[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25062-25063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11972]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Arroyo Southwestern
Toad for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability
for public review of a draft Recovery Plan for the Arroyo Southwestern
Toad. This toad occurs in coastal montane regions from Monterey County,
California, to Baja California.
DATE: Comments received on the draft recovery plan by August 4, 1998,
will be considered by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the
following locations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road,
Suite B, Ventura, California 93003 (phone: 805/644-1766); U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008
(phone: 760/431-9440). Requests for copies of the draft recovery plan
and written comments and materials regarding this plan should be
addressed to the Field Supervisor, at the above Ventura address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Grace S. McLaughlin,
Herpetologist, at the Ventura address.
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
the conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery
levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost
for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
(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 that
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be
provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider
all information presented during the public comment period prior to
approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. Substantive technical
comments will result in changes to the plans. Substantive comments
regarding recovery plan implementation may not necessarily result in
changes to the recovery plans, but will be forwarded to appropriate
Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into
account during the course of implementing recovery actions.
Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.
This species is listed as endangered. As of 1994, the arroyo
southwestern toad (Bufo microscaphus californicus) (referred to as
arroyo toad) was known from 22 river basins with a total estimated
breeding population of fewer than 3,000 individuals. The arroyo toad is
endemic to primarily the coastal plain and mountains of central and
southern California and northwestern Baja California. These toads breed
in stream channels and use stream terraces and surrounding uplands for
foraging and wintering. Direct habitat loss due to urbanization,
agriculture, and dam construction is the main cause for the decline of
arroyo toads. Other threats include water diversions, road building,
livestock grazing, mining, recreational activities, loss of habitat due
to exotic plants, and predation by introduced species. Although the
species evolved and has survived in an environment periodically
impacted by fire, flood, and drought, the interactions of such natural
events with human alterations of the habitat may lead to the
extirpation of local populations.
The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the
recovery of the arroyo toad so that protection by the Act is no longer
necessary. The recovery strategy for the arroyo toad is focused on
providing sufficient breeding and upland habitat to maintain self-
sustaining populations of arroyo toads throughout the historic range of
the species in California, and minimizing or eliminating impacts and
threats to arroyo toad populations. This plan describes a five-part
recovery strategy with specific tasks necessary to maintain healthy
aquatic, riparian and adjacent upland ecosystems that provide habitat
for arroyo toads. The tasks, when implemented, will stabilize and
maintain populations throughout the range of the arroyo toad in
California by protecting sufficient breeding and nonbreeding habitat,
monitor the status of existing populations to ensure
[[Page 25063]]
recovery actions are successful, identify and secure additional
suitable arroyo toad habitat and populations, conduct research to
determine the population dynamics and ecology of the species to guide
management efforts and determine the best methods for reducing threats,
and develop and implement an outreach program.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be
considered prior to approval of this plan.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Michael J. Spear,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Portland,
Oregon.
[FR Doc. 98-11972 Filed 5-5-98; 8:45 am]
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