[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 131 (Friday, July 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37148-37149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17425]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian 
Waterbirds, Second Revision

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 Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian 
Waterbirds, Second Revision. The four waterbirds covered by this plan, 
the Hawaiian duck or koloa maoli (Anas wyvilliana), Hawaiian coot or 
``alae ke'oke'o (Fulica alai), Hawaiian moorhen or ``alae ``ula 
(Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis), and

[[Page 37149]]

the Hawaiian stilt or ae'o (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), are all 
listed as endangered species by the Federal government and the State of 
Hawaii. All four species require wetlands for their survival. These 
species are currently found on one or more of the eight main Hawaiian 
Islands (Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and 
Hawaii). None of these species are thought to number more than 2,500 
individuals, with the exception of the Hawaiian coot which is estimated 
to range between 2,000 and 4,000 birds statewide.

DATES: Comments on the draft revised recovery plan received by 
September 7, 1999 will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft revised recovery plan are available for 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
following locations: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands 
Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, 
Hawaii 96850 (phone 808/541-3441); and Hawaii State Library, 478 S. 
King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Requests for copies of the draft 
revised recovery plan and written comments and materials regarding this 
plan should be addressed to the Pacific Islands Manager, at the above 
Honolulu address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Rosa, Assistant Field 
Supervisor, Pacific Islands Office (See ADDRESSES section).

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 
the conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery 
levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost 
for implementing the recovery measures needed.
    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. Substantive technical 
comments will result in changes to the plans. Substantive comments 
regarding recovery plan implementation may not necessarily result in 
changes to the recovery plans, but will be forwarded to appropriate 
Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into 
account during the course of implementing recovery actions. 
Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.
    The four waterbirds covered by this draft revised recovery plan, 
the Hawaiian duck or koloa maoli (Anas wyvilliana), Hawaiian coot or 
``alae ke'oke'o (Fulica alai), Hawaiian moorhen or ``alae ``ula 
(Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis), and the Hawaiian stilt or ae'o 
(Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), are all listed as endangered species 
by the Federal government and the State of Hawaii. Hawaiian ducks are 
found on the islands of Kauai-Niihau, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii; Hawaiian 
coots and Hawaiian stilts are found on all the main Hawaiian Islands 
except Kahoolawe; and the Hawaiian moorhen is found only on the islands 
of Kauai and Oahu. All four species require wetlands for their 
survival. The population of wild Hawaiian ducks in the State of Hawaii 
is estimated to be 2,500 birds. The statewide coot population is 
estimated to range between 2,000 and 4,000 birds. Hawaiian moorhens are 
by far the most difficult of the waterbirds to census, thus accurate 
population estimates do not exist. However, the Hawaii State Division 
of Forestry and Wildlife waterbird counts give a rough idea of 
population trends and indicate that moorhen numbers range between 200 
and 400 birds. The Hawaiian stilt population is estimated to range 
between 1,200 and 1,600 birds.
    The four waterbirds addressed in this plan are found in a variety 
of wetland habitats including freshwater marshes, coastal ponds, taro 
patches, irrigation ditches, and in the case of the Hawaiian duck, 
montane streams and swamplands. The primary cause of the decline of 
these four species of endangered waterbirds has been the loss of 
wetland habitat. Hunting is another factor that contributed to the 
historic decline of waterbird populations but does not pose a threat 
presently. Factors that continue to be detrimental include predation by 
introduced mammals, including mongooses, feral cats, dogs, and rats; 
invasion of wetlands by alien plants and fish; hybridization; disease; 
altered hydrology; and possibly environmental contaminants.
    The objective of the draft revised recovery plan is to provide a 
framework for the recovery of these four taxa so that their protection 
by the Endangered Species Act is no longer necessary. Actions called 
for in the revised plan include protection of habitat; management of 
wetland areas to maximize productivity and survival; conducting 
research to better define limiting factors, assist in determination of 
recovery objectives and improve management techniques; monitoring of 
populations; removal of the threat of mallard-Hawaiian duck 
hybridization; supplementation of populations of Hawaiian duck and 
Hawaiian moorhen; and conducting public education and information 
programs.
    For downlisting, wetlands identified in the plan should be 
protected and managed following management practices identified in the 
revised recovery plan, monitoring should indicate that populations are 
stable or increasing above a minimum (2,000 for the Hawaiian duck, 
1,800 for the Hawaiian coot, 1,500 for the Hawaiian stilt and the 
Hawaiian moorhen) for at least 5 consecutive years, and multiple viable 
breeding populations should exist on several islands identified in the 
revised recovery plan.
    For delisting, in addition to areas already protected and managed, 
primary habitats identified in the plan should be protected and managed 
following management practices identified in the revised recovery plan, 
monitoring should indicate that populations are stable or increasing 
for at least 10 consecutive years, and multiple viable breeding 
populations should exist on several islands identified in the plan for 
each species.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the draft revised recovery 
plan described. All comments received by the date specified above will 
be considered prior to 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: July 2, 1999.
William B. Zimmerman,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 99-17425 Filed 7-8-99; 8:45 am]
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