[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 55290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21921]



[[Page 55290]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2013-N184; FXES11130300000-134-FF03E00000]


Approved Recovery Plan for the Dwarf Lake Iris

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 dwarf lake iris 
(Iris lacustris), a species that is federally listed as threatened 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.). This plan includes specific recovery objectives and 
criteria to achieve removal of the species from the protections of the 
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, 2651 Coolidge Road, Suite 101, East Lansing, MI 
48823 (printed copies will be available for distribution within 4 to 6 
weeks) or by accessing our Web site at http://midwest.fws.gov/Endangered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Barbara Hosler, at the above 
address or by telephone at (517) 351-6326. TTY users may contact Ms. 
Hosler through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    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, we are 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 
during recovery plan development. We provided the draft dwarf lake iris 
recovery plan to the public and solicited comments from May 30, 2012, 
through June 29, 2012 (77 FR 31869). 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 7 of this approved recovery plan.
    The dwarf lake iris was listed as threatened on October 28, 1988, 
under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. 
The species grows along the northern shorelines of Lakes Michigan and 
Huron in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. Of 167 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 the 
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.
    The principal recovery strategy is to conserve the habitat that 
supports dwarf lake iris populations by implementing a variety of 
protection strategies, including landowner notification, education, and 
the preparation of management and monitoring plans. Additional efforts 
will focus on improving the baseline understanding of dwarf lake iris 
ecology. Outreach materials will be developed to improve awareness of 
the species' presence and its status as a threatened species.
    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 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.
    We will achieve these criteria 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.

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

    Dated: August 30, 2013.
Lynn M. Lewis,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3.
[FR Doc. 2013-21921 Filed 9-9-13; 8:45 am]
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