[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 42051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20568]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for the
Eradication of the Nonnative Red Shiner in the Virgin River, Utah
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability for
public review of the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Eradication
of the Nonnative Red Shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis) in the Virgin River,
Utah.
DATES: Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment must be received
on or before September 12, 1996 to be considered by the Service during
preparation of the final environmental assessment.
ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for copies of the Draft Environmental
Assessment should be addressed to the Assistant Field Supervisor, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84115. Comments and materials received will be available on
request for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business
hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Robert D. Williams, Assistant Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES
section) (telephone 801/524-5002).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis) is a small minnow native from
the North Central United States to northeastern Mexico. It was
introduced into the lower Colorado River Basin as a bait fish in the
early 1950's, and since then has invaded most of the Colorado River
system, including the Virgin River system. Until the 1980's, the red
shiner was confined to the lower Virgin River system, in Arizona and
Nevada, below the Virgin River Gorge, which is usually dewatered during
the dry summer months. In 1984 red shiner were discovered above the
Gorge, in southwestern Utah, and have since then become the dominant
fish species in the 33.6 km (21 mi) river reach between the Virgin
River Gorge and Washington Fields Diversion.
The red shiner has been implicated in the decline of the endangered
woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus) and Virgin River chub (Gila
seminuda), and in the decline of the Virgin spinedace (Lepidomeda
mollispinis mollispinis), a species of concern. The Virgin River Fishes
Recovery Plan and the Virgin Spinedace Conservation Agreement have
identified the eradication of red shiner in the Virgin River system as
a recovery and conservation activity necessary to ensure the longterm
survival of the native fishes of the Virgin River. The Draft
Environmental Assessment outlines a plan for the eradication of red
shiner from the Virgin River system, Utah.
Public Comments Solicited
Comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned
governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other
interested party concerning this draft document are hereby solicited.
All comments and materials received will be considered in the
preparation of the final environmental assessment.
Author: The primary author of this notice is Janet Mizzi (see
ADDRESSES section) (telephone 801/524-501).
Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. et seq.).
Dated: August 6, 1996.
Terry T. Terrel,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 96-20568 Filed 8-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
