[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77430-77431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30478]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC279


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 
adoption of an Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plan for the 
South-Central California Coast Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Distinct 
Population Segment (DPS), which spawn and rear in coastal rivers from 
the Pajaro River to Arroyo Grande Creek, California. The Final South-
Central California Coast Steelhead

[[Page 77431]]

Recovery Plan (Final Recovery Plan) is now available.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final Recovery Plan are available 
online at http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/recovery_planning_and_implementation/south_central_southern_california_coast/south_central_southern_california_salmon_recovery_domain.html. A CD ROM of these documents 
can be obtained by emailing a request to [email protected] or by 
writing to NMFS at 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 
90802.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Spina, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, (562) 980-4045.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The ESA, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that we 
develop and implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival 
of threatened and endangered species under our jurisdiction, unless it 
is determined that such plans would not result in the conservation of 
the species. We designated the South-Central California Coast Steelhead 
Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) as threatened in the Federal 
Register on August 18, 1997 (62 FR 43937). NMFS reaffirmed the listing 
of all West Coast steelhead populations and applied the DPS designation 
in place of the ESU designation on January 5, 2006 (72 FR 834).
    We published a Notice of Availability of the proposed Draft 
Recovery Plan in the Federal Register on October 19, 2012 (77 FR 
64316). NMFS held eight multi-day public meetings on the threats 
assessment and recovery actions, and two public meetings on the 
proposed draft Recovery Plan to solicit public comments. We received 
over 40 comments on the proposed draft Recovery Plan. We revised the 
proposed draft Recovery Plan based on the comments received, and this 
final version now constitutes the Recovery Plan for the South-Central 
California Coast Steelhead DPS.
    The ESA requires that recovery plans incorporate, to the extent 
practicable: (1) Objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would 
result in a determination that the species is no longer threatened or 
endangered; (2) site-specific management actions necessary to achieve 
the plan's goals; and (3) estimates of the time required and costs to 
implement recovery actions. Our goal is to restore the threatened 
South-Central California Coast Steelhead DPS to the point where they 
are again secure, self-sustaining members of their ecosystems and no 
longer need the protections of the ESA.
    The Final Recovery Plan provides background on the natural history 
of South-Central California Coast Steelhead DPS, current population 
trends, and the threats to their viability. The Final Recovery Plan 
lays out a recovery strategy to address the threats based on the best 
available science and includes goals that incorporate objective, 
measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination 
that the species may be removed from the Federal list of threatened and 
endangered species. The Final Recovery Plan is not regulatory, but 
presents guidance for use by agencies and interested parties to assist 
in the recovery of the South-Central California Coast Steelhead DPS. 
The Final Recovery Plan identifies substantive recovery actions needed 
to achieve recovery by addressing the systemic threats to the species, 
and provides a time-line and estimated costs of recovery actions. The 
strategy for recovery includes a linkage between conservation and 
management actions and an active research and monitoring program 
intended to fill data gaps and assess effectiveness of those actions. 
The Final Recovery Plan incorporates an adaptive management framework 
by which conservation and management actions and other elements will 
evolve and adapt as we gain information through research and 
monitoring; it describes the agency guidance for periodic review of the 
status of the species and the recovery plan. To address threats related 
to the species, the Final Recovery Plan acknowledges many of the 
significant efforts already underway to restore steelhead access to 
high quality habitat and to improve habitat previously degraded.
    We expect the Final Recovery Plan to help us and other Federal 
agencies take a consistent approach to section 7 consultations under 
the ESA and to other ESA decisions. For example, the Final Recovery 
Plan will provide information on the biological context for the effects 
that a proposed action may have on the listed DPS. The information in 
the Final Recovery Plan on the natural history, threats, and potential 
limiting factors, and priorities for recovery can be used to help 
assess risks and conservation actions. Consistent with the adoption of 
this Final Recovery Plan for the South-Central California Coast 
Steelhead DPS, we will implement relevant actions for which we have 
authority, work cooperatively on implementation of other actions, and 
encourage other Federal and state agencies to implement recovery 
actions for which they have responsibility and authority.
    Recovery of the South-Central California Coast Steelhead DPS will 
require a long-term effort in cooperation and coordination with 
Federal, state, tribal and local government agencies, and the 
community.

Conclusion

    NMFS has reviewed the Plan for compliance with the requirements of 
the ESA section 4(f), determined that it does incorporate the required 
elements and is therefore adopting it as the Final Recovery Plan for 
South-Central California Coast Steelhead DPS.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: December 18, 2013.
Angela Somma,
Division Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-30478 Filed 12-20-13; 8:45 am]
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