[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17758-17760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7849]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2010-N058; 30120-1113-0000 D2]


Approved Recovery Plan for the Scaleshell Mussel

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the approved recovery plan for the scaleshell mussel 
(Leptodea leptodon). The endangered scaleshell mussel is now 
consistently found in only the Meramec, Bourbeuse, and Gasconade Rivers 
in Missouri. This plan includes specific recovery objectives and 
criteria to achieve removal of the species from the protections of the 
Endangered Species Act (Act).

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan by sending a 
request to Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological 
Services Field Office, 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO 
65203 (printed copies will be available for distribution within 4 to 6 
weeks), or by downloading it from the Internet at: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/recovery/index.html#plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Andy Roberts, by telephone at 
(573) 234-2132 ext. 110. TTY users may contact Mr. Roberts through the 
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Recovery of 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, we are working to prepare 
recovery plans for most listed species native to the United States. 
Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for the 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for reclassification or 
delisting listed species, and estimate time and cost for implementing 
the measures needed.
    The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires us to develop recovery 
plans for listed species unless such a plan will not promote the 
conservation of a particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as 
amended in 1988, requires us to provide the public notice, and an 
opportunity for public review and comment, during recovery plan 
development. We provided the draft scaleshell recovery plan to the 
public and solicited comments from August 6, 2004, through September 7, 
2004 (69 FR 47949). We considered information we received during the 
public comment period, and information from peer reviewers, in our 
preparation of the recovery plan, and also summarized that information 
in Appendix V of this approved recovery plan.
    We listed the scaleshell as endangered on October 9, 2001 (66 FR 
51322). The current distribution of the scaleshell is limited to only 
three rivers in Missouri: the Meramec, Bourbeuse, and Gasconade. 
Surveys indicate that the species is in decline throughout these areas. 
In the last 25 years, it has been reported from 15 additional streams 
in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, but only has been represented 
by a small number or a single specimen (live or dead) collected during 
one or more extensive mussel surveys of these rivers.
    The scaleshell occurs in medium-to-large rivers with low-to-medium 
gradients. It primarily inhabits stable riffles and runs with gravel or 
mud substrate and moderate current velocity. The scaleshell requires 
good water quality, and is usually found where a diversity of other 
mussel species are concentrated. More specific habitat requirements of 
the scaleshell are unknown, particularly of the juvenile stage. Water 
quality degradation, sedimentation, channel destabilization, and 
habitat destruction are contributing to the decline of the scaleshell 
throughout its range. The spread of the nonnative zebra mussel 
(Dreissena polymorpha) may threaten scaleshell populations in the near 
future.
    The scaleshell must complete a parasitic phase on freshwater drum 
(Aplodinotus grunniens) to complete its life cycle. The scaleshell's 
complex life cycle and extreme rarity hinders its ability to reproduce. 
The sedentary nature of the species and the low density of remaining 
populations exacerbate threats to its survival posed by the natural and 
manmade factors. Further, the relatively short life span of the 
scaleshell may render it less able to tolerate periods of poor 
recruitment. The remaining populations are very susceptible to local 
extirpation, with little chance of recolonization because of their 
scattered and isolated distribution.
    The principal recovery strategy is to conserve existing habitat and 
restore degraded habitat by addressing threats immediately adjacent to 
occupied sites and in upstream areas of occupied watersheds. Stream 
reaches occupied by the scaleshell have numerous and widespread threats 
affecting the species. In some cases, these threats are related to the 
surrounding land use and can originate upstream of extant populations. 
Therefore, some recovery actions may need to be implemented on a large 
scale in order to restore aquatic habitat downstream. Other recovery 
actions include artificial propagation to increase and stabilize 
populations, and research on the biology, ecology, and genetics of the 
species.
    Recovery efforts on this scale will not be possible without 
soliciting outside help to restore aquatic habitat and improve surface 
lands. The assistance of Federal and State agencies, conservation 
groups, local governments, private landowners, industries, businesses, 
and farming communities will be essential in implementing the necessary 
recovery actions for the scaleshell to meet recovery goals. The role of 
private landowners, nonprofit organizations, and corporations cannot be 
overemphasized, as most land in watersheds occupied by the scaleshell 
is under private ownership.
    The scaleshell mussel will be considered for delisting when section 
4(a)(1) threat factors under the Act are assessed and when the 
following criteria are met:
    (1) Through protection of existing populations, successful 
establishment of reintroduced populations, or the discovery of 
additional populations, a total of eight stream populations exist, each 
in a separate watershed and each made up of at least four local and 
geographically distinct populations with, at a minimum, one stream 
population located in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, four in the 
Middle Mississippi River Basin (two of these must exist east of the 
Mississippi River), and three in the Lower Mississippi River Basin;
    (2) Each local population in Criterion 1 is viable in terms of 
population size, age structure, recruitment, and persistence; and
    (3) Threats to local populations in Criterion 1 have been 
identified and addressed per measurable criteria developed in the 
Recovery Plan.
    We will achieve these criteria through the following actions:
    (1) Stabilizing existing populations through artificial propagation 
to prevent extirpation;
    (2) Formation of partnerships and utilization of existing programs 
to protect remaining populations, restore habitat, and improve surface 
lands;
    (3) Improving understanding of the biology and ecology of the 
scaleshell;
    (4) Further delineating the current status and distribution of the 
scaleshell;
    (5) Restoring degraded habitat in areas of historical range;
    (6) Reintroducing the scaleshell into portions of its former range;
    (7) Initiating various educational and public outreach actions to 
heighten awareness of the scaleshell as an endangered species and to 
solicit help with recovery actions; and

[[Page 17760]]

    (8) Tracking recovery and conducting periodic evaluations with 
respect to recovery criteria.
    Criteria are also provided in the recovery plan to reclassify the 
scaleshell mussel to threatened status. The species will be considered 
for reclassification when section 4(a)(1) threat factors under the Act 
are assessed and when either of the following criteria is met:
    (1) Through protection of existing populations, successful 
establishment of reintroduced populations, or the discovery of 
additional populations, four stream populations exist, each in a 
separate watershed and each made up of at least four local populations 
located in distinct portions of the stream;
    (2) Each local population in Criterion 1 is viable in terms of 
population size, age structure, recruitment, and persistence; and
    (3) Threats to local populations in Criterion 1 have been 
identified and addressed per the measurable criteria developed in the 
Recovery Plan.

    Authority:  Sec. 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 
1533(f).

    Dated: March 18, 2010.
Lynn M. Lewis,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-7849 Filed 4-6-10; 8:45 am]
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