[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 48 (Monday, March 13, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13397-13398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6143]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding and
Initiation of Status Review for a Petition To List the Southern
Population of the Walleye as Endangered
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition finding and initiation of status
review.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 90-
day finding for a petition to list the southern population of walleye
(Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) under the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended. The Service finds that the petition presents
substantial information indicating that listing this species may be
warranted. A status review is initiated.
DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on January 26,
1995. Comments and materials should be submitted to the Service by May
12, 1995, to be considered in the 12-month finding.
ADDRESSES: Data, information, comments, or questions concerning this
petition should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Jackson Field Office, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway,
Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi 39213. The petition finding, supporting
data, and comments are available for public inspection, by appointment,
during normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Hartfield, Biologist, at above
address (601-695-4900, ext. 25). [[Page 13398]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that the Service make a
finding on whether a petition to list, delist, or reclassify a species
presents substantial scientific or commercial information to
demonstrate that the petitioned action may be warranted. This finding
is to be based on all information available to the Service at the time
the finding is made. To the maximum extent practicable, this finding is
to be made within 90 days of the date the petition was received, and
the finding is to be published promptly in the Federal Register. If the
finding is that substantial information was presented, the Service also
is required to promptly commence a review of the status of the species
involved if one has not already been initiated under the Service's
internal candidate assessment process.
The Service announces a 90-day finding on a petition requesting the
Service to list as endangered the southern population of the walleye
(Stizostedion vitreum vitreum). The petition, dated August 20, 1994,
was submitted by Robert R. Reid, Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama, and was
received by the Service on August 22, 1994. The petition requested that
the southern population of the walleye be emergency listed as
endangered. The petitioner stated that the southern population of the
walleye is a genetically distinct population, deserving of specific or
subspecific rank, which merits listing because: (1) It has declined in
the Tombigbee River drainage, (2) remaining populations in the
Tombigbee River drainage are threatened by existing and proposed water
projects, and (3) it is rare in other Mobile River Basin drainages in
Alabama.
The Service has reviewed the petition, the literature cited in the
petition, other literature, information available in the Service's
files, and has consulted with knowledgeable fisheries biologists. On
the basis of the best scientific and commercial information available,
the Service finds the petition presents substantial information that
listing this species may be warranted. Emergency listing is allowed
under the Act whenever immediate protection is needed to prevent
extirpation of a species. Based on currently available information,
emergency listing is not needed for the southern population of walleye.
Electrophoretic analyses (Murphy 1990) and mitochondrial DNA
comparisons (Billington et al. 1992) have confirmed the genetic
uniqueness of the upper Tombigbee River population of walleye. Ongoing
studies of walleye populations in the Mobile River basin drainages of
Alabama have indicated that this distinct Gulf Coast strain of walleye
extends into that State (Mike Mecina, University of Auburn, Alabama,
pers. comm. 1994). The relationship of other Gulf Coast drainage
populations of walleye (e.g., Apalachicola River, Florida, Georgia;
Pearl River, Mississippi) to the Mobile River Basin population is
unknown and needs further investigation.
Populations of walleye appear to be low in the Tombigbee River
drainage of Mississippi. Recent reports of walleye are documented in
several Tombigbee River tributaries in Mississippi, including the
Buttahatchee River, Sipsey, Bull Mountain, Yellow, Luxapalila,
Sucarnoochee, and Hashuqua Creeks (Dennis Riecke, Mississippi
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, pers. comm. 1994).
Current information on the distribution of walleye in the Mobile Basin
drainages of Alabama is limited. Walleye collection localities within
the past 10 years in Alabama include the Black Warrior, Alabama, Little
Cahaba, Locust Fork, and lower Tallapoosa Rivers, and Euphappee,
Oakmulgee, and Hatchet Creeks (Fred Harders, Alabama Department of
Conservation, pers. comm. 1994; Malcolm Pierson, Alabama Power Company,
pers. comm. 1994).
Service records indicate that potential walleye habitat throughout
the Mobile River Basin may have been affected or eliminated due to
impoundment of approximately 1,000 miles of river habitat, and/or by
extensive stream channelization. Erosion due to headcutting, a proposed
channelization project, and proposed impoundments pose additional
threats to the population. Walleye appear to require clean, relatively
swift streams for reproduction (Schultz 1971). Potential threats to
stream habitat quality in the Mobile River Basin include various point
source effluents (e.g. coal surface mining and sand/gravel mining), as
well as sediments, nutrients, and toxicants from non-point runoff.
The Service solicits further information regarding occurrence and
distribution of the species, threats to its continued existence, and
any additional comments and suggestions from the public, other
concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or
any other interested parties concerning the status of the southern
population of the walleye. Of particular interest is information
regarding:
(1) Genetic composition of other walleye populations in Gulf Coast
drainages;
(2) Additional historic and current population data that may assist
in determining range and long-term population trends;
(3) Pertinent information on biology and life history; and,
(4) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning
any threat (or lack thereof) to populations of the southern walleye.
After consideration of additional information, submitted during the
indicated time period (see DATES section), the Service will prepare a
12-month finding.
References Cited
Billington, N., R.J. Barrette, and P.D.N. Hebert. 1992. Management
implications of mitochondrial DNA variation in walleye stocks. North
American Journal of Fisheries Management 12:276-284.
Murphy, B.R. 1990. Evidence for a genetically unique walleye
population in the upper Tombigee River system of northeastern
Mississippi. SFC Proceedings (22):14-16.
Schultz, C.A. 1971. Survey of the walleye population and related
parameters in the Tombigee River system in Mississippi. Mississippi
Game and Fish Commission Final Report, Project F-23.
Author: The primary author of this document is Paul Hartfield,
Jackson, Mississippi, Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).
Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: January 26, 1995.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 95-6143 Filed 3-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
