[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76002-76003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27810]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Recovery Plan for Five Plants From Monterey County, CA

AGENCY: U.S. 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 
availability of the final Recovery Plan for Five Plants from Monterey 
County, California. This recovery plan includes the following species: 
Astragalus tener var. titi (coastal dunes milk-vetch), Piperia yadonii 
(Yadon's piperia), Potentilla hickmanii (Hickman's potentilla), 
Trifolium trichocalyx (Monterey clover), and Cupressus goveniana ssp. 
goveniana (Gowen cypress). Astragalus tener var. titi, Piperia yadonii, 
Potentilla hickmanii, and Trifolium trichocalyx are listed as 
endangered. Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana is listed as a 
threatened species. These plant species are found primarily along the 
coast of northern Monterey County, California. Potentilla hickmanii 
also occurs in San Mateo County and has occurred historically in Sonoma 
County. Astragalus tener var. titi has occurred historically in Los 
Angeles and San Diego Counties, California. This recovery plan includes 
specific criteria and actions to be taken in order to effectively 
recover the species.

ADDRESSES: Copies of this recovery plan are available by request from 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 
2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003 (telephone: 805/
644-1766). An electronic copy of the recovery plan is also available 
at: http://

[[Page 76003]]

www.endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.htmlplans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Steeck, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above Ventura address.

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 our endangered species program. 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. 
Recovery plans help guide the recovery effort by describing actions 
considered necessary for the conservation of the species, establishing 
criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and 
estimating time and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
    Section 4(f) of the Act requires that public notice and an 
opportunity for public review and comment be provided during recovery 
plan development. In fulfillment of this requirement, the Draft 
Recovery Plan for Five Plants from Monterey County, California, was 
available for public comment from May 13, 2002, through July 12, 2002 
(67 FR 32003). 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 that they can take these 
comments into account during the course of implementing recovery 
actions.
    The five plants addressed in this final recovery plan are 
threatened by one or more of the following: alteration, destruction, 
and fragmentation of habitat resulting from urban and golf course 
development; recreational activities; competition with nonnative plant 
species; herbivory from native or nonnative species; demographic 
stochasticity; modifications in hydrology; loss of individuals from 
roadside maintenance activities; and disruption of natural fire cycles 
due to fire suppression associated with increasing residential 
development around and within occupied habitat.
    The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of these species so that protection by the Act is no longer 
necessary. Actions necessary to accomplish this objective include: (1) 
Permanent protection of habitat presently occupied by the species and 
the surrounding ecosystem on which they depend, with long-term 
commitments to conserving the species; (2) in protected habitat, 
successful control of invasive nonnative plants and successful 
management of other problems through at least 12 years; (3) development 
of management strategies that include results from research on the life 
histories of the taxa, and results from monitoring the species' 
responses to vegetation management; (4) surveys for additional 
populations, and successful reintroductions or establishment of 
populations for Astragalus tener var. titi, Potentilla hickmanii, and 
Trifolium trichocalyx, with populations of all five species assured of 
long-term survival; (5) establishment of seed banks; and (6) existing 
populations of Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana are assured of long-
term survival, including successful recruitment and reproduction. Once 
these criteria have been met, Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana may be 
considered for delisting and Astragalus tener var. titi, Piperia 
yadonii, Potentilla hickmanii, and Trifolium trichocalyx may be 
considered for downlisting.

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

    Dated: August 19, 2004.
Steve Thompson,
Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Region 1, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-27810 Filed 12-17-04; 8:45 am]
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