 
nonnative species of crayfish and fishes.
    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 
the conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery 
levels needed to downlist or delist them, and estimate time and cost 
for implementing the necessary recovery measures.
    The Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 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 and an opportunity for public review and comment be 
provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider 
all information presented during the 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. Individualized 
responses to comments will not be provided.
    This plan provides for the recovery of the Shasta crayfish 
(Pacifastacus fortis) so that protection by the Act is no longer 
necessary. Protection and management of the species' habitat are the 
primary goals of the recovery effort.

Public Comments Solicited

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

Authority

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

    Dated: September 24, 1997.
Michael J. Spear,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 97-25845 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
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