[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30610-30611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14528]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of Draft Conservation Agreement for the
Topeka Shiner in the Mill Creek Watershed District in Kansas for Review
and Comment
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability for public review of a Draft Conservation Agreement for
the Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka) in the Mill Creek Watershed
District in Kansas. This species is designated a candidate species,
indicating that the Service has on file substantial information on
biological vulnerability and threats to support a proposal to list it
as an endangered or threatened species. The Conservation Agreement was
developed jointly by the Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and
Parks, and the Mill Creek Joint Watershed District No. 85. The
agreement focuses on reducing and eliminating some of the more
significant threats to the species resulting from flood control
measures proposed for implementation within the basin, maintaining core
populations of the species necessary for long-term viability, while
still allowing the District to achieve an effective level of flood
control to meet its needs. The Service solicits review and comment from
the public on this draft document.
DATES: Comments on the Draft Conservation Agreement must be received on
or before July 7, 1997 to be considered by the Service during
preparation of the final Conservation Agreement and prior to the
Service's determination whether it will be a signatory party to the
agreement.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the Draft Conservation Agreement
may obtain a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 315 Houston, Suite E, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Written comments and materials regarding the Draft Conservation
Agreement also should be directed to the same address. Comments and
materials received will
[[Page 30611]]
be available on request for public inspection, by appointment, during
normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William H. Gill, Field Supervisor
(see ADDRESSES section), telephone (913) 539-3474, extension 14.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Topeka shiner is a minnow native to small plains streams in
Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. It
occurs in pools of small streams with good water quality and clarity.
Plowing of the prairie sod for farming and development to other land
uses has resulted in significant reductions in water quality in most
plains streams, with concurrent reductions in the number of stream
reaches suitable for the species. A status review completed for the
Topeka shiner by the Service in 1993 concluded that the range and
distribution of the species had declined significantly, and that past
and current threats were such that the species warranted listing under
the Endangered Species Act. In addition to water quality impacts, one
of the current threats facing the species is the construction of dams
on streams where it occurs. Due to a combination of factors, possibly
including increased predation and blockage of upstream and downstream
emigration, the Topeka shiner has been known to disappear from streams
on which dams are constructed. The Mill Creek Watershed Joint District
No. 85 approached the Service and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and
Parks in an attempt to coordinate their proposed tributary dam
construction in such a way to minimize impacts on the species and
ensure its maintenance in the basin into the future.
The Conservation Agreement which resulted from that initial contact
outlines specific steps which will be taken by all three entities in an
effort to meet the dual goals of species conservation and flood
protection. At the heart of the agreement is the designation of all
streams in the Mill Creek basin based on their degree of importance to
the species. Class 1 streams are those characterized by recent
collections of apparently stable, self-sustaining populations of Topeka
shiners, with few or no existing watershed dams already in place. Class
2 streams are characterized by recent collections of smaller or less
stable numbers of Topeka shiners, with some watershed dam control
already in place. Class 3 streams are characterized by an absence of
Topeka shiners in recent sampling efforts, or the species present in
very low numbers associated with more widespread current and ongoing
watershed control measures.
The parties agree that no watershed dam construction shall be done
beyond any which may currently exist in Class 1 streams. In Class 2
streams, dam construction may not exceed 20 percent control of total
runoff surface area for that stream. In Class 3 streams, dam
construction may proceed up to as much as 40 percent control of the
runoff of the individual stream. It is further agreed that no watershed
dam will be constructed within one stream mile of any currently known
Topeka shiner population. This agreement would result in the
elimination or significant modification of 19 dams originally proposed
for construction by the District. Additional aspects of the agreement
would be the formation of a management and recovery plan for that
portion of the Topeka shiner's range within the District's boundaries,
implementation of land treatment measures designed to improve habitat
conditions for the species, and continued monitoring of occupied
streams.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service will use information received in its determination as
to whether it should be a signatory party to the agreement. Comments or
suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the
scientific community, industry, or any other interested party
concerning the draft document are hereby solicited. All comments and
materials received will be considered prior to the approval of any
final document.
Author: The primary author of this notice is Dan Mulhern (see
ADDRESSES section), telephone (913) 539-3473, extension 16.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: May 29, 1997.
Terry T. Terrell,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-14528 Filed 6-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
