[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9750]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: April 22, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Winged
Mapleleaf Mussel (Quadrula Fragosa) for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the winged
mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula fragosa). This freshwater mussel is known to
occur in one segment of the St. Croix River between Minnesota and
Wisconsin. The species range is greatly reduced from its former 11-
state distribution (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin)
presumably because of widespread stream habitat modification. The
Service solicits review and comments from the public on this draft
plan.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or
before May 23, 1994 to receive consideration by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft plan may examine a copy
during normal business hours at the Service's Regional Office, Division
of Endangered Species, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal
Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056, telephone 612/725-3276, or
at the Service's Twin Cities, Minnesota, Field Office, 4101 East 80th
Street, Bloomington, Minnesota 55425-1665, telephone 612/725-3548.
Persons wishing to obtain a copy of the draft recovery plan should
contact the Twin Cities, Minnesota, Field Office. Written comments and
materials regarding the plan should be mailed to the Regional Office.
All comments and materials received will be available for public
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the
Regional Office for the duration of the comment period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles G. Kjos, at the above Twin
Cities, Minnesota, Field Office address (612/725-3548).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring 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 the Service's endangered species
program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to
prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the
United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for
conservation of the species, criteria for recognizing recovery levels
for reclassifying or delisting them, and initial estimates of times and
costs to implement the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), requires the development of recovery plans for listed
species unless such plan would not promote the conservation of a
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988,
requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and
comment be provided during the 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 account in
the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
The winged mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula fragosa) was listed as an
endangered species under the Act on June 20, 1991 (56 FR 28345). This
species is known to occur in one segment of the St. Croix River, which
forms the boundary between Chisago County, Minnesota, and Polk County,
Wisconsin. Little is known of the ecology and habits of the winged
mapleleaf, presumably because of its rarity and early population
reductions. It appears to be a species of gravel bars and riffle areas
of larger rivers.
The draft recovery plan outlines strategies to protect and manage
the recovery of this species, with the specific goals of maintaining
and increasing the St. Croix River population, improving understanding
of winged mapleleaf biology and ecology, reintroducing the species to
suitable sites in its historic range, and developing reclassification
and delisting criteria. Streamflow requirements, host fish
identification, and the genetic similarities and differences with the
closely-related mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula quadrula) are recommended
for investigation in the plan.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on this draft recovery plan.
All comments received by the date specified above will be considered
prior to approval of the plan.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: March 31, 1994.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-9750 Filed 4-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
