[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31869-31870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13046]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2012-N116: FXES11130300000D2-123-FF03E00000]


Iris Lacustris (Dwarf Lake Iris); Draft Recovery Plan for Review 
and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces 
availability for public review of the draft recovery plan for the Iris 
lacustris (dwarf lake iris), a species that is federally listed as 
threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. 
The species grows along the northern shorelines of Lakes Michigan and 
Huron, in the U.S. States of Wisconsin and Michigan and in Ontario, 
Canada. The purpose of the recovery plan is to recover this species in 
order that it can be removed from the list of Endangered and Threatened 
Plants. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this 
draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before June 29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Ecological Services Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road, Suite 
101, East Lansing, MI 48823 (telephone 517-351-2555) or by accessing 
the Web site: http://midwest.fws.gov/Endangered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Barbara Hosler, at the above 
address and telephone. TTY users may contact Ms. Hosler through the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

Recovery Program

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure self-sustaining member of its ecosystem 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 federally listed threatened and endangered species 
native to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered 
necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for 
reclassification and delisting, and provide estimates of the time and 
costs for implementing the recovery measures needed.
    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, as amended in 1988, 
requires public notice and opportunity for public review and comment be 
provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider 
all information presented during a public comment period prior to 
approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other 
Federal agencies will also take these comments into consideration in 
the course of implementing approved recovery plans.

Dwarf Lake Iris

    The dwarf lake iris was listed as threatened on October 28, 1988 
(via a final rule published on September 28, 1988; 53 FR 37972), under 
the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The species grows along the northern shorelines 
of Lakes Michigan and Huron, in the U.S. States of Wisconsin and 
Michigan and in Ontario, Canada. Of 165 known occurrences, many lie on 
private property where awareness of the species' presence and 
significance is limited. Direct loss of plants and habitat is 
continuing and is expected to accelerate due to people's high demand of 
shoreline properties for development and recreation.
    Dwarf lake iris typically grows in shallow soil over moist 
calcareous sands, gravel, and beach rubble. Sunlight is one of the most 
critical factors to the growth and reproduction of the species, and 
partly shaded or sheltered forest edges are optimal for sexual 
reproduction. Some form of disturbance is also required to maintain the 
forest openings that provide these partial shade conditions. The 
species is most often associated with shoreline coniferous forests 
dominated by northern white cedar and balsam fir. The principal 
limiting factor for dwarf lake iris is the availability of this 
suitable shoreline habitat.

Recovery Criteria

    The dwarf lake iris will be considered for delisting when the 
likelihood of the species becoming threatened in the foreseeable future 
has been eliminated by the achievement of three criteria:

Criterion 1

    The species has a 95 percent probability of persistence within the 
next 20 years, based on data obtained

[[Page 31870]]

from accepted standardized monitoring methods and on population 
viability analysis. In order to meet this criterion, the following must 
be verified:
    1.a. There is a sufficient number and geographical distribution of 
element occurrences required to ensure long-term persistence, and
    1.b. Each element occurrence needed to ensure a 95-percent 
probability of persistence within the next 20 years must meet a minimum 
viable population size and exhibit an increasing or stable population 
trend over a 10-year period.

Criterion 2

    Management plans have been developed and are being implemented to 
protect and manage the habitat associated with the element occurrences 
identified in Criterion 1.b.

Criterion 3

    A plan to provide public outreach and education for dwarf lake iris 
has been developed and is being implemented. Additional detail on these 
delisting criteria is available in the draft recovery plan.
    The above three criteria will be met through the following actions: 
(1) Protect occurrences; (2) Manage and restore habitat; (3) Inventory 
and monitor known sites; (4) Conduct population viability analysis; (5) 
Develop an education program about dwarf lake iris, other federally 
listed shoreline species, natural communities, and their protection and 
management; (6) Improve understanding of baseline dwarf lake iris 
ecology; and (7) Review and track recovery progress.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the draft recovery plan. 
All comments received by the date specified will be considered prior to 
approval of the plan. Written comments and materials regarding the plan 
should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field 
Office (see ADDRESSES). Comments received will be available for public 
inspection by appointment during normal business hours.

Availability of Public Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authority

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

    Dated: May 10, 2012.
Thomas O. Melius,
Regional Director, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-13046 Filed 5-29-12; 8:45 am]
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