[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 24, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13868-13870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6575]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Draft Recovery Plan for the Newcomb's Snail (Erinna newcombi)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') announces the
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availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the
Newcomb's snail (Erinna newcombi). This aquatic snail is listed as
threatened (65 FR 4162) and is endemic to the Hawaiian Island of
Kaua'i.
DATE: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before
May 24, 2004 to receive our consideration.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan and supporting documents
are available for inspection, by appointment, during normal business
hours at the following locations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room
3-122, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (telephone 808-792-9400) and Hawaii State
Library, 478 S. King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Requests for
copies of the draft recovery plan and written comments and materials
regarding this plan should be addressed to Gina Schultz, Acting Field
Supervisor, Ecological Services, at the above Pacific Islands Fish and
Wildlife Office address. An electronic copy of the draft recovery plan
is also available at: http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans (however, due to a temporary interruption in our
Internet Service, access to our Website may not be possible).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon Smith, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the above U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service address.
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. We will consider all information presented
during the public comment period prior to approval of each new or
revised recovery plan. Substantive technical comments may result in
changes to the recovery plan. Substantive comments regarding recovery
plan implementation may not necessarily result in changes to the
recovery plan, 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. Individual responses to
comments will not be provided.
The Newcomb's snail is an aquatic snail and is known to occur at 10
small locations in streams and springs located in 6 watersheds found in
the mountainous interior of the Hawaiian Island of Kaua'i. The
Newcomb's snail is a freshwater snail belonging to the lymnaeid family.
Adult Newcomb's snails are approximately 6 millimeters (0.25 inches)
long, and 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) wide in size. Newcomb's snails
feed on algae and other material growing on submerged rocks. Eggs are
attached to underwater rocks or vegetation, and the entire life cycle
is tied to the stream system in which the adults live. Populations of
Newcomb's snail are currently found in small areas within the Kalalau,
Lumaha'i, Hanalei, Waipahe'e-Kealia, Makaleha-kapa'a, and North Wailua
stream systems on Kaua'i. The range of the snails is usually limited to
a few square meters of a single side-channel or waterfall in a stream
in which it is found. Historically, Newcomb's snail was also found in
Hanakoa, Hanakapi'ai, and Wainiha Streams, but these populations are
thought to be extirpated. The great majority of all known Newcomb's
snails, perhaps over 90 percent, are thought to be located in the two
populations at the small sites in Kalalau and Lumaha'i Streams. Three
of the six watersheds containing sites where Newcomb's snails are found
are under private ownership, and the remaining sites are located on
State of Hawai'i lands.
Some of the historical decline of the snail may be attributed to
habitat loss and degradation through water diversion and well drilling.
In addition, predation by alien species, natural disasters, and habitat
alteration are threats that imperil Newcomb's snails. Currently,
Newcomb's snails face an increased likelihood of extinction from
naturally-occurring events due to the small number of remaining
populations and their limited distribution. Significant habitat
destruction through reduction or elimination of stream or spring flow
could destroy an entire population of Newcomb's snails, and natural
disasters such as hurricanes or catastrophic landslides could also
destroy vital habitat.
The overall objective of this draft recovery plan is to ensure the
species' long-term conservation and eventual delisting. This recovery
will be accomplished through a variety of recovery actions, including:
(1) Establishing a baseline per population numbers; (2) research into
the basic population biology and life history of the Newcomb's snail;
(3) analysis and potential prevention of predation and other forms of
negative interspecific interactions that may limit or reduce Newcomb's
snail populations; (4) assurance of adequate stream and spring flows to
protect known and potential Newcomb's snail habitat; (5) making
recovery of Newcomb's snail a part of other landscape planning and
conservation efforts, such as preservation of the structure and
function of upland forests that maintain and regulate surface run-off
to streams and act as areas of infiltration for ground water; (6) use
of results of initial recovery efforts and research to periodically
validate recovery objectives; and (7) development and implementation of
a public outreach program for Newcomb's snail conservation.
The recovery criteria outlined in this draft recovery plan will
provide for the maintenance of the majority of the genetic diversity of
the Newcomb's snail, and will provide assurance that a single
catastrophic event will not reduce populations of Newcomb's snails to
the point where they are no longer viable. Delisting criteria for the
Newcomb's snail are: (1) Abundance and population variability have been
quantified, and an appropriate number of populations are stable or
increasing in size due to natural reproduction for a minimum of 5
consecutive years; (2) populations are located in a minimum of eight
separate watersheds that are geographically distributed throughout its
range; (3) minimum flows are established for stream reaches where
populations of Newcomb's snails are located; (4) non-native predators
and competitors have been studied, their effects quantified, and
appropriate control measures have been established; and (5) a post-
delisting monitoring plan covering a minimum of eight watersheds has
been completed and is ready for implementation.
Public Comments Solicited
We solicit written comments on the draft recovery plan as
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be
considered in developing a final recovery plan for this species.
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Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: January 14, 2004.
Cynthia U. Barry,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-6575 Filed 3-23-04; 8:45 am]
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