Comment on FR Doc # E8-09835

July 7, 2008 Comments Processing, Division of Policy and Directives Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222 Arlington, VA 22203 Re: FWS–R8–ES–2008–0045: Support for Petition to List the San Francisco Bay-Delta Population of the Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) as Endangered To Whom it May Concern: On behalf of San Francisco Baykeeper and our more than 2,000 members, we are writing to voice our strong support for listing the San Francisco Bay-Delta Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) population for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Longfin Smelt is an integral part of the San Francisco Bay-Delta, the largest estuary on the West Coast. Historically, Longfin Smelt was one of the most abundant of the Bay-Delta’s pelagic fishes and was likely a key nexus in the food web that sustained other commercially important species in this estuary. The San Francisco Bay-Delta population of the Longfin Smelt is at record low population numbers after experiencing two catastrophic population declines in the past 20 years. Fall mid-water trawl data indicates that the annual average from 1987 to 1994 was only 537, a dramatic decrease from the annual average of 17,000 for the twenty previous years. Even more alarming is the number of Longfin Smelt counted in 2007 – a mere 13. This population faces a myriad of threats: mortality and habitat loss from water diversions; exposure to aquatic contaminants; adverse impacts from non-native species; and degradation of their spawning habitat and the habitat of their principal prey species from disturbances such as dredging. Current state and federal regulations and management have been insufficient to protect this population from decline. San Francisco Baykeeper feels existing data indicates that it is in immediate risk of extinction and deserves emergency listing under the Endangered Species Act. Accordingly, we strongly urge this agency to proceed with the listing process. Sincerely, Jennifer Kovecses Staff Scientist