Comment on FR Doc # 07-05980

February 10, 2008 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222 Arlington, VA 22203 To Whom It May Concern: I complement the U.S. Fish and Wildlife?s hard work in developing the proposed designation of critical habitat, but unfortunately the proposed rule fails to include many areas essential for the conservation of this beetle. The ultimate goal for any species given protection under the Endangered Species Act is to recover the species to a point where protection is no longer necessary. Designation of a sufficient amount of critical habitat for Cicindela nevadica lincolniana?s recovery is the most important factor to reach this goal. Unfortunately, several crucial areas necessary to achieve this goal are currently not included in the proposed rule. While studying the Salt Creek tiger beetle, Cicindela nevadica lincolniana for three years from 2002-2005 as a research assistant at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln I gained a unique understanding of this beetle?s ecology and threats to its population. I have walked almost all of the saline acreage in this proposal and even more saline acreage not included. Based on my experience, failure to designate Haines Branch/Middle Creek area which includes the original type locality of Cicindela nevadica lincolniana near Salt Lake along Interstate 80 is a major flaw in the proposed rule. Cicindela nevadica lincolniana occupied this habitat until 1998 and the site still contains some of the most favorable saline habitat for reintroductions. This area needs to be added. In addition within the Haines Branch/Middle Creek area, are open salt flats with adjacent wetlands on and around the Burlington Railyard property. These areas should also be included in this proposed rule because they include saline wetland habitat that could be restored to provide habitat for establishing populations. Areas south of Lincoln near Sprague, NE also contains quality saline wetland habitat that could be managed and restored to establish Cicindela nevadica lincolniana populations. These areas would establish a population distant from other current populations. This distant population is needed to keep Cicindela nevadica lincolniana viable in the event current populations are decimated by some catastrophic event. Therefore, saline wetlands near Sprague need to be included. I am also concerned that the designated critical habitat along Little Salt Creek (Tracts 2 and 3) is too fragmented not providing sufficient corridors for beetle?s to move within and between these tracts as the habitat changes over time. Tracts 2a thru 2h need to be adjoined by expanding these tracts to allow sufficient movement of beetles in these areas. In addition, near Tract 3 along Little Salt Creek up to the confluence of Little Salt Creek and Salt Creek I have observed Cicindela nevadica lincolniana utilizing silt beds along the waters edge for feeding, mating, and thermoregulation. Therefore, Tract 3 should be expanded to include the banks of Little Salt Creek up to confluence of Little Salt Creek and Salt Creek. Thank you for considering my comments. Sincerely, William Allgeier 6437 Oak Street Taylor, MI 48180