[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1659-1660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00392]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2014-N241; 80221-1113-0000-C2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery 
Plan for Baker's Larkspur (Delphinium bakeri)

AGENCY:  Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Baker's Larkspur 
(Delphinium bakeri) for public review and comment. The recovery plan 
includes downlisting objectives and criteria, and specific actions 
necessary to reclassify the species from endangered to threatened on 
the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

DATES: We must receive any comments on the draft recovery plan on or 
before March 16, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan from our Web site 
at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html. 
Alternatively, you may contact the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-2605, 
Sacramento, CA 95825 (telephone 916-414-6700).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Norris, Field Supervisor, at 
the above street address or telephone number (see ADDRESSES).

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 our endangered species program and the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). Recovery means improvement of the status of listed species to 
the point at which listing is no longer appropriate under the criteria 
specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. The Act requires the 
development of recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan 
would not promote the conservation of a particular species.
    We listed Baker's larkspur throughout its entire range on January 
26, 2000 (65 FR 4156). The species is endemic to Marin and Sonoma 
Counties, California, and is currently known from one small historical 
occurrence along Marshall-Petaluma Road in west Marin County. The 
remaining historical occurrence of Baker's larkspur occurs on 
decomposed shale in the mixed woodland plant community at an elevation 
range of 295 feet (ft) (90 meter (m)) to 672 ft (205 m) in moderately 
moist, shaded conditions on a shallow veneer of soil along an extensive 
north-facing slope. These habitat requirements limit the availability 
of suitable reintroduction sites with appropriate habitat conditions 
and compatible land use. Although habitat conversion and road 
maintenance were historically responsible for decreasing numbers, those 
threats have been curtailed. Because of the extreme range restriction 
of this already-narrow endemic, and its small population size, the 
plant is highly vulnerable to extinction from random events, including 
wildfire, herbivory, disease and pest outbreaks, and human disturbance.

Recovery Plan Goals

    The purpose of a recovery plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of species so that protection under the Act is no longer 
necessary. A recovery plan includes scientific information about the 
species and provides criteria that enable us to gauge whether 
downlisting or delisting the species is warranted. Furthermore, 
recovery plans help guide our recovery efforts by describing actions we 
consider necessary for each species' conservation and by estimating 
time and costs for implementing needed recovery measures.
    The goal of this recovery plan is to improve the status of Baker's 
larkspur so that it can be downlisted. Due to the current lack of 
information about the species' biology and habitat requirements, the 
magnitude of current threats, and the precarious environment where the 
single historical population of the species persists, we are unable to 
determine appropriate delisting criteria; therefore, we focus on 
meeting the goal of downlisting. To meet the recovery goal of 
downlisting, the following objectives have been identified:

    1. Expand the existing populations of Baker's larkspur and 
establish additional self-sustaining populations of Baker's larkspur 
throughout its known ecological and

[[Page 1660]]

geographical range, while preserving extant genetic diversity.
    2. Ensure existing and future populations are protected from 
incompatible uses, such as road maintenance.
    3. Reduce herbivory by slugs, snails, and gophers to the point 
that it does not affect the species at a population level.

    As Baker's larkspur meets reclassification criteria, we will review 
its status and consider it for downlisting on the Federal Lists of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on the draft recovery plan described in 
this notice. All comments received by the date specified above will be 
considered in development of a final recovery plan for Baker's 
larkspur. You may submit written comments and information by mail or in 
person to the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at the above address 
(see ADDRESSES).

Public Availability of 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 can 
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

    We developed this recovery plan under the authority of section 4(f) 
of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this notice under section 
4(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.).

    Dated: January 7, 2015.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-00392 Filed 1-12-15; 8:45 am]
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