[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55410-55411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24280]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Recovery Plan for the Rough Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys hirtus)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') announce the 
availability of the final Recovery Plan for the Rough Popcornflower 
(Plagiobothrys hirtus) for distribution and use. Plagiobothrys hirtus 
is found only in the Umpqua River drainage in Douglas County, Oregon, 
at sites ranging from 100 to 230 meters (328 to 755 feet) in elevation. 
Extant, naturally occurring populations of this species occur along the 
Sutherlin Creek drainage from Sutherlin to Wilbur, adjacent to 
Calapooya Creek west of Sutherlin, and in roadside ditches near 
Yoncalla Creek just north of Rice Hill. The northernmost reported site 
is near Yoncalla, and the southernmost at Wilbur. Until 1998, all known 
sites were east of Interstate Highway 5 (I-5), but at that time a site 
was discovered at the junction of Stearns Lane and Highway 138, 0.9 
kilometers (0.5 miles) west of I-5. The easternmost currently known 
extant population is just east of Plat K Road outside Sutherlin. 
Historic collections have been made farther east near Nonpareil, but 
recent surveys (1998 to 1999) did not locate any populations in this 
area.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final recovery plan are available by written 
request addressed to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Roseburg Field Office, 2900 NW. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, 
Oregon 97470. This final recovery plan is available on the World Wide 
Web at http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Tuss at the above Roseburg 
address (telephone: 541-957-3474).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants is a 
primary goal of our endangered species program and the Endangered 
Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means improvement 
of the status of listed species to the point at which listing is no 
longer appropriate under the criteria set out in section 4(a)(1) of the 
Act. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for the 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or 
delisting listed species, and estimate time and cost for implementing 
the measures needed for recovery.
    The 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 requires that public notice 
and an opportunity for public review and comment be provided during 
recovery plan development. The draft recovery plan was available for 
public review and comment during a 60-day period from January 28, 2003, 
through March 31, 2003 (68 FR 4228). Four peer reviewers and two State 
agencies provided comments. Information presented during the public 
comment period has been considered in the preparation of this final 
recovery plan, and is summarized in the appendix to the recovery plan. 
We will forward substantive comments regarding recovery plan 
implementation to appropriate Federal or other entities so they can 
take these comments into account in the course of implementing recovery 
actions.
    Plagiobothrys hirtus is a perennial herbaceous plant, but can be 
annual depending on environmental conditions. The species occurs in 
seasonal wetlands. The majority of sites occur on the Conser-type soil 
series which is characterized as poorly drained flood plain soils. Most 
of the sites are moderately to highly disturbed due to agricultural and 
development activities. Urban and agriculture development, invasion of 
nonnative species, habitat fragmentation and degradation, and other 
human-caused disturbances have resulted in substantial losses of 
seasonal wetland habitat throughout the species' historic range. 
Conservation needs include establishing a network of protected 
populations in natural habitat distributed throughout its native range.
    A primary objective of this recovery plan is to reduce the threats 
to Plagiobothrys hirtus to the point it can be downlisted 
(reclassified) from endangered to threatened status.
    Recovery goals include: (1) At least 9 reserves, containing a 
minimum of 5,000 plants each are protected and managed to assure their 
long term survival; (2) a minimum of 1,000 square meters (10,764 square 
feet) are occupied within each reserve, with at least 50 square meters 
(538 square feet) having a density of 100 plants/square meter (100 
plants/11 square feet) or greater; (3) the 9 reserves are distributed 
among the 3 natural recovery zones (Calapooya Creek, Sutherlin Creek, 
and Yoncalla Creek), with at least 3 reserves present

[[Page 55411]]

in each unit; (4) patches contained in each reserve are within 1 
kilometer (0.6 mile) of each other to allow for pollinator movement and 
gene flow among them; (5) an average of 5 years of demographic data 
indicate that populations in at least 7 of the 9 reserves within the 3 
recovery units have average population numbers that are stable or 
increasing, without decreasing trends lasting more than 2 years; and 
(6) 75 percent or more of the plants are reproductive each year, with 
30 percent annual seed maturation and recruitment evident in all 
populations.

Authority

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

    Dated: August 1, 2003.
Carolyn A. Bohan,
Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 03-24280 Filed 9-24-03; 8:45 am]
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